Title
a. Receive a Status Report on the 2016 Soberanes Fire and 2017 Winter Storm Repair Projects;
b. Receive a Status Report on the 2019 Winter Storms Repair Projects;
c. Receive a Status Report on the 2020 Fire Damage Repair Projects; and
d. Receive a Status Report on the 2021 Winter Storms Repair Projects.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Capital Improvement Committee:
a. Receive a Status Report on the 2016 Soberanes Fire and 2017 Winter Storm Repair Projects;
b. Receive a Status Report on the 2019 Winter Storms Repair Projects;
c. Receive a Status Report on the 2020 Fire Damage Repair Projects; and
d. Receive a Status Report on the 2021 Winter Storms Repair Projects.
SUMMARY:
Monterey County experienced several natural disaster events in recent years causing significant damage to its roadway infrastructure. In fiscal year (FY) 2016-17, the 2016 Soberanes Fire and the 2017 Winter Storms caused approximately $59.5 million in damages to County roads, lands, and infrastructure. In FY 2018-19, more winter storm systems hit Monterey County, causing widespread damage, with cost estimates reaching $5.2 million. In FY 2020-21, the 2020 River Fire, 2020 Carmel Fire, 2020 Dolan Fire, and 2021 January winter storms resulted in approximately $7.9 million in damages.
To date, the County has completed 84 repair projects (totaling $37.6 million) and received reimbursements from federal and state entities totaling $19.7 million for the 2017, 2019, and 2021 Winter Storms and 2020 Fires. Repair projects are in various stages and grouped together for discussion: 2016 Soberanes Fire & 2017 Winter Storm Repair Projects; 2019 Winter Storm Repair Projects; 2020 Fire Damage Repair Projects; and 2021 Winter Storm Repair Projects.
DISCUSSION:
2016 SOBERANES FIRE & 2017 WINTER STORM PROJECTS
As a result of the 2016 Soberanes Fire and 2017 Winter Storms, Monterey County Public Works, Facilities and Parks Department (PWFP) submitted 120 project worksheets to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for repair projects currently totaling $59.5 million. FEMA/FHWA obligated (encumbered) $25.9 million, leaving $30.5 million for the County’s share. (Attachments A)
The Board approved $16.8 million in Disaster Assistance fund balance for the Soberanes Fire and 2017 Winter Storms, allocating $13.0 million for the County’s share of costs (County Match) and $3.8 million for cash-flow purposes. An additional $866,705 was approved for County Match utilizing a one-time Transient Occupancy Tax Road Fund set-aside (TOT), bringing the total County Match to $13.9 million. The cash-flow amount is repaid as FEMA/FHWA funds are received; however, the County’s share of costs (County Match) is a contribution that will not be reimbursed.
Board Approved Projects
The Board of Supervisors approved 70 projects at an estimated cost of $42.0 million. FEMA/FHWA obligated $23.2 million and thus far reimbursed the County $19.1 million. The County’s share is $18.8 million and is funded with Board-approved Disaster Assistance Assignment, TOT, and Road Fund Measure X revenues.
Of these projects, 53 have been completed at the cost of $27.6 million and include projects such as Palo Colorado Mile Post 3.3 (MP 3.3, Rocky Creek), Cachagua Road, Elkhorn Road, and Robinson Canyon. Of these, nine (9) projects with a total cost of $800,000 were ineligible for funding.
There are 17 projects that are approved by the Board and in process or pending resources, with estimated costs of $14.6 million. Many of these projects are in the design or environmental/permitting phase. Staff continues working with Cal OES/FEMA to maintain their funding obligations for these projects, however, they have indicated that project obligations may expire given the time delays in completing these projects.
Notably, the four Palo Colorado MP 4.0-7.4 (aka: “Upper Palo Colorado”) projects are included in the group of projects to be yet completed with estimated costs of $10.3 million, an obligation of $3.3 million, and a County match of approximately $7.0 million. The Board approved $500,000 for the initial design and permitting phase of the Palo Colorado MP 4.0-7.4 project. This initial phase is underway and draft plans and a preliminary environmental review will be completed in the upcoming weeks. Once the environmental documentation for the project is complete, staff will return to the Board of Supervisors to present the project and seek further direction.
These BOS-approved completed projects are a subset of the first category listed in the Summary and shown in Attachment A.
Projects Pending
There are 12 projects pending resources with an estimated cost of $4.1 million and FEMA obligations of $2.8 million, resulting in a County cost-share match of $1.3 million. However, these projects are not approved by the Board for action. PWFP does not have the capacity to add these projects to the Road Fund Work Plan and the scope of damages on these road segments generally is not significantly impacting the roadway. Therefore, PWFP intends not to pursue time extensions from FEMA and remove these potential projects from future consideration. Staff is working with Cal OES/FEMA to potentially reassigned the funding obligations from these projects to other Board-approved Projects currently in design or environmental/permitting phase. These pending projects are the second category listed in the Summary and shown in Attachment A.
Ineligible/Denied Projects
FEMA and FHWA deemed 37 projects ineligible or denied. These projects have an estimated cost of $13.2 million; the County has spent $638,104. The costs were primarily for the Laguna Seca Recreational Area ($437,488), Old Stage Road ($101,426), and Toro Park Maintenance/Emergency Response ($71,866). The remaining amount was spent on initial response efforts on eleven different projects. These ineligible/denied projects are the third category listed in the Summary and shown in Attachment A.
2019 WINTER STORM PROJECTS
PWFP staff initially identified 16 emergency response and repair projects at various locations throughout the County at a total estimated cost of $5.2 million. Nine (9) projects qualified for California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) funding and four (4) of these also qualified for FEMA/CDAA funding for a total award of $2.6 million. To date, PWFP has spent $2.9 million and received $330,885 in reimbursements.
The remaining seven (7) projects were deemed ineligible for State or Federal assistance because the damages occurred outside of the declared incident periods. PWFP will be incorporating the ineligible projects not yet completed into PWFP’s regular maintenance work schedule. (Attachment B)
2020 FIRE DAMAGE PROJECTS
The wildland fires (River Fire, Carmel Fire, and Dolan Fire) impacted many county roadways and facilities during the summer of 2020. In all, Monterey County identified a total of seven (7) emergency response and repair projects. The total road damages are estimated at $1.9 million. Of these seven (7) projects, five (5) have been completed. All projects were submitted to FEMA for funding eligibility consideration and two (2) are pending a determination. Details are shown in Attachment C.
2021 WINTER STORM PROJECTS
In January 2021, the County experienced an atmospheric river event that resulted in intense precipitation and significant run-off and debris flow on several roads in central Salinas Valley, the Carmel region, and the Big Sur area. The volume of run-off and debris was exacerbated by the fire scars from the River Fire and Carmel Fire and resulted in flooding of roads, plugged culverts, and considerable debris deposited along County roadways. The road damage on County roads is estimated at $6.1 million. To address the road and County park damages, PWFP staff identified a total of fourteen (14) emergency and response projects. Of these, thirteen (13) have been completed and one (1) is under construction, as shown in Attachment D.
The costs of these projects were submitted to the State for reimbursement approval under the FHWA/Caltrans Emergency Relief (ER) Program or CDAA program, depending on the project location.
The damage estimates do not include the damage estimate for Nacimiento-Fergusson Road (a US Forest Service highway) nor the damage estimates of private properties.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
PWFP staff continues to coordinate with the Office of Emergency Services and the County Administrative Office to accurately track and categorize the projects.
FINANCING:
For the 2017 Winter Storms, the County has received $19.7 million in FEMA/FHWA/CDAA reimbursements and spent $30.5 million to date. The Board provided $13.9 million in County Match, estimated to cover 70 Board-approved projects. Additional funds still need to be identified for the additional four (4) Palo Colorado projects approved by the Board, estimated at $10.3 million. Projects not approved by the Board or deemed ineligible by FEMA will be considered and compete against all other Road Fund projects for Measure X, SB 1, TOT, and HUTA funds through the 5-year Capital Improvement Program process.
The 2019 Winter Storm Projects have received reimbursements of $330,885 from FEMA and CDAA. A total of $4.0 million has been spent, and thirteen (13) projects are complete. On December 10, 2019, the Board approved using Road Fund revenues, including HUTA ($770,000), SB 1 ($1.7 million), for eight projects.
The 2020 Fire Damage Projects have received reimbursements of $19,657 from FEMA and CDAA. A total of $1.9 million has been spent and the Road Fund is cash-flowing the repair projects expenditures until reimbursements are received.
The 2021 Winter Storm Projects have received reimbursements of $2.2 million from FHWA. A total of $2.5 million has been spent and the Road Fund is cash-flowing the repair projects expenditures until reimbursements are received.
Prepared by: Enrique Saavedra, Chief of Public Works, (831) 755-8970
Reviewed by: Tom Bonigut, PE, Assistant Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Attachments:
Attachment A - 2017 Winter Storm & Soberanes Fire Projects
Attachment B - 2019 Winter Storm Projects
Attachment C - 2020 Fire Damage Projects
Attachment D - 2021 Winter Storm Projects