Title
Adopt a Resolution to:
a. Ratify the County Administrative Officer’s Proclamation of a Local Emergency for atmospheric river events occurring between January 26, 2021 and February 5, 2021 that resulted in multiple significant rainfall and wind events causing severe flooding, damage to public infrastructure and damage to private property; and,
b. Find the repair work statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15269(c) for emergency projects (4/5th vote required).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Ratify the County Administrative Officer’s Proclamation of a Local Emergency for atmospheric river events occurring between January 26, 2021 and February 5, 2021 that resulted in multiple significant rainfall and wind events causing damage to public infrastructure and private property; and,
b. Find the repair work statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15269(c) for emergency projects.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Ratification of this Proclamation of Local Emergency (hereon referred to as “Proclamation”) will allow for timely repairs to damages to infrastructure which has occurred from wind damage, localized flooding, roadway slope erosion and embankment slip-outs, debris flows, landslides, and culvert failure affecting the safety of said roadways; obstruction of public roadways from storm water, storm debris and roadway failure; damage to storm drain infrastructure; and damage to public and private utilities and damage to public facilities and parks. Until action is taken to address these safety concerns, such damage will result in road closures, areas of isolation, loss of power and other critical infrastructure that will continue to impact public safety and repose.
The aforesaid conditions of extreme peril necessitated the Proclamation, which was signed into effect by the County Administrative Officer (CAO) on January 27, 2021. It is proposed that the Proclamation be ratified on February 2, 2021, due to the emergency taking place while the Board of Supervisors was out of session and unavailable. Ratification and approval of this Proclamation of Local Emergency will provide Board confirmation of, and agreement with, the Proclamation made by the CAO. This Proclamation shall expire thirty (30) days after issuance, unless confirmed and extended by the governing body of the County of Monterey.
Staff considers the repairs necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency; therefore, the work is statutorily exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15269(c).
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The mitigation efforts of the foregoing conditions affecting public infrastructure in Monterey County includes the Monterey County Public Works, Facilities and Parks department.
FINANCING:
The Proclamation will impact the Road Fund and funding for the Emergency Operations Center and may impact the General Fund in emergency contracts, engineering services, and overtime costs incurred by the department of Public Works, Facilities and Parks, which may be requested for reimbursement from the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year.
Prepared by: Gerry Malais, Emergency Services Manager
Approved by: Nicholas E. Chiulos, Assistant County Administrative Officer
Attachments:
Board Report
Resolution
CAO Proclamation, dated January 27, 2021