HERE - Town of San Anselmo
Transcription
HERE - Town of San Anselmo
Town of San Anselmo Local Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan February 17, 2016 1 Introduction and background ....................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose of the Plan ................................................................................................................................... 3 Definition of Hazard and Hazard Mitigation ............................................................................................. 4 Definition of Climate Change and Climate Adaptation............................................................................. 4 The Planning Process .................................................................................................................................... 5 2015 Planning Team.................................................................................................................................. 5 Plan Update Public Involvement ............................................................................................................... 5 Plan Update Review of existing plans and reports ................................................................................... 6 2015 Plan preparation .............................................................................................................................. 7 Background ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Town Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 7 Development Trends................................................................................................................................. 8 Assets, Infrastructure and Critical Facilities .............................................................................................. 8 Existing Emergency Response and Hazard Mitigation ............................................................................ 10 2015 Risk Assessment- Identification of Hazards ....................................................................................... 11 Dam Failure Hazard Profile ..................................................................................................................... 13 Drought Hazard Profile ........................................................................................................................... 16 Earthquake Hazard Profile ...................................................................................................................... 18 Landslide Hazard Profile ......................................................................................................................... 24 Flooding & Severe Winter Storms Hazard Profile ................................................................................... 27 Wildfire Hazard Profile ............................................................................................................................ 38 Hazardous Material Incident Hazard Profile ........................................................................................... 42 Mitigation Strategy ..................................................................................................................................... 44 Local Hazard Mitigation Goals ................................................................................................................ 44 2015 Strategy Development ................................................................................................................... 45 Evaluation of Progress from 2010 Plan ................................................................................................... 45 Evaluation of On-Going Mitigation Strategy Programs .......................................................................... 46 New Mitigation High-Priority Strategies ................................................................................................. 47 Very High Priority Strategies ................................................................................................................... 48 High Priority Strategies ........................................................................................................................... 50 Complete Strategy Table......................................................................................................................... 53 Future Plan Maintenance Process .............................................................................................................. 68 2 Future Monitoring, Evaluating, and Updating the Plan .......................................................................... 68 Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms ................................................................................. 68 Continued Public Involvement ................................................................................................................ 68 Appendices.................................................................................................................................................. 68 Resolution of Adoption ........................................................................................................................... 68 Public Meetings and Outreach Documentation ..................................................................................... 69 Country Fair Day Survey and Results ...................................................................................................... 70 Plan Development Team Meeting Documentation ................................................................................ 74 Stakeholders ........................................................................................................................................... 81 Works Cited ................................................................................................................................................. 83 Introduction and background Purpose of the Plan Through partnerships and community engagement, the purpose if this plan is to identify and reduce the vulnerability to natural hazards in order to protect the health, safety, quality of life, environment, and economy of the Town of San Anselmo and its neighboring communities. By updating and improving the existing hazard mitigation plan we endeavor to improve local hazard preparedness, response, recovery and resiliency. The plan identifies flooding, earthquakes, wildfires, landslides, dam inundation, hazardous material incidents, and drought as natural hazards that the Town may experience. San Anselmo has a long history of flooding and remains extremely susceptible to future events but the way forward is still unclear. In the wake of the 2015 Measure D defeating the possibility of using Memorial Park for a flood control detention basin, the community is clearly still searching for acceptable solutions to flooding. Moreover, this plan is an important exercise to recognize and evaluate the suite of other hazards that exist. Our tree-covered landscape could become fuel for fires that could char and destroy our land and homes. Our scenic hillsides can fall victim to unrelenting winter rains, causing landslides, mudslides and erosion. Like all of the Bay Area, we are also always at risk from earthquake. Planning is needed to minimize the potential for loss of life, injury and property damage from any natural disaster. This plan also acknowledges global climate change as potentially destabilizing the health, safety, quality of life, environment, and economy of the Town over the long temp and includes strategies for improving the resiliency of our community in the face of a trend towards increased average air temperatures and weather extremes over the long term. 3 This document is intended to implement the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Mitigation Planning regulations (44 CFR 201), the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, and the Floodplain Management Plan requirements of FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS). The Town is required to have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan to be eligible for disaster recovery assistance and mitigation funding. This plan was also adopted to qualify the Town for increased funding for certain disaster recovery projects under the California Disaster Assistance Act. This document is also intended to be adopted as the safety element of San Anselmo’s General Plan in accordance with the California Disaster Assistance Act (Assembly Bill 2140), thereby keeping the Town’s projects eligible for full reimbursement. Definition of Hazard and Hazard Mitigation A “hazard” is defined by FEMA as “any event or condition with the potential to cause fatalities, injuries, property damage, infrastructure damage, agricultural loss, environmental damage, business interruption, or other loss.” Hazard mitigation is defined by FEMA as “any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards and their effects.” Hazard mitigation is aimed at breaking the cycle of damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. Hazard mitigation is different than emergency preparedness, which focuses on emergency response in a disaster (equipment, food, shelter, etc.). Definition of Climate Change and Climate Adaptation For the purpose of this plan, climate change refers to the deviation of normal weather patterns affecting San Anselmo. Climate scientists, as headed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), are predominately in agreement that weather patterns are changing on a global scale due to the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gasses and global warming. IPCC estimates that the sea level will rise between a half-meter (1.6 feet) and 1 meter (3.2 feet) by the end of the century (IPCC,2015). The Marin County 2015 Climate Action Plan cites California research anticipating a rise of up to 5.5 feet during that time. Other research and monitoring has demonstrated that Marin County has experienced a shift towards warmer weather and increased precipitation in the last century although whether precipitation will increase of decrease is unclear. (source Marin County 2015 Climate action plan). In 2011 San Anselmo adopted a Climate Action Plan, which outlines actions the Town can take to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. (TSA,2011) San Anselmo has begun to include strategies for climate adaptation into its Hazard Mitigation planning process, particularly the more unanimous effects of warming temperatures. Warming temperatures combined with more infill development and the heat-island effect have the potential to exacerbate the effects of drought and wildfires here. At 50 feet above sea level, San Anselmo is barely high enough to avoid these impacts of rising sea levels for the 5-year period of this plan. Nearby communities downstream should begin experiencing deleterious effects of sea level rise first. 4 The Planning Process 2015 Planning Team This update to the San Anselmo LHMP was directed by a planning team consisting of Town Staff with the representatives from the Police, Fire, Building, Planning, Public Works, and Administration Departments listed below. The team met in person four times during 2015 (see documentation in appendix). Other forms of involvement include provision of the Larkspur LHMP by Central Marin Police. Team members from each department participated in every public meeting. This is the fourth iteration of a FEMAapproved Hazard mitigation plan, and the third version of the multi-hazard LHMP, so we are effectively collaborating with the planning teams of the past as well. Only the Town Manager was involved in the previous (2010) LHMP. The planning team: Name Title Department Debra Stutsman Town Manager Town Administration Dan Mahoney Battalion Chief Ross Valley Fire Mike Norton Lieutenant Central Marin Police Elise Semonian Planning Director Planning Sean Condry Public Works Director Public Works Sarah Price Planning Technician DPW/Planning Gerhard Epke Consulting Project Manager DPW Plan Update Public Involvement San Anselmo engaged the public in the hazard mitigation planning process and provided opportunities for the public to comment during the drafting stage and prior to plan approval. The planning team identified stakeholders in the planning area, including neighboring communities, local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities, as well as businesses, academia, and other private and non-profit interests, and gave them an opportunity to be involved in the planning process. The planning team used the Town Manager’s weekly newsletter and fliers, as well as emails to stakeholders, to advertise the first two public meetings. Documentation for all of the public meetings is included in the Appendix. The first public meeting, an agenda item during the Town Council meeting on July 28 2015, was an introduction to the local hazard mitigation planning process, climate adaptation and resiliency, and discussion of the Town assets and risk assessments that had been drafted. No action was taken. Two members of the public spoke favorably about the importance of the plan. The second public meeting was a booth at the Town’s Country Fair Day Event. The planning team created a 5-question online survey and handed out stickers with a link. The booth also distributed a variety of hazard information such as FEMA brochures, fire department coloring books, and had a large flood map available for viewing and discussion. 14 people completed the survey (see Appendix). A third 5 public meeting was held at the Flood Committee Meeting November 19, 2015. Staff presented the draft flood mitigation strategies. A fourth public meeting was held at the San Anselmo Planning Commission on February 1, 2016. One member of the public spoke favorably about the draft plan. A fifth public meeting was held at the San Anselmo Town Council February 9, 2016. At this meeting one member of the public spoke favorably about the draft plan, the Town Council approved sending this plan to California Office of Emergency Services (CalOEMA) and FEMA for approval. See the second Appendix for San Anselmo Town webpage addresses linking to the public meeting agendas, staff reports, and minutes. This Plan will be formally adopted by the San Anselmo Town Council after it get approval from CalOEMA that it satisfies the requirements mentioned above. The plan adoption documents will be contained in the Appendices. Plan Update Review of existing plans and reports This is an update of San Anselmo’s 2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (TSA,2011), which was adopted in 2011. The 2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan was an annex to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) multi-jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for the San Francisco Bay Area titled Taming Natural Disasters. Taming Natural Disasters expires in March 2016 and will not be renewed for San Anselmo to reference. This plan incorporates the most important information from the previous plan- in particular it contains and updates the spreadsheet of specific mitigation strategies from 2010. This narrative portion of this plan, however, was mostly rewritten as it is no longer connected to any larger multi-jurisdictional plan. The previous San Anselmo LHMP was closely reviewed during the planning process, as were other local Hazard Plans, such as the recently completed freestanding plan in Town of Ross (Ross,2012) . Marin County Office of Emergency Services is in the early stages of creating a multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for the entire County, as an update to its 2012 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (MCOES). If this happens within the 5-year term of this plan, it is intended that this plan gets included as an annex specific to San Anselmo. The primary planning document for the Town is the San Anselmo General Plan which was adopted in 19892. The Housing Element was updated in 2015. San Anselmo’s General Plan does not have a Safety Element thus in order to comply with California Assembly Bill 2140, the Town Council will be asked to approve a resolution amending the General Plan by adoption of this LHMP as a chapter thereof. http://www.townofsananselmo.org/DocumentCenter/View/3721) The City of Larkspur’s ‘Updated All Hazard Mitigation Plan’6 was completed last year, and is relevant since we now share a police department (Larkspur,2014). The other plans and documents, reviewed by the planning team are listed and hyperlinked in the Source Document List Appendix. 6 2015 Plan preparation The process of updating this Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan was guided by a ‘Meeting Roadmap’ developed by the ABAG resilience program (ABAG,2015). San Anselmo staff attended a series of three regional workshops over the course of six months on Community Engagement, Hazard & Risk Assessment, and Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy. The planning team met five times over seven months, beginning on May 21, 2015, to draft the plan. Prior to drafting the plan, the planning team reviewed existing studies and plans and reached out to the stakeholders listed in the Appendix. Background Town Overview San Anselmo’s General Plan Housing Element was updated in 2015 and provides background information and current demographics for the Town. The 2010 U.S. Census reports that the Town of San Anselmo has 12,336 residents which is a decrease of 42 people over 10 years. The Town’s population has remained around this number since the 1960s. There are about 5,542 housing units in San Anselmo. Existing development in San Anselmo is primarily low density single-family residential. The Town has several commercial areas including downtown. As of 2015, the Town receives about $850,000- 6 %, of its general fund revenue from sales taxes and an additional $700,000 for roads through Measure D. The median income and house values in San Anselmo are mixed. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, median household income is $92,760. Average home prices are between $900,000 and $1 million and the Town Building Department estimates that construction costs are average between $250- $350 per square foot. About 66 percent of the Town’s households are estimated to be moderate and above moderate income while 34 percent are considered lower income. About 13 percent of the households in San Anselmo are estimated to be extremely low income, 10 percent are estimated to be very low income, 11 percent are estimated to be low income. The climate in San Anselmo is mild and dry during summer, temperatures tend to be in the 70's, and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's. The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of 35 degrees Fahrenheit. The annual average precipitation in San Anselmo is about 35 inches however due to the geography precipitation varies from 45 inches on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais to 25 in the eastern ridges. The wettest month of the year is December with an average rainfall of 7.6 inches (Weather Channel). 7 Figures from www.city-data.com/city/San-Anselmo-California Development Trends The community has few undeveloped lots and is largely “built out.” The Town does not anticipate a significant increase in population. The Town General Plan plans for land uses to remain the same in the future: primarily single-family residential. Should a major disaster event occur that results in the demolition of existing housing units, it is possible that parcels may be further subdivided for the development of additional housing units. Future development, like current development, will consist primarily of replacement and remodeling of existing residential structures. Assets, Infrastructure and Critical Facilities In order to describe the risk associated with each hazard, we need to first define the Town ASSETS we are trying to protect. First and foremost are people- lives and livelihoods of our residents, merchants, visitors, and people connected to the Town. Social assets such as interpersonal networks are invaluable during emergencies and warrant further discussion. 8 Environmental assets are also paramount yet difficult to quantify. One of the main themes being promoted by ABAG for this plan is resilience and climate adaptation. Data for these themes are coarse, but they boil down to healthy environments. The current focus is on quantifiable and physical assets such as money and infrastructure. According to the Marin County Assessor’s office the assessed value of all 6,000 buildings in Town is $1.37 billion. The replacement cost could easily be an order of magnitude higher since many old structures have not been reassessed in several decades and municipal infrastructure is not included. The Town owns and maintains some of the most important infrastructure related to hazard mitigation including Buildings (Town Hall, Library, Isabel Cook Community Center, Robson Harrington House, Corporation Yard), Transportation System (Streets, Bridges, Sidewalks, Streetlights, Parking Lots, Bus Stops, Traffic Signals), Parks & Openspace (Memorial Park, Creek Park, Lansdale Playground, Sorich Park, Hawthorne Canyon, Faude Park, Robson Park, Oak Springs) and most of the Stormdrain Network Some Town-owned buildings are considered critical facilities because of their role in emergency response. San Anselmo’s critical facilities are: Town Offices, Police Department, Council Chambers - 525 San Anselmo Avenue Ross Valley Fire Department Station #19- 777 San Anselmo Avenue- built in 1976 Ross Valley Fire Department Station #20- 150 Butterfield Road- built in 1961 Town Corporation Yard – End of San Francisco Blvd The original San Anselmo Town Hall and adjacent fire station were constructed in 1911. The library on Tunstead Avenue was built four years later with funds from a Carnegie grant. In 1961 a second fire station was constructed at 150 Butterfield Road. In 1976 the downtown fire station was moved down the street to its present location at 777 San Anselmo Avenue (Fire Station #19), and the Town Hall building was renovated to its present configuration with police downstairs and administration upstairs. These buildings are all located in the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Zone A. After extensive damage during the 2005 flood, Town Hall and the library were retrofitted with flood gates and a pump system to keep it operational as the Emergency Operation Center during floods. Fire Station #19 was also seriously damaged and rebuilt with flood gates. The Town owns and maintains fifteen bridges which are essential to transportation, particularly emergency service, in Town. Six of the smaller bridges, such as Broadmoor, Morningside, and Mountain View Avenues are technically considered culverts by Caltrans and thus are not eligible for state funding assistance. Of the other nine bridges, three –Madrone Avenue, Nokomis Avenue, and Center Boulevardhave been deemed functionally obsolete and are thus scheduled for replacement by Caltrans on the next 3-5 years. 9 The Town receives all of its potable water from the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD). Seventyfive percent of the supply is from rainfall collected in 7 reservoirs in Marin. The remaining 25% is from the Russian River in Sonoma County under contract with the Sonoma County Water Agency. The MMWD’s potable water distribution system includes water mains, pump stations, and water storage tanks. The District treats water at three treatment plants, including the Bon Tempe Treatment Plant near Town. Pipelines are made of various materials, depending on when and where they were installed. Since the late 1970s, the District has installed only welded steel and polyvinyl chloride (plastic) mains due to their expected life spans of 100 years or more. MMWD has ongoing programs to replace older water mains.2 Wastewater is collected and conveyed through a sewer pipeline system operated and maintained by the Ross Valley Sanitary District. The District operates and maintains collection sewer lines and 20 pumping stations which collect, pump and transport wastewater to Central Marin Sanitary Agency for treatment. Approximately 95% of the District’s collection system was installed prior to 1955. The Ross Valley Sanitary District in an October 2011 memo indicates that their two hundred miles of public sewer pipe, and an additional two hundred miles of private laterals, are “mostly past their life expectancy and will cost $400-500 million to replace.” The RVSD plans to rehabilitate up to two percent (four miles) of the gravity sewer system each year. (RVSD,2013) Electricity and gas are supplied by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) infrastucture. There is a 12” natural gas transmission pipeline in Town which runs along Red Hill Avenue from the Miracle Mile in San Rafael terminating at the Hub, at which point a regulator distributes the flow of gas to local distribution lines. In the years since the major gas line explosion in San Bruno, PG&E has significantly increased its investment in infrastructure maintenance and public safety. PG&E works with local emergency responders on plan development and training. The company’s 2014 gas safety and emergency response plans can be found online. (Wickham,2016) https://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/safety/systemworks/gas/GasSafetyPlan_2014.pdf The Town has a road network of primarily local streets. There are no freeways in the Town. Several of the town streets in hillside areas are not accepted or maintained by the Town. Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is an arterial route that bisects the Town and is an important transportation route for San Anselmo and the surrounding communities. There are no hospitals in San Anselmo but several ancillary health-related facilities (including medical offices, pharmacies, and specialty clinics, etc.) some of which are in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) aka the 100-year flood zone. Three gas stations exist along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. The San Anselmo Post Office is located at 121 San Anselmo Avenue, within the floodplain. Existing Emergency Response and Hazard Mitigation San Anselmo’s two fire stations, numbers 19 and 20, are part of the Ross Valley Fire Department which has additional stations in adjacent Towns and responds to emergencies. Paramedics are embedded in 10 engine crews operating out of stations 19 and 20. A paramedic ambulance managed by the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority is based at Station 18, in Ross. A hazardous materials spill response vehicle is stationed at Station 19, in downtown San Anselmo. Fire safety education is an important part of RVFD’s service and includes home and business inspections, vegetation management, ensuring access and clearance, and home construction/remodel plan checks. San Anselmo is a partner in Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training program. Community education is ongoing and includes group CPR instruction, flood and wildfire education, a yearly Disaster Awareness Fair, and Get Ready community preparedness training. In 2013 San Anselmo’s police department was consolidated with Twin Cities Police to form Central Marin Police Department. Central Marin Police continue to operate out of San Anselmo Town Hall however the main station is in Larkspur. Marin County Sheriff now share use of the former San Anselmo Police Station downtown. Marin County Sheriff and Office of Emergency Services (OES) are headquartered at 1600 Los Gamos Drive, at the corner of Highway 101 and Lucas Valley Road. The San Anselmo Building, Public Works and Planning Departments enforce the most recent California Building Code and the San Anselmo Municipal Code, which contains numerous provisions designed to protect property from hazards and preserve the natural environment. The Town Municipal Code includes requirements for grading permits, regulates development in the floodplain and also stormwater management. The Town zoning regulations- design review requirements and guidelines, which include many provisions specific to preventing development from creating hazards, reducing the risk of hazards on development, and for protection of the environment. 2015 Risk Assessment- Identification of Hazards This section identifies and describes all natural hazards that can affect San Anselmo. In order to identify the type of hazards that may affect Town, the planning team considered the historical natural hazards, the potential impacts of climate change, conducted internet research and considered recent State, regional and County hazard mitigation plans. The planning team considered the range of hazards that could affect the Town listed in the table below. Hazards highlighted were considered relevant and profiled in detail. 11 San Anselmo Hazards Preliminary Assessment Hazard Avalanche Coastal Erosion Coastal Storm Dam Failure Profiled? No No No Yes Drought Earthquake Expansive Soils Yes Yes No Levee Failure Flood Hailstorm Hurricane Land Subsidence Landslide No Yes No No No Yes Severe Winter Storm Yes Tornado Tsunami No No Volcano Wildfire No Yes Windstorm Hazardous material incident No Yes Terrorism No Explanation The weather in San Anselmo is not cold enough for snow. The Town has no coastal areas. The Town has no coastal areas. The Phoenix Lake Dam in the Marin Municipal Water District (Marin County) outfalls into a portion of San Anselmo. Marin has experienced droughts. The Town is located in a seismically active region. Areas of Mt. Baldy have a “moderate” risk. However, there is no development in the area. There are no levees in or near the Town. Areas of the community are located in flood prone areas. Hailstorms are not known to occur in the Town. No hurricanes occur in the area. Not a hazard in the Town. The Town is vulnerable to landslides and slope instability, particularly after prolonged rainfall. Severe winter storms are considered in the flood risk assessment although large storms often coincide with other hazards such as landslides and flooding, but also include trees falling and infrastructure damage. No tornadoes occur in the area. Based on available “worst case scenario” mapping by the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Town of San Anselmo is not within an area that is anticipated to be directly affected by a tsunami. Not a hazard in the Town. The Town may be subject to wildfires. The Town is adjacent to large areas of undeveloped land and the climate, vegetation and topography lead to fire risks. Not a hazard in the Town. See Severe Winter Storm. The Town of San Anselmo follows the Marin County Hazardous Materials Area Plan. The Area Plan is the principal guide for agencies of Marin County, its incorporated cities, and other local entities in mitigating hazardous materials emergencies. The small residential Town is unlikely to be a target of terrorism that rises to the level of a community hazard. The Town will analyze other hazards that are not addressed in this plan if they are determined to be of greater significance in the future. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 does not mandate that the Town include human-caused hazards in the hazard mitigation planning and, aside from Hazardous Material Incidents, they have been excluded from this hazard mitigation plan because the size and characteristics of the residential community make it unlikely that a human-caused hazard will create a significant risk to the Town. 12 The impacts of climate change on hazards are discussed in the individual sections, where applicable. Climate change has never been directly responsible for any declared disasters in San Anselmo. The potential effects of climate change are varied and include warmer and more varied weather patterns and sea level rise. Based on ABAG maps, a 55 inch sea level rise will not be a direct hazard for the Town of San Anselmo. However, sea level rise may exacerbate flooding in the Town. In November 2010 the San Anselmo Town Council approved a Climate Action Plan that details Town actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Dam Failure Hazard Profile Hazard Description Dam failure refers to the physical collapse of a dam which impounds a reservoir of water, thereby resulting in inundation of the downstream area. Dam failures are relatively rare but can result from a number of natural or manmade causes such as earthquakes. Phoenix Lake Dam, owned by the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD), is on the west side of the Town of Ross. The State of California Department of Dam Safety indicates the dam was built in 1907 and has a capacity of 612 Acre Feet. The dam is an earthen fill dam constructed in 1906 using the hydraulic fill method. It is 95 feet high and 350 feet long with approximately 411 acre-feet storage capacity. ( MCDPW) Location & Extent Phoenix Lake flows to Ross Creek which joins Corte Madera Creek in the Town of Ross and flows into the San Francisco Bay. State law requires dam owners to develop maps depicting areas that might be inundated by dam failure. The maps were developed using engineering hydrology principals and represent the best estimate of where the water would flow if the dam completely failed with a full reservoir. The inundation pathway is based on completely emptying the reservoir and does not include runoff from storms. Dam inundation maps do not indicate the depth of inundation and may represent only an inch of water over some inundation areas. No recent maps have been made of the inundation area. Development downstream of the dam and upgrades to the dam may have altered the inundation area since the 1970s. The inundation map provides an estimate of the general location and extent of the dam failure inundation area. The mapped inundation area within the Town of San Anselmo is limited to one block, or approximately 30 parcels, between Bolinas and Belle Avenues. MMWD indicates that, “while the instantaneous failure of the embankment, or any failure for that matter, is very unlikely, water from such a failure would reach [San Anselmo] in less than ½ hour. Since the volume of water in the lake is small, any such flooding would pass quickly, and likely be relatively shallow, however, in extreme circumstances some damage would undoubtedly occur.” Previous occurrences A dam has never failed in the San Francisco Bay Area. 13 Probability of future events San Anselmo’s neighboring Town, Ross, is directly downstream, of Phoenix Lake. The Town of Ross General Plan Safety Element provides: In 1974, a seismic stability analysis of Phoenix Lake Dam was conducted for the Marin Municipal Water District. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of seismically induced flooding associated with failure of Phoenix Lake Dam. The earth dam was constructed just prior to the 1906 earthquake, which created a landslide on the inside portion of the dam embankment. The slope stability analysis conducted in 1974 concluded that the dam spillway could settle from 4 – 6 feet during an earthquake with a Richter magnitude of 8.5 generated along the San Andreas Fault. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake had a Richter magnitude of 8.3. In response to this assessment, the Marin Municipal Water District has widened the spillway by 5 to 6 feet and has lowered the spillway by 6 feet. Accordingly, these improvements to the dam have reduced the flood risk to one flood in 30,000 years. According to MMWD, “the dam has been modified several times in the last 100 years including increased height of fill, outlet works changes, an embankment buttress fill in the 1960s and a new spillway, designed for a spillway design flood with a recurrence interval of once in 10,000 years or so, and an increase in freeboard in the mid-1980s.” The dam is inspected yearly by the California Division of Safety of Dams and has been rated by that agency as acceptable for continued operation. Their rating for the facility is 3C, there is a potential for damage should the dam fail but that the dam is in good condition for its age. The Phoenix Lake Dam is over 100 years old. According to ABAG, when a dam in known to have a failure potential, the water level is reduced to allow for partial collapse without loss of water as required by the State Division of Safety of Dams and by safety protocols established by dam owners. In 2011, the California Department of Water Resources awarded a $7.66 million grant to the Marin County Flood Control District’s Ross Valley Watershed Flood Protection program to fund a $19.7 million project to retrofit for the Phoenix Lake reservoir into a facility that will function as a flood control detention basin in addition to its current use as a water supply storage facility and public recreation area. This project will be developed in partnership with the Marin Municipal Water District, who currently owns and operates Phoenix Lake. The project would seismically retrofit the dam and construct other improvements to the hydraulic and recreational infrastructures of the lake. The project would bring the dam up to modern safety standards. In addition, new inundation maps are likely to be prepared as the project is reviewed. Assessment of Town Vulnerability The Town of San Anselmo does not believe the dam poses a significant hazard to the community because the risk of dam failure is low and such a small portion of the Town is located within the inundation zone. 14 San Anselmo Dam Inundation AreaBetween Belle and Bolinas Avenue 15 Drought Hazard Profile A drought is a long period (typically two or three years) with below average rainfall that results in water supply shortages. Town of San Anselmo receives water from the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD), which gets 75 percent of its water from local reservoirs and 25 percent from the Sonoma County Water Agency. MMWD has a long-term water supply and management plan that includes a drought analyses and impacts of climate change. As of 2014 MMWD also has a Drought Resiliency Task Force. The information in this section is obtained from the 2010 Water Management Plan, 2015 Urban Water Management Plan Water Demand Analysis and Water Conservation Measures Update, and MMWD’s website. Description MMWD has precautions to avoid or minimize droughts. During a declared shortage, MMWD would issue notifications to its customers to conserve water. If the length of service interruption were to be for an extended period of time, MMWD would determine if the situation is localized or widespread and develop a specific plan to provide water for health and safety during the situation. During extended periods of water shortage the District has worked with other water suppliers to provide modest amounts of water. Location & Extent The entire Town of San Anselmo is subject to drought, which would be associated with a drought throughout Marin County and watersheds and reservoir systems of MMWD. Alternatively, as is currently the case in 2015, the State of California is experiencing a severe drought throughout the Sacramento and San Joaquin watersheds. This situation does not affect San Anselmo hydrologically, but the regulatory response- mandating municipal cutbacks- do impact the Town. Previous occurrences of the hazard California is currently experiencing an unprecedented drought beginning in 2012. In January 2014, the Governor declared a State of Emergency in California in response to current drought conditions. 2015 has surpassed 1977 as the driest year on record in California. This was MMWD’s drought of record. A more prolonged drought punctuated with brief periods of rainfall occurred from 1987 through 1992. Probability of future events While California has experienced prolonged droughts in the past, notably 1973, 1976-77, 1987-1991, and 2007-09, California faces an uncertain water future as climate change will likely increase the number and severity of future droughts. The magnitude of this change is currently unknown, but we do know that the way we consume and manage water will need to change in the future. 16 Assessment of Town Vulnerability Droughts are usually associated with the hazard of impacts on agriculture, which can impact people indirectly. Since there is no agriculture in San Anselmo, prolonged periods of drought do not cause crop losses. Lack of water affects the Town creeks, groundwater supply, threatened species (Steelhead), and the Town’s ability to suppress wildfires. A drought may result in dry vegetation that is susceptible to ignition and wildfires. A drought in San Anselmo can affect residents and businesses that rely on water and can result in financial losses associated with loss of landscaping. The Marin Municipal Water District indicates that existing water supply sources, in combination with the conservation program, are projected to be sufficient to meet the needs of the MMWD service area for the planning horizon of the 2010 Urban Water Management Plan. MMWD indicates their facilities are designed to collect and deliver a sufficient amount of water to survive a repeat of the 1976-78 drought with an acceptable level of emergency water rationing. Due to the current level of conservation by its customers (who have reduced their per capita water consumption by 29% compared to the nonconserving water use levels of the 1970s), MMWD is planning its future water supply so that the depth of mandatory rationing will be no more than 25% with a frequency of once in 80+ years. Based on the 2010 Urban Water Management Plan, MMWD is not currently seeking alternative water supplies such as desalination. Climate change is likely to influence the number and severity of future droughts in Marin County however without scientific consensus on whether precipitation should be expected to increase or decrease here, the type of change is hard to anticipate. Temperatures are expected to rise a few degrees in the coming century (IPCC,2015), but whereas much of the State of California relies tenuously on snowpack in mountainous regions to provide annual water storage, MMWD water does not come from snow. If precipitation rates do not change, increased temperatures can be expected to boost evaporation and transpiration rates and reduce available water supplies. Due to the uncertainty San Anselmo needs to be prepared for an increase in weather variability- meaning an increase in both the frequency of droughts and the severity of winter storms. Estimating Potential Losses With current supplies and conservation levels, drought is not anticipated to cause significant losses. Climate change may result in a warmer climate and droughts could become more frequent, more severe, and longer-lasting. 17 Earthquake Hazard Profile This section details the affect that major earthquakes may have locally in San Anselmo. San Anselmo and central Marin County are not known to have earthquake faults located beneath them, but several active faults exist nearby, thus making us susceptible to large regional events. Any major Bay Area earthquake has the potential to affect the quality of life of San Anselmo residents. Even if major damage is not experienced in this specific location, a large Bay Area earthquake will cause hundreds of deaths, leave thousands homeless, cause widespread damage and destruction to roads and other infrastructure; damage businesses, housing, schools and healthcare facilities, impair government 18 services and social services, and will devastate the regional economy. Information for the earthquake hazard in the Town of San Anselmo was obtained primarily from the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Regional Hazard Mitigation plan (2011), maps and other information available from the ABAG web site at http://www.abag.ca.gov/, and maps and other information available from the MarinMap website at http://www.marinmap.org. Description San Anselmo is near several active faults that have the potential to cause earthquakes that would be a hazard for the Town. The San Andreas Fault runs north and south in the western side of Marin County, approximately 8 miles southwest from San Anselmo. Several faults lay within approximately 15 miles from the Town of San Anselmo: the San Andreas fault (capable of generating a magnitude 8.0 earthquake), the Hayward fault (capable of generating magnitude 7.2 and 7.4 earthquakes), the Rodgers Creek Fault (capable of generating a magnitude 7.0 earthquake) and the San Gregorio fault (capable of generating a magnitude 7.3 earthquake). Earthquakes themselves may cause several different hazards: surface rupture, ground shaking, liquefaction, landslides and tsunamis. Surface Rupture In general, earthquakes occur as a result of movement along active faults. If a fault rupture extends to the surface, there is visible movement on a fault, surface rupture. San Anselmo is not located over any faults and will not experience surface rupture hazards. Tsunamis Tsunamis can occur in the Bay Area as a result of off-shore earthquakes, even distant earthquake events. Tsunami inundation is estimated to extend from the San Francisco Bay to College Avenue in Kentfield. The 2009 Tsunami Inundation Map for Emergency Planning (by CalEma, CGS, and USC) is a “worst-case scenario” map that combines inundation results for a suite of realistic local and distant earthquakes and hypothetical extreme undersea, near-shore landslides. Since the Town is not within the tsunami inundation area on this map, tsunamis are not considered a hazard in San Anselmo, though a tsunami could potentially exacerbate the flood hazard. Ground Shaking The fault rupture of the ground generates vibrations or waves in the rock known as ground shaking. A principal factor in determining shaking hazard is the magnitude of expected earthquakes. Larger magnitude earthquakes generally cause a larger area of ground to shake hard, and to shake longer. However, an earthquake shakes harder in one area versus another based not only on the magnitude, but also on other factors, including the distance of the area to the fault and the type of geologic materials underlying the site, with stronger shaking occurring on softer soils. Liquefaction Ground shaking can lead to liquefaction. When the ground liquefies in an earthquake, sandy or silty materials saturated with water behave like a liquid, instead of solid ground. The “recipe” for liquefaction is: 1.) the ground at the site must be “loose”, uncompacted or unconsolidated sand and silt without much clay or stuck together; 2.) The sand and silt must be “soggy”, water saturated, due to a high water table; and 3.) the site must be shaken long and hard enough by the earthquake to “trigger” liquefaction. 19 Location and Extent According to MarinMap, all areas of the Town will experience strong to very strong shaking from a major earthquake. Low lying areas, which are on softer soils, will experience greater ground shaking. The hillside areas could experience earthquake-induced landslides. Ground Shaking Marin Map has developed maps to aid in depicting seismic shaking amplification hazard in San Anselmo. The following map indicates general areas of the Town that are likely to experience great shaking, though no areas within the Town limits are categorized as greatest risk. Liquefaction The land in the Bay Area that is most vulnerable to liquefaction are areas in San Francisco Bay filled since 1845 to transform tidal and submerged areas into land, and areas along existing and filled stream channels and flood plains, particularly those areas with deposits less than 10,000 years old. In San Anselmo, the areas along the existing and filled stream channels may be subject to liquefaction. MarinMap has developed a map depicting hazard from liquefaction susceptibility. This map indicates that areas in Town, primarily the low-lying areas adjacent to the Town creeks, have a “low” liquefaction susceptibility level. However, liquefaction susceptibility should be considered on a site-bysite basis. Earthquake-Induced Landslides Ground shaking can also lead to ground failure on slopes, or earthquake-induced landslides. See discussion under Landslide Hazard, below. Previous occurrences Many moderate to great earthquakes (over magnitude 6.0) have affected the Bay Area. Twenty-two such events have occurred in the last 165 years, an average of one every seven and a half years. The devastating San Francisco earthquake occurred in 1906 and caused extensive damage in Oakland, San Jose and Santa Rosa. More recently, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake caused extensive damage in the Santa Cruz Mountains, as well as in Oakland and San Francisco. There have been four earthquake-related natural disasters in the Bay Area since 1950: the 2014 South Napa Earthquake, the September 3, 2000 Napa earthquake (both declared a disaster in only Napa County), the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake (declared a disaster in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano counties), and the April 1984 Morgan Hill earthquake (declared a disaster in Santa Clara County) Probability of future events The probability of a major earthquake in the Bay Area is great. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) indicates that there is a 63% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake in the Bay Area in the next 30 years (with a wide error range plus or minus 22%). Smaller earthquakes are more likely to occur and can still produce significant damage. Assessment of Town Vulnerability A major earthquake event could result in deaths, injuries, property and environmental damage, and disruption of normal government and community services. Hospitals outside of the Town may be 20 impacted by an earthquake. Telephone systems will be affected by system failure, overloads and loss of electrical power. Natural gas leaks pose a fire threat and breaks in the system could affect service to the Town. Water sources could be compromised due to damage to treatment plants, pump stations and/or the pipelines that distribute potable water. Liquefaction-related damage to water supply pipelines could impair fire suppression, leaving the Town vulnerable to a large fire. Sewage collection systems throughout Marin County may sustain widespread damage if ground movement damages mains or pipelines. Electricity may be interrupted. Landslides may occur. Bridges and roads may be closed because of damage. An earthquake may also result in dam failure. (Source Marin County General Plan) Liquefaction of creeks during the winter storm season could exacerbate flood hazards. There is no national, state or local warning system for earthquakes. Japan, Mexico, Turkey, Romania and Taiwan have early earthquake warning systems. Scientists in the United States have been testing a warning system that provides a few seconds to a few tens of seconds of warning before an earthquake event. This early warning would provide time for individuals to get to a safe location, to shutdown utilities, and take other steps to reduce hazards from ground shaking. California scientists are working to produce a reliable system for general use. (California Integrated Seismic Network http://www.cisn.org/eew/) Uninhabitable housing due to ground shaking damage ABAG predicts that up to 3,495 housing units in the Marin County area may be left uninhabitable by an Earthquake that involves the full San Andreas Fault. Older single family homes (pre-1940s) are the most vulnerable to earthquake hazards. Based on the developments in the building codes and construction practices, World War II or, in terms of decades, 1940, has been identified as a turning point in the development of construction practices. Transportation system disruption ABAG’s modeling of road closures in future earthquake scenarios predicts the earthquake will also result in 70 road closures in Marin County. The Town may experience road closures from liquefaction, earthquake-triggered landslides, shaking damage to bridges as well as indirect causes of closures such as building damage, hazmat releases, and utility pipeline breaks and fallen trees. The Town of San Anselmo will be affected by the regional impacts of regional transportation disruption, particularly closure of the main San Francisco bridges such as the Golden Gate. Utility disruption Pipelines break and leak as a result of earthquakes. An ABAG analysis of damaged pipelines following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake indicated that pipelines in areas subject to liquefaction and exposed to violent ground shaking were the most likely to have broken or leaked as a result of that earthquake. Some of the Town water and sewer facilities are very old and may leak and break. The Town gas and electricity system may be damaged and interrupted. Identification of Structures Subject to Hazard All structures are potentially subject to damage by earthquakes. Due to the enforcement of building codes on new construction and remodels, older buildings in Town, particularly stone, masonry, and softstory buildings are more at risk of failure. The Town Building Department completed an inventory of masonry buildings and stone buildings in 2006. All 18 masonry and 3 stone buildings have been reinforced. Soft story buildings are multi-story buildings in which the bottom story is susceptible to shearing or 21 collapse during earthquakes because of large openings such as windows, doors or open walls such as parking areas. Soft story failure was responsible for over half of collapsed buildings in the 1989 Loma Alta earthquake. San Anselmo has not yet completed a soft story inventory or implemented a retrofit program. Critical Facilities San Anselmo’s critical facilities are Town Hall (including Town Offices, Police Department, Council Chambers), Ross Valley Fire Department Stations #19 & #20, and the Corporation Yard. Town Hall was constructed in 1911 and renovated in 1976 and 2006. It is a wood building in good condition. Fire station #19 was constructed in 1976 and renovated in 2007, it is also in good condition and not in need of retrofits or upgrades. Fire station #20 was constructed in 1961 and is in satisfactory condition. The Town Corporation yard buildings are metal framed, constructed in 2002, and in good condition. Estimating Potential Losses The Town does not have a reliable method to estimate potential dollar losses to vulnerable structures from earthquake related causes. ABAG, in collaboration with USGS, CGS, and OES, has identified significant problems with using the ShakeMap scenarios (which tend to produce shaking levels lower than the ABAG Shaking Scenario maps), the existing vulnerability formulas (which are prone to underestimate housing losses and losses to wood-frame structures), and incomplete building inventory data. The HAZUS, software package developed by FEMA for loss modeling, loss estimates are currently inadequate for planning purposes. For example, the 1994 Northridge earthquake caused over $40 billion in losses, HAZUS estimates the total losses for that earthquake as only $23 billion. In addition, the Town does not have reliable information on the value of existing structures. The Town cannot rely on assessed value, since the values are not updated to reflect actual value since Proposition 13. 22 23 Landslide Hazard Profile Description Landslides are a potential hazard in the Town of San Anselmo. Landslides include all movements of soil, rock or debris as a result of falling, sliding or flowing. The triggering cause may be heavy rainfall or seismic activity. An untimely occurrence of a large earthquake during or soon after a sustained period of moderate to heavy rainfall could produce a landslide problem in San Anslemo. Landslides may destroy residences, block roads, sever utilities and water supply, and injure or kill people. Emergency operations may be hampered by road closures and loss of communications. Extensive efforts may be required to rescue trapped persons, recover bodies, remove debris, assist in reestablishing vital public services and utilities, and offer care and shelter to affected persons. A typical soil debris avalanche in Marin involves a few hundred cubic yards of soil and colluvium and is the result of total saturation of a part of a hillside. Location & Extent MarinMap has generated a map that shows the landslide risk in the Town of San Anselmo. According to that map the greatest risk is concentrated on the periphery of the town border. Previous occurrences Flooding and landsliding associated with severe storms have been among the most common disasters in the Bay Area during the period from 1950 to 2009. During periods of heavy rainfall, excessive water consistently triggers slides in the County and caused significant infrastructure damage during the floods of 1970, 1973, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1998, and January 2005. Probability of future events It is probable that the Town will experience future landslides. In general, landslides are most likely during periods of higher than average rainfall or El Nino winter storms. In addition, the ground must be saturated prior to the onset of a major storm for significant landsliding to occur. Assessment of Town Vulnerability There is no way for the Town to estimate the scale of individual landslides in terms of size or extent based on the available maps. Most landslides have resulted in localized damage and road closures. Summary of the Town’s vulnerability The Town’s critical facilities and schools are not located in slide hazard areas. Roads and residential infrastructure would be impacted by a slide. Residences in the immediate area of a slide could be damaged or destroyed. 24 Many of the roads and utilities in the slide hazard area are privately owned. This could slow recovery from the hazard as residents seek financing or resolve property ownership disputes. Estimating Potential Losses It is difficult to estimate potential losses from landslides since the size of the landslides and the damage they cause are varied. At best, the costs involve the cost of the slide clean up and stabilization of the area. From there the costs vary widely. The Town of San Anselmo estimated it would cost $98,000 and $140,000 for repairs associated with two roads damaged by slides in March 2011. The City of Mill Valley insurers paid over 4 million dollars in damages and litigation costs for a slide originating from a Town road that resulted in the death of a resident. 25 26 Flooding & Severe Winter Storms Hazard Profile Description The Town of San Anselmo is subject to periodic flooding from San Anselmo and Sleepy Hollow Creeks. The low-lying areas of San Anselmo and its neighboring communities have experienced widespread flooding throughout history as creeks overflow their banks. The most recent event was the disastrous New Year’s Eve Flood of 2005. Ross Valley Flood Control Program’s 2007 Capital Improvement Plan ( MCDPW), completed by Stetson Engineers Inc. describes the San Anselmo flooding hazard: Ross Valley is naturally prone to flooding by its location, geologic and geomorphic setting: rainfall can be intense, soils are shallow with limited absorption capacity, slopes are steep, stream channels are entrenched and in many places narrow with relatively little storage capacity. The watershed has been altered from its natural condition and many sections of creeks and streams have been placed in culverts and the natural pattern of runoff has been changed. During prolonged and heavy storms the watershed can become saturated. If rainfall is sufficiently intense, heavy runoff can result in high flows exceeding the capacity of the creek in places where conveyance is constrained. Floodwaters escape the creek capacity and breach the creek bank in downtown San Anselmo. ‘Localized’ flooding also occurs in many places in San Anselmo and is exacerbated where the storm water drainage network has inadequate capacity for peak flows or is blocked from sediment, debris, or vegetation. Localized flooding is characterized by excessive ponding in the street, and overflow onto lower-lying residential properties even during 5-year storm events. Localized flooding can occur within or outside of the FEMA designated floodplain. One example of localized flooding within the floodplain is Bolinas Avenue, on the border with the Town of Ross. Because the historic flow path has been severed, ponding occurs in the street during most large storms. When regional flooding occurs water flows down San Anselmo Avenue and connects to Bolinas and Shady Lane. Severe winter storms can also be accompanied by hazards and destruction resulting from high winds. High winds knock down limbs or entire trees which subsequently damage power and utility lines, buildings, block streets, and even pose a direct risk to human safety. Location The flood-prone areas in the Town of San Anselmo are west of Sir Francis Drake near downtown, and along Sleepy Hollow Creek from the confluence upstream to the Fire Station #20. Main breakout points are where man-made obstructions, such as retaining walls, bridges, and buildings obstruct the flow of water. During the 2005/2006 flood, five consecutive bridges were overtopped along Sleepy Hollow Creek. This includes Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Mountain View, Morningside, Broadmoor, and Arroyo Ave. Flooding occurs around Saunders Avenue and downstream of there where Sleepy Hollow Creek meets the mainstem. 27 The deepest and most widespread flooding occurs in the area around downtown San Anselmo. At its upstream extent, floodwater jumps the bank at Nokomis and Madrone Avenues and heads through properties and towards Sycamore Ave. As San Anselmo Creek enters downtown San Anselmo it is constricted by the series of Building Bridges downstream of Bridge Avenue. The creek’s capacity here is approximately 2,800 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is approximately the discharge of the 20 percentannual chance flood (i.e., 5-year flood). When discharge exceeds this capacity, floodwaters overtop and escape the banks of the creek, flooding the downtown business and residential district. During large floods these floodwaters eventually reach the floodplain in Ross where they continue to flow through the downtown business and residential district there before continuing farther downstream through the community of Kentfield. Floodwaters return to the channel near the College of Marin in lower Kentfield. Through San Anselmo’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, FEMA provides and maintains detailed Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) of the area. The most recent FIRM update occurred in 2014. These new maps include: The 100-year floodplain, also called the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or A zone The 500-year floodplain, or X zone The regulatory floodway, which delineates areas of fast-moving floodwater Base Flood Elevations, which indicate the water surface elevation during the 100-year flood FEMA flood maps are best viewed on the County GIS website marinmap.org but are also included as figures at the bottom of this document. Severe winter storms have the potential to be hazardous all over Town because trees, power lines, roads, and buildings are evenly distributed. Regional topography plays a role in wind speeds and precipitation amounts. While San Anselmo generally enjoys its warm sunny weather because of its relationship to Mount Tamalpais, the mountain does not seem to diminish the impact of severe storms. The higher west side of Ross Valley generally receives more precipitation and subsequent runoff due to the orographic effect, however every storm seems to be different, and precipitation amounts can vary greatly between gauges just a few miles apart. Extent Floods in the Town of San Anselmo develop rapidly, generally within 24 to 36 hours after the beginning of the flood-producing storm, but are short in duration. Flood conditions usually subside within 24 hours. In 1982, flood depths of 4 feet were reported in Town. Floods in San Anselmo usually occur during large storm events. High winds and mudslides compound the flood problems. A U.S. Geological Survey report noted that the total storm damage was far greater than flood damage during the flood of 1982. (USGS,1989) Typical winter peak discharges have been measured below 3,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). The two most severe floods occurred in the winters of 1982 and 2005, with peak discharges of approximately 7,200 cfs and 6,800 cfs, respectively. 28 Previous occurrences There is a long history of flooding in San Anselmo. The two most severe foods occurred in the winters of 1982 and 2005. Prior to establishment of the USGS stream flow gauging station in Ross on Corte Madera Creek in February 1951, flooding was reported in calendar years 1914, 1925, 1937, and 1942. Since the Ross gage has been in operation, flood flows have been recorded in 1951, 1955, 1958, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1994 (flooding was reported, but the stream flow gage was not in operation), and 2005. See the following San Anselmo Historical Museum web page for more information about the history of flooding here: http://sananselmohistory.org/articles/flooding/ The flood in December 2005 - January 2006, was a federally declared disaster DR-1628. Seven inches of rain fell on the Ross Valley Watershed in the two weeks prior to the 2005 flood. Because of this nearsaturated condition, the earth had little or no capacity to absorb storm water on December 31, 2005. At 2:00 am on December 31, 2005, Corte Madera Creek was already at flood stage of 19 feet. The strongest part of the storm occurred from 3:00 am to 6:00 am. Flood waters topped the banks at Ross and San Anselmo at the same time. The flood crested at 22.5 feet, 3.5 feet above flood stage at Ross. Typically, documentation of severe winter storms only exists when accompanied by flood events, so we 29 do not have a good record of severe winter storm occurrence. The current Public Works Director was traumatized on March 27, 2011 when approximately 5 inches of rain fell within a 50 minute period, resulting in 5 simultaneous landslides and localized flooding all over Town. Probability of future events Due to the nature of flooding in Ross Valley, future flooding in San Anselmo is probable and will remain so until we have removed or reconstructed the bridges and buildings that restrict in-channel flow as outlined in the Flood Control District’s Capital Improvement Plan. According to the flood frequency graphs and inundation maps, there is roughly a one-in-ten chance of water rising beyond the creek banks in a given year (MCDPW). There is every reason to believe future episodes of severe weather will occur with the same or greater probability as currently exists. Climate change science indicates that the severe weather will most likely increase. Assessment of Town Vulnerability FEMA’s new flood maps for San Anselmo clearly quantify the flood risks in Town and leave no doubt about our vulnerability. Severe winter storms tend to cause a lot of relatively minor problems all over Town. This means that the Town vulnerability depends on how effectively different factions of the community and emergency services can respond. San Anselmo residents and staff pay close attention to storm predictions, which have recently become more integrated with social media. 30 Floods result in loss of property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commercial and governmental services, expenditures for flood recovery, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety and general welfare. Most flood losses are caused by structures that are inadequately elevated, flood proofed, or protected from flood damage. Sites along the creek may have issues with bank erosion. Health and safety may be protected by alerting residents in advance of a flood hazard. There is a stream gauge in Town that allows the Town to monitor when flooding is imminent. By monitoring the creek gauge, the Town may warn residents through the Town email system when severe storms are expected and when flood warnings are issued. The Town may alert residents of a flood by using an air horn at the fire house. The Town would send recorded emergency announcements by phone to subscribers in the Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS). Although no deaths from flooding have been reported in the last 30-40 years, drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Currents can be deceptive, and only six inches of moving water can knock a person off of their feet. Mud on surfaces creates a slipping hazard. Persons may attempt to drive through flooded areas and drown. Power lines and electrical wires may create electrocution hazards and electrical current can travel through water. When electrical communication is down, the Town cannot warn residents of flood hazards through emails and telephones that work on electricity. Flood waters are powerful and may pick up and carry large and small debris, including broken glass and sharp objects. Debris may contribute to flooding where the debris blocks streams or storm drains. In addition to debris, flood waters may carry hazardous and toxic materials, including raw sewage, animal wastes, oil, gasoline, solvents, and chemicals. During the peak of the 2005 flood, four of the five pumps at the Ross Valley Sanitary District’s Kentfield pumping station (which pumps the sewage to a treatment plant) unexpectedly shut down for 3 1/2 hours. Approximately 5,100,000 gallons of sewage contaminated storm water may have contaminated areas in the Ross Valley, including schools, parks and other public places.16 However, due to heavy rains associated with flooding events, hazardous and toxic materials may be diluted. Mold and mildew from flood damaged materials also present a significant health hazard. Therefore cleanup and incentives for proper repairs are important. Critical facilities and infrastructure Several critical facilities are located within the SFHA. San Anselmo Town Hall, including the Council Chambers and Police Station, is designated the Emergency Operations Center and is located downtown amidst the floodplain. Both fire stations in Town are also located within the flood zone. Fire Station 19 and Town Hall are both equipped with engineered ‘dry’ floodproofing and barriers, however during a major flood these locations would be inaccessible. The San Anselmo fire station, police station, Ross Valley Paramedic ambulance and administrative 31 offices are all located adjacent to Corte Madera Creek and within the special flood hazard area. The personnel move vehicles and necessary equipment to higher elevations when a flood is imminent. During major flooding events, the main Town thoroughfares are inaccessible and the Town is bisected by the flood waters. Medical facilities are located outside of the San Anselmo Town limits but may be inaccessible for some residents due to impassible roads. Economy and tax base San Anselmo floods have a devastating impact on the downtown business. Businesses, many of whom do not own the structures and may not be aware of the extent of the flood problem, lose inventory and must close their doors during and after flood events, if they return to business at all. The Town receives the majority of revenue from the residential tax base and not from commercial businesses. However, Town residents lose the convenience of shopping at local stores and also the community that the business district creates. Review of flood insurance landscape As of 2014 the Special Flood Hazard Area encompasses 161 acres of San Anselmo and includes roughly 562 buildings. There are 526 active National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies in place in the Town of San Anselmo. The average premium is $1,255 so the Town and constituents together pay $660,130 annually. Many of these premiums are being raised by FEMA, and are expected to continue rising. 32 There have been 215 claims since the Town joined the NFIP program in 1978 totaling $11.3 million. $10.75 million of that was from the 2005/2006 flood. Estimating Potential Losses San Anselmo ranks 7th in the State for flood insurance claims. According to FEMA flood insurance claims data, approximately $10.75 million dollars in flood claims were paid after the 2005/2006 San Anselmo flood. The claims ranged from $380 to $510,000. Several residences were elevated after the 2005/2006 flood. However, it is estimated that future floods would result in similar losses within the town until the planned flood control infrastructure is built. Repetitive Loss areas This plan must evaluate “repetitive loss areas” for the Town participation in the FEMA Community Rating System program. A Repetitive Loss Property is a property insured under the National Flood Insurance Program that has had two or more claim payments of more than $1,000 within a 10-year period since 1978. FEMA’s list of Repetitive Loss Properties includes only 1 address in Town. Because our two biggest floods, 1982 and 2005, were more than 10 years apart, there are many properties within the Town that have suffered repeated flood damage that are not considered Repetitive Loss Properties. Repetitive Loss Property addresses and flood insurance claim history are protected by the Privacy Act and are not listed in this public document. However, in order to comply with requirements of the Community Rating System, the Town Public Works Department has reviewed the property file, visited the site, and sent letters to the property owner. The one repetitive loss structure is located near the Fire Station in Sleepy Hollow, and presumably a result of the culvert under Arroyo Avenue- either due to clogging by vegetation or simply being undersized. Future Development and Flood Control Improvements New Development The flood prone areas of Town are “built out” and few vacant lots exist. However, as property values rise, many new families are renovating and expanding their houses. Commercial buildings in Town were predominately built before 1978, when Town joined NFIP, thus most of the downtown businesses are located below the base flood elevation. As a CRS community, San Anselmo regulates development beyond the minimum requirements of the NFIP. All ‘substantial’ development within the SFHA requires an elevation certificate. Elevating residences and flood proofing commercial structures can mitigate flood damage in the Town of San Anselmo. Development of property within the Special Flood Hazard Areas must comply with Title 7, Chapter 11 of the Town muni code. This section includes requirements such as requiring new and substantially improved structures to be flood proofed or elevated and special provisions against development in the floodway. Typically, residential structures are elevated one foot above BFE, while 33 commercial structures install flood gates. Several structures were elevated after the last flood event in December 2005. The existing Town design review guidelines recommend that new development be setback from creeks and drainage ways. The Town goals and design guidelines recommend protection of existing creek and riparian vegetation and improving fish passage and habitat. Flood Control Activities The Flood Committee was established in 2006 and formalized in May 2010 by Town Council Resolution #3906. The committee is charged to serve as the town’s expert representatives on flooding and stormwater management issues, to become informed on hydrologic conditions that affect flooding in San Anselmo and to evaluate possible solutions and make recommendations to the Town Council. The Flood Committee has five members from the public and two members of the Town Council. The members of the public were chosen through the Town of San Anselmo’s standard volunteer / commission member selection process. This process includes application, qualification review if required, oral interview and final selection by the Town Council. Flood Committee agendas and minutes for 2008 – 2011 can be found on the Town of San Anselmo website: http://www.townofsananselmo.org/index.aspx?nid=181 After the flooding on December 31, 2005, the communities of the Ross Valley and the County of Marin formed the Ross Valley Watershed Program, and San Anselmo joined the other Ross Valley communities in Flood Control District Zone 9, a program of the Marin County Public Works Department. The intent of the Ross Valley Watershed was to study flooding issues and propose measures to reduce the risk of flooding in the Ross Valley. http://www.marinwatersheds.org/rossvalleywatershed-org/ In 2007 Flood Zone 9 proposed a watershed-wide storm drainage fee, which was approved by the voters to fund flood reduction measures. The Flood Zone 9 District includes Fairfax, San Anselmo, Ross and Larkspur as well as the unincorporated communities of Kentfield, and Greenbrae. The District anticipated leveraging revenue from the fee with other potential funding sources, including state and federal resources, to fund projects that could relieve the chronic Ross Valley flooding. Flood Zone 9 completed a hydraulic study of the watershed and a hydraulic model was created to better understand the downstream impacts of proposed flood solutions. A Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was developed consisting of over 180 measures that together would provide 100-year level of flood protection valley wide. A one-hundred-year flood is a flood event that has a 1% probability of occurring in any given year. That means that it has a 26 percent chance of occurring during a 30-year period, the length of many mortgages. http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/docs/cwpu2005/vol4/vol4-hydrologyfrequencyof100yearflood.pdf In-creek improvements, such as bridge replacements, building removals and creek widening, were examined first. Those measures were not enough to contain the 100-year flood, so detention basins 34 were determined to be necessary. Memorial Park was one of five detention basins in the CIP that, together with the 180 measures, would provide the 100-year level of flood protection in Ross Valley. http://www.marinwatersheds.org/documents/CIPStudyReportMay2011.pdf The County has identified a subset of initial high priority CIP measures that would provide a 25-year level of flood protection valley wide and be completed within 10 years. Funding would come from the Ross Valley Flood Fee, contributions from the Towns, grants, and outside sources. http://www.marinwatersheds.org/documents/25yearplantechmemo.pdf One of the larger projects in the plan, the Memorial Park detention basin, was awarded an $8 million dollar grant by the State Department of Water Resources, but the project was barred by a public initiative in the November 2015 election. The Town of San Anselmo currently has funding for the replacement of three bridges that contribute to flooding. The three bridges are the Nokomis, Madrone, and Center Blvd. bridges. Once these bridges are replaced more water will be released downstream, necessitating the need for upstream detention and/or downstream berms and walls to prevent flooding downstream. Along with the bridges the Town has been working on grants to obtain and remove Building Bridge Two (located next to Creek Park), which is a major cause of flooding in San Anselmo because it is two feet lower in the creek than any other building. The State of California and the Federal government, in their analysis of the grant application, indicated that removal of this building is a priority. Part of the motivation to get this Local Hazard Mitigation Plan updated and approved by FEMA is to be eligible for their Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant in the spring of 2016. San Anselmo Public Works has been working with the Flood Control District for four years on a successful program to manage vegetation in the creek. San Anselmo staff walk all the creeks every year and identify problem areas, then use either abatements or the Conservation Corps North Bay to remove hazards. This work is then covered under Marin County’s routine maintenance agreement permits with the State and Federal agencies. San Anselmo has been accepted into a FEMA program, The Community Rating System (CRS) as a class 9 community. CRS is a voluntary program that encourages and rewards communities for going beyond FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum requirements. By joining CRS, the Town earns flood insurance premium reduction for its residents. 1. 2. 3. 4. The insurance premium reductions we would get from membership in CRS range from 5% to 45% depending on our classification which range from a 9 down to a 1, respectively. The ratings and their annual associated savings are as follows: A 9 rating saves the community $30,000 as a whole; A rating of 8 equals $57,000 in savings; A rating of 7 equals $84,000 in savings; A rating of 6 equals $113,000 and so on. 35 Our rating is determined by the number of activities for which the Town gets credit. Examples of the eligible activities include providing public information, active floodplain management, and flood preparedness such as a flood warning system. San Anselmo already engages in many of these activities, although the credit awarded depends on how our documentation meets the requirements. One particular CRS activity that the Town is developing is a Program for Public Information, or PPI, which is a mechanism to assess and improve the outreach that we do. The PPI develops a document that is approved by Town Council and guides the Town’s flood-related outreach. In 2015, the Town adopted new requirements for drainage plans and storm water runoff and design review criteria related to low impact development. The new regulations will help to minimize storm water runoff from new development by reducing impervious surfaces, encouraging the use of permeable surfaces, dispersing storm water runoff on site, and storing storm water for reuse or slow release so it can naturally infiltrate the ground. 36 Town of San Anselmo FEMA Flood Zones 37 Wildfire Hazard Profile Description (Source: Marin County Hazard Mitigation Plan) The Town of San Anselmo is within the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). The Town borders directly on the open space lands of the Marin Municipal Water District. The hillsides and canyons carry the potential of high fire danger. The potential of wild land fire is an extreme risk to all areas within the Town, not just hillside areas. The fire season generally lasts from five to six months, when there is little rain. Access to the adjacent open space areas and the hillside and canyon areas is limited by few access routes and narrow roads. There is limited water availability, water pressure, and water flow in certain areas within the Town. The wildland fire hazard is caused by a combination of factors including hillside terrain, highly flammable vegetation and forest, long summers, and human activity. There are heavy fuel loads. Many homes have been built on steep slopes with vegetation in close proximity. The onset of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) has significantly increased the number of dead or weakened trees in the areas, which contributes to the fuel loads. The loss of oaks results in the increase in more fire hazardous trees, such as bays. Wind is a predominant factor in the spread of fire. Marin County has a characteristic northwest wind that originates from the Pacific Ocean and will frequently become a factor in fire suppression efforts. During the dry season, the county also experiences occasional strong northeast winds. Wildfires cause secondary hazards of flooding and landslides after slopes are stripped of vegetation and exposed to greater amounts of runoff. Wildfires also expose people to smoke, a health concern. Location & Extent CalFIRE has developed several maps depicting wildfire hazard areas. The two most useful maps are those depicting Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) wildfire threat and wildfire threat from wildland fuels in State Responsibility Areas. The WUI map depicts communities within 1.5 miles of a potential wildfire source, as determined by CDF-FRAP fuel and hazard data. These maps indicate that the majority of the Town of San Anselmo is within the area of considered a WUI wildfire threat. Wildfires have the potential to damage and destroy thousands of acres of land, destroy many homes and result in deaths. The Town of San Anselmo currently has approximately 2243 homes located in the WUI preventing firefighting and safe evacuation. Previous occurrences of the hazard Since record keeping began in 1859, major fires have periodically raged through Marin County. An 1881 fire burned an estimated 65,000 acres from Corte Madera to the top of Mt Tamalpais. An 1890 fire burned over 8,000 acres. An 1891 fire that began in Bill Willaiam’s Gulch (at the Base of Mt Tamalpais) burned over 12,000 acres. The 1929 Mill Valley fire burned 1,000 acres and destroyed 110 homes in Mill Valley. A 1945 fire burned 20,000 acres of watershed land. In 1995 the Mount Vision Fire burned more 38 than 12,000 acres of Point Reyes National Seashore in West Marin and destroyed 48 homes. The largest urban-wildland fire in the Bay Area, the 1991 fire in the East Bay Hills, resulted in $1.7 billion in losses. In that fire, 3,354 family dwellings and 456 apartments were destroyed, while 25 people were killed and 150 people were injured. Probability of future events Wildfire is a probable hazard, and the Town of San Anselmo could sustain severe damage from a large devastating wildland fire. Times of drought and seasonal high winds increase the probability. An earthquake that damages gas pipelines and water pipelines could simultaneously increase the risk of wildland fire and also decrease the Town’s ability to suppress it. Assessment of Town Vulnerability The majority of the Town of San Anselmo (approximately 2243 residences, 6 MMWD water tanks and pump stations, Ross Valley School District, 3 Schools) is in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) wildfire threat areas. There are also several potential parcels that could be developed in the future. Many residences in the high wildfire threat areas were built prior to code changes and have wood shingle siding and some have wood shake roofs. Residences may be surrounded by flammable vegetation. Certain areas of the Town have water pressure and water flow that do not meet current standards. The Town seeks to minimize risk by regulating the safety of new structures and by vegetation management. The Town applies fire-safe construction standards, greater emphasis on fire equipment access and improved water supply with new development. Sprinklers are required on all new and significantly remodeled residences. The Town would send recorded emergency announcements by phone to subscribers in the Marin Emergency Alert Notification System (MEANS) or by public address from a passing Law Enforcement patrol car. The Ross Valley Fire Department, like any other jurisdiction in Marin County, would not have sufficient resources to fight a wildland fire. In the event of a major wildland fire, every jurisdiction in Marin County and numerous state and federal agencies would be tapped for equipment under mutual aid agreements. The Town critical facilities are located within the center of the Town and further from the high wildfire threat areas. A wildland fire would destroy transmission lines in the area of the fire. Underground pipelines would not be particularly vulnerable to damage from wildfires. Estimating Potential Losses Wildfires are very costly. The cost of fire suppression can be over $1 million dollars per day. The Mount Vision Fire of 1995 in West Marin is an example of a very damaging and costly fire. Fire suppression cost $6 million dollars. Structural damage for the loss of 48 homes and 18 with substantial damage reached $23 million dollars. The utility repair costs reached $1.3 million dollars. Stabilizing roads and slopes for erosion control cost $1.3 million. (Marin Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan) 39 The 2014 King Fire that burned near Pollock Pines, El Dorado County in the Lake Tahoe region burned 97,717 acres, destroyed 12 residences and 68 accessory structures (80 total buildings), and with 12 injuries reported. The cost to extinguish the King Fire was well over 91 million dollars. The median cost of a residence in San Anselmo is between $1 million to $1.2 million dollars. The average construction cost in San Anselmo is approximately $350 per square foot. The replacement cost of structures alone in San Anselmo after a wildland fire, would exceed $1 billion (not including contents). Additional costs associated with the loss of homes to wild land fire include disruption of utilities, transportation, and other public services. In addition, there are lost wages, costs of temporary shelter, and other costs that cannot be captured easily. 40 41 Hazardous Material Incident Hazard Profile Description Hazardous Materials are substances which because of quantity, concentration or characteristics may cause or significantly contribute to an increase in death, serious injury or pose substantial hazards to humans or the environment. Location & Extent Hazardous Materials incidents, wherein their release induces cleanup or mitigation response, are unpredictable and can occur across a wide range of scales ranging from a nuclear bomb to a paint spill. Accordingly, the responsibility for mitigation and response occurs in five response levels through the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS). Local government is the first level and the Marin Operational Area is the second. According to the State of California Office of Emergency Services, the most common release of Hazardous Materials is the release of petroleum products, such as diesel fuel or gasoline. The most common release locations are fixed facilities, which involve 25% of all incidents. Frequently the release is due to abandonment or an intentional act. San Anselmo does not have a fixed Hazardous Materials facility, nor is it known to be at risk of any specific type of Hazardous Materials incidents. Hazardous Materials incidents in San Anselmo would most likely occur on the access roads along Sir Francis Drake Blvd and Red Hill Avenue. An incident involving a gasoline tanker truck is of greatest concern. Utility companies provide services and maintain facilities that make them susceptible to release of Hazardous Materials. PG&E has natural gas transmission lines throughout the town including a large pipe under Red Hill Avenue to the Hub. One of the main tenants of PG&E’s safety plan is the Underground Service Alert program. By dialling 811 two or more days before digging, the USA system alerts utility companies and gives them a chance to mark where pipes are located underground. PG&E is also actively replacing its aging nautral gas lines throughout Town. Ross Valley Sanitary District (RVSD), whose sanitary sewer lines run throughout Town, is required by the State Water Resources Control Board, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board, to create and operate under its own Sewer System Management Plan (RVSD,2013). The SSMP describes the agency’s wastewater collection system management activities, including the protocol for handling Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) and other emergencies, in general. The SSMP has “Elements”, or topics of concern, that the State requires the collection system agency to consider, discuss, and address and document. Specifically, there is a section called “Element VI Sanitary Sewer Overflow Emergency Response Plan” that describes our emergency response, including notifications, response activities, and documentation. Existing Mitigation and Response Ross Valley Fire Department, which participates in the Marin County Fire Chiefs’ Hazardous Materials Response Team, responds to Hazardous Materials incidents. This team is created through a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between all fire departments within Marin County. The team consists of 42 members from every department. Depending upon the degree of hazard, the response team may be activated in the event of an incident. On June 9, 2015 San Anselmo Town Council approved a one-year extension to the JPA while the team works to update the agreement for a longer period: http://sananselmo-ca.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=72&meta_id=7901 Marin County Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) regulates the storage of Hazardous Materials in San Anselmo. The County of Marin has developed a comprehensive Hazardous Materials Area Plan. In addition, the County has adopted and maintains a Hazardous Materials Business Plan Program. More information can be found on the Marin County Public Works website: http://www.marincounty.org/depts/pw/divisions/cupa Marin County Department of Environmental Health is responsible for responding to sewage spills into waterbodies. The Town of San Anselmo is part of Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (MCSTOPPP) which has developed an Illicit Discharge and Spill Response Plan as part of its compliance with the State Water Quality Control Board. This plan outlines response and reporting for smaller-scale pollution events. http://www.marincounty.org/~/media/files/departments/pw/mcstoppp/municipalities_only/e9illicitdsp illrespplan.pdf?la=en 43 Mitigation Strategy Local Hazard Mitigation Goals The Town’s hazard mitigation goals were created this year to summarize the intention of the 250 individual strategies. All Hazards (AH)- The Town endeavors to undertake effective emergency preparedness planning in cooperation with other public agencies and local organizations, publicize emergency plans, provide information on disaster preparedness to residents and businesses, and continue essential Town emergency public services during natural disasters. Earthquakes (EQ)- The Town endeavors to maximize protection of its residents and infrastructure by permitting, maintaining, and educating about structures that are suited to withstand earthquakes. Landslides (LS)- At the time a development is proposed, San Anselmo geologic and slope stability maps should be reviewed to assess potential geologic hazards. In addition, suitability for development must be based on site-specific geotechnical investigations. Wildfire (WF)-Ross Valley Fire Department endeavors to continue to protect against wildfires through fire resistant design and development, protective landscaping practices, and ensuring access for emergency vehicles. Hazardous Materials Incidents (HM)- The Town endeavors to prevent such incidents by proactively working with PG&E and RVSD on preventative maintenance and by requiring the proper use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials. Flooding (FL)- The Town endeavors to reduce the impact of flooding by effectively communicating and cooperating with all levels of stakeholders as it implements projects outlined in the Flood Control District 10-year workplan. On the federal level the Town wants to work with FEMA to increase its CRS score. On the State level it wants to work with agencies to obtain permits and funding for projects. At the County level it aspires to collaborate effectively with the County Flood Control District and adjacent Towns on a watershed-wide plan. On the local level it aspires to reap benefits of natural floodplain functions such as permeable surfaces, natural channels and creek setbacks. Finally, the Town will protect its residents and their houses by requiring that all new construction and substantial remodels comply with the Town’s floodplain regulations. Dam Failure (DF)- Dam failure carries a relatively small risk to the Town of San Anselmo, but nonetheless the Town endeavors to protect residents of the mapped inundation areas by reviewing reports generated as part of the Flood Control District’s Phoenix Lake detention basin retrofit proposal. Drought (DR)- The Town endeavors to promote regional resilience against the effect of droughts through practices that conserve municipal water and maximize infiltration of rainwater both internal to the Town’s practices and as promoted to the public. 44 2015 Strategy Development Updating the list of strategies is intended to carry the valuable information from the existing plan forward and to reference any new plans, policies, or information. Because this plan update is a transition away from the ABAG multi-jurisdictional LHMP, 171 of the 410 old strategies were removed because they were not applicable or inappropriate for San Anselmo’s specific risks. The process of updating the specific strategies went as follows. Team members reviewed sections of the 2010 strategy spreadsheet with responsibilities corresponding to their departments. Team members also reviewed corresponding to strategies in the Ross LHMP. Strategies that had been deemed ‘Not Applicable, Not Appropriate, or Not Cost Effective’ were removed from the spreadsheet unless for some reason this condition had changed. The excel workbook containing last year’s strategies was compiled from four tabs onto one. The sections, such as Housing, Government, Land, and Economy were combined and each strategy was renumbered to include the reference to the section it came from. Evaluation of Progress from 2010 Plan In 2010, mitigation actions and priorities were identified. The attached list indicates each of the high or very high strategies identified, along with responsible party, action taken, and/or current status of progress. 2010 San Anselmo High Priority Actions 2015 Evaluation of Progress The Town is participating in the Ross Valley The Town is still participating in the Ross Valley Watershed group, which is how priorities were set Watershed program which still aligns with its for flooding hazard mitigation. A successful local flood hazard mitigation priorities. The flood fee election has created a flood fee generating continues to fund updates to the hydrologic revenues to fund watershed wide flood mitigation model. projects through the local flood control district. A The Town is in the preliminary engineering hydrologic study has been completed that phase of replacing Nokomis, Madrone, and encompasses the entire Ross Valley watershed in Center Boulevard bridges. order to determine the effects of potential flood Memorial Park Detention Basin was voted mitigation projects. Federal grant applications have down by initiative, barring future consideration been submitted by the Town to rebuild 4 bridges. of the park as a detention basin, however other Preliminary planning / study is ongoing regarding detention basins higher in the watershed are the creation of a detention basin in Memorial Park. still possible. The Town is studying the possible effects of Building Bridge #2 is grant-ready and unfunded. removal of building bridges with willing property owners – Town of San Anselmo and Flood Zone Nine, local flood fee, state and federal grants, 10 – 15 years. (GOVT-d-3) As new flood-control projects are completed, FEMA updated flood maps of San Anselmo request that FEMA revise its flood-insurance rate March 2014. No flood-control projects have maps and digital Geographic Information System been completed since 2010, but the Town will (GIS) data to reflect flood risks as accurately as carry this action forward. possible – ongoing project, Planning and Building Dept. (GOVT-d-4). The high priority for this mitigation task is based on town resident input at NFIP flood map update information meetings held 45 in the town. Enforce and/or comply with the hazardous materials requirements of the State of California Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) – Ross Valley Fire Department, ongoing project. (ENVI-a-9) Obtain a new emergency generator for the Town Corporation Yard – Public Works Department, ongoing project. (INFR-a-8) Ross Valley Fire to work with other Marin County Fire agencies and Marin Municipal Water District to review and update MMWD Fireflow Master Plan to improve the water distribution system. (INFR-c-2) Seek grant funding for vegetation removal along roadways and roadside collection/ chipping of hazardous vegetation within the Wildland-Urban Interface. (ECON-e-6,j-9) Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program or a similar system. (ENVI-b-8) Ongoing- carry forward Since the 2010 plan, this task was reevaluated and priority was lowered. At the time, the corporation yard was being considered as a new EOC location, but due to the remote location and lack of cellular service there it has since been removed from consideration. Town DPW still plans on getting a generator there, but not for powering the EOC. MMWD- RVFD identified low fire flow areas within our jurisdictional boundaries. These areas needed either upgraded mains and/or additional fire hydrants. The areas were prioritized and placed on the MMWD Fire Flow Improvement Program. The last project is scheduled for completion in 2027 RVFD received a PG&E grant for vegetation clearance in 2015. Addition grant applications will be submitted in the future for more funding . Green Building Ordinance Resolution 3925 adopted September 14, 2010 Evaluation of On-Going Mitigation Strategy Programs The Town has many on-going mitigation programs that help create a more disaster-resistant region. The following were those strategies identified as Existing Programs in the 2010 mitigation strategy spreadsheet. All of these strategies continue to be Existing Programs and were included such in the current plan update. Continued development of interoperable communications for first responders from cities, counties, special districts, state, and federal agencies. (GOVT-c-7); Maintain and update the Town’s Standardized Emergency Management System Plan (GOVT-c-12); Participation in general mutual-aid agreements and agreements with adjoining jurisdictions for cooperative response to fires, floods, earthquakes, and other disasters (GOVT-c-13); Participation in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (GOVT-d-5) Continue to sponsor the formation and training of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and Get Ready Marin through partnerships with local businesses (GOVTc-3, ECON-j-5, HWNG-k-6); Incorporate FEMA guidelines and suggested activities into local government plans and procedures for managing flood hazards (LAND-c-2); Increase efforts to reduce landslides and erosion in existing and future development through 46 continuing education of design professionals on mitigation strategies (HSNG—i2, ECON-g-2); Continue to repair and make structural improvements to storm drains, pipelines, and/or channels to enable them to perform to their design capacity in handling water flows as part of regular maintenance activities (INFR—d-6, INFR-d-7) Ross Valley Fire to continue annual defensible space and resale inspections within the Wildland-Urban Interface. (ECON-,e-1,e-6, INFR-c-3 ) Continue enforcement of State and local Building Code and Fire Code ordinances as they apply to new development and remodels within the Wildland-Urban Interface. (ECON-e1, INFR-c-4, c-5,c-6) New Mitigation High-Priority Strategies The planning team identified, considered and analyzed a comprehensive range of specific mitigation actions and projects to reduce the effects of each hazard. Factors considered to select mitigation measures included: 1.) public support for the mitigation action, 2.) feasibility and any secondary impacts, 3.) anticipated staffing, funding, and maintenance requirements to determine if the Town has the personnel and administrative capabilities necessary to implement the action or whether outside help would be needed, 4.) legal authority to implement the action, 5.) budget constraints and cost (“Big ticket” mitigation actions have been considered for implementation where additional Federal and State funding may be available), and 6.) impact on the environment and historic structures. Prioritization of mitigation strategy The following table defines the priorities for mitigation used by the planning team to designate the priority for each mitigation strategy: Existing Program Existing program underfunded Very High Priority High Priority- Actively Looking For Funding Moderate This is an official program or strategy that is currently occurring and generally receives adequate funding. This is an existing program that has recently received less funding than needed to maintain the program or strategy to its full potential. Additional funding is needed to effectively carry out this strategy. In some cases the Town has deferred this strategy due to lack of funding. This is a program which is considered to be a v e r y high priority. Some of these might be ongoing activities that should be expanded. This is a program which is considered to be a high priority and for which funding is being sought. This is a strategy which is deemed beneficial, but for which funding is not actively being sought. The Town would consider implementing this strategy if funding became available, but it is not deemed a high priority. 47 Very High Priority Strategies 2009-2010 Strategy Number AH-1 GOVT-a-4 EQ-1 INFR-b-9, GOVT-a-3 FL-1 INFR-d-11 FL-2 INFR-d-16 FL-3 INFR-d-17 FL-4 new FL-5 INFR-d-5 Applicable Hazards 2015 Strategy Number Specific Mitigation Strategy (Orange Shading indicated Climate Adaptation Strategies) Conduct comprehensive programs to identify and mitigate problems with facility contents, architectural components, and equipment that will prevent critical buildings from being functional after major natural disasters. Such contents and equipment includes computers and servers, phones, files, and other tools used by staff to conduct daily business. Clarify to workers in critical facilities and emergency personnel, as well as to elected officials and the public, the extent to which the facilities are expected to perform only at a life safety level (allowing for the safe evacuation of personnel) or are expected to remain functional following an earthquake. Identify critical locally-owned bridges affected by flooding and either elevate them to increase stream flow and maintain critical ingress and egress routes or modify the channel to achieve equivalent objectives. Work for better cooperation among the patchwork of agencies managing flood control issues. AH Improve monitoring of creek and watercourse flows to predict potential for flooding downstream by working cooperatively with land owners and the cities and counties in the watershed. Continue Mapping of the creek to further evaluate, design, and implement additional flood control projects Pursue funding for the design and construction of storm drainage projects to protect vulnerable properties, including property acquisitions, upstream storage such as detention basins, and channel widening with the associated right-of-way acquisitions, relocations, and environmental mitigations. FL 48 EQ FL FL FL FL FL-6 INFR-d-9 FL-7 new FL-8 new FL-9 GOVT-c-20 FL-10 GOVT-d-3 WF-1 HSNG-g-11 Develop an approach and locations for various watercourse bank protection strategies, including for example, (1) an assessment of banks to inventory areas that appear prone to failure, (2) bank stabilization, including installation of rip rap, or whatever regulatory agencies allow (3) stream bed depth management using dredging, and (4) removal of out-of-date coffer dams in rivers and tributary streams. Working with stakeholders and the community, consider feasibility (including cost, funding, environmental and downstream impacts) and options for purchasing and removal of Building Bridge 2; the structure at 634-636 San Anselmo venue which is a major flow constriction at flood levels. Working with stakeholders and the community, consider feasibility (including cost, funding, environmental and downstream impacts) and options for removal of Morningside Avenue Bridge and potential construction of upstream and downstream extended wingwalls. Create and maintain an automated system of rain and flood gauges that is web enabled and publicly-accessible. Work toward creating a coordinated regional system. Recognize that a multi-agency approach is needed to mitigate flooding by having flood control districts, cities, counties, and utilities meet at least annually to jointly discuss their capital improvement programs for most effectively reducing the threat of flooding. Work toward making this process more formal to insure that flooding is considered at existing joint-agency meetings. Work with residents to ensure adequate plans are developed for appropriate access and evacuation in wildland-urban-interface areas exposed to high-toextreme fire threat. 49 FL FL FL FL FL WF High Priority Strategies- Actively Looking for Funding AH2 HSNG-k-3 AH3 HSNG-k-4 AH4 HSNG-k-5 AH5 GOVT-b-1 AH6 GOVT-b-2 EQ2 ECON-j-7 EQ3 ECON-b-4 Applicable Hazards 2009-2010 Strategy Number 2015 Strategy Number Specific Mitigation Strategy (Orange Shading indicated Climate Adaptation Strategies) Inform residents of comprehensive mitigation activities, including elevation of appliances above expected flood levels, use of fireresistant roofing and defensible space in high wildfire threat and wildfire-urban-interface areas, structural retrofitting techniques for older homes, and use of intelligent grading practices through workshops, publications, and media announcements and events. Develop a public education campaign on the cost, risk, and benefits of earthquake, flood, and other hazard insurance as compared to mitigation. Use disaster anniversaries, such as April (the 1906 earthquake), September (9/11), and October (Loma Prieta earthquake and Oakland Hills fire), to remind the public of safety and security mitigation activities. Establish a framework and process for pre-event planning for postevent recovery that specifies roles, priorities, and responsibilities of various departments within the local government organization, and that outlines a structure and process for policy-making involving elected officials and appointed advisory committees. Prepare a basic Recovery Plan that outlines the major issues and tasks that are likely to be the key elements of community recovery, as well as integrate this planning into response planning (such as with continuity of operations plans). Make use of the materials developed by others (such as found on ABAG’s web site at http://quake.abag.ca.gov/business) to increase mitigation activities related to earthquakes. Conduct an inventory of privately-owned existing or suspected softstory structures as a first step in establishing voluntary or mandatory programs for retrofitting these buildings. 50 AH AH AH AH AH EQ EQ EQ4 HSNG-c-6 EQ5 ECON-c-3 FL11 INFR-d-1 FL12 FL13 New FL14 new FL15 HSNG-h-9 FL16 LS-1 New WF2 ECON-e-2, Hsng-g-2 WF3 HSNG-g-9 WF4 HSNG-k-14 WF34 ECON-j-4 ECON-j-8, HSNG-k-13 HSNG-i-1, ECON-g-1 Use the soft-story inventory to require private owners to inform all existing and prospective tenants that they live in this type of building and may need to be prepared to live elsewhere following an earthquake if the building has not been retrofitted. Require private owners to inform all existing tenants (and prospective tenants prior to signing a lease agreement) that they work in an unreinforced masonry building and the standard to which it may have been retrofitted. Improve upon existing hydrologic analysis of runoff and drainage systems to predict areas of insufficient capacity in the storm drain and natural creek system. Integrate future flood control and water quality protection planning efforts in a Stormwater Resource Plan Develop the “Village Volunteers” campaign encouraging private businesses and residents to keep storm drains in their neighborhood free of debris. Continue to develop guidelines that limit the coverage of impervious surfaces, that require the use of permeable surfaces, that implement other regulations to effectively channel and minimize site runoff, and that allow water to percolate into the ground. As funding opportunities become available, encourage home and apartment owners to participate in elevation and floodproofing programs for areas within flood plain. Develop a stormwater master plan EQ Increase efforts to reduce landslides and erosion in existing and future development by improving appropriate code enforcement and use of applicable standards for private property. Tie public education on defensible space and a comprehensive defensible space ordinance to a field program of enforcement. LS Expand vegetation management programs in wildland-urban- interface fire-threatened communities or in areas exposed to high-to-extreme fire threat to more effectively manage the fuel load through roadside collection and chipping, mechanical fuel reduction equipment, selected harvesting, use of goats or other organic methods of fuel reduction, and selected use of controlled burning. Encourage the formation of a community- and neighborhood-based approach to wildfire education and action through local Fire Safe Councils and the Fire Wise Program. This effort is important because grant funds are currently available to offset costs of specific councilsupported projects. Inform San Anselmo's residents and private business owners of mitigation activities, including elevation of appliances above expected flood levels, use of fire-resistant roofing and defensible space in wildland-urban-interface fire-threatened communities or in areas exposed to high-to-extreme fire threat, structural retrofitting WF 51 EQ FL FL FL FL FL FL WF WF WF FL techniques for older buildings, and use of intelligent grading practices through workshops, publications, and media announcements and events. WF35 HSNG-g-17 Ensure that city/county-initiated fire-preventive vegetationmanagement techniques and practices for creek sides and high-slope areas do not contribute to the landslide and erosion hazard. For example, vegetation in these sensitive areas could be thinned, rather than removed, or replanted with less flammable materials. When thinning, the non-native species should be removed first. Other options would be to use structural mitigation, rather than vegetation management in the most sensitive areas. WF LS Climate Adaptation Strategies The Town will follow the recommendations of ABAG regarding recognizing the effects of climate change on the local environment and strategies to adapt to it. Strategies related to climate adaptation have been shaded orange in the complete strategies table below. That is 67 or 216 strategies, or approximately 30%. For example, four important strategies addressing climate adaptation are: Update and continue to implement Climate Action Plan which inventories global warming emissions of operations and in the community & sets reduction targets. (AH-15) Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about climate action and adaptation. (AH-14) Conduct and/or promote attendance at local or regional hazard conferences and workshops for elected officials and staff to educate them on the critical need for programs in mitigating earthquake, wildfire, flood, landslide hazards, and climate adaptation. (AH-45) Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2. (AH-42) In general the three major hazards posed by climate change, primarily extreme weather, are deemed to be: Drought (e.g., vegetation damage, invasive pests) Floods (e.g. local and town flooding and resulting damage to life and property; landslides) Wild Fires (e.g., result of drought, ignited by extreme weather, wild-urban interface zone) In general those activities regarding resiliency as called out in ABAG’s Resilience Program website (http://resilience.abag.ca.gov/projects/2016-mitigation-adaptation-plans) and California Climate Change Adaption Plan website (http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/adaptation/index.html) will form the foundation for the Town’s climate change adaption plan. The following list highlights those programs identified in the mitigation strategy spreadsheet as addressing the top three hazards: 52 Complete Strategy Table The spreadsheet details the department(s) responsible for implementing the actions. All actions will be funded by the Town general fund or grant funding. The timeframe to complete each action is provided. 53 GOVT-a-4 AH-2 HSNG-k-3 AH-3 HSNG-k-4 AH-4 HSNG-k-5 AH-5 GOVT-b-1 AH-6 GOVT-b-2 AH-7 LAND-g-1 new AH-8 AH-9 AH-10 ECON-i-5 new Use hazard abatement districts as a funding mechanism to ensure that mitigation strategies are implemented and enforced over time. Create incentives for private owners of historic or architecturally significant buildings to undertake mitigation to levels that will minimize the likelihood that these buildings will need to be demolished after a disaster, particularly if those alterations conform to the federal Secretary of the Interior’s Guidelines for Rehabilitation. Develop and enforce a repair and reconstruction ordinance to ensure that damaged buildings are repaired in an appropriate and timely manner and retrofitted concurrently. This repair and reconstruction ordinance should apply to all public and private buildings, and also apply to repair of all damage, regardless of cause. See http://quake.abag.ca.gov/recovery/info-repair-ord.html. Review and, if necessary, update evacuation plans. Consider organizing evacuation drills. 54 Existing Program, underfunded Existing Program X Moderate AH High - Actively Looking for Funding Very High Priority Conduct comprehensive programs to identify and mitigate problems with facility contents, architectural components, and equipment that will prevent critical buildings from being functional after major natural disasters. Such contents and equipment includes computers and servers, phones, files, and other tools used by staff to conduct daily business. Inform residents of comprehensive mitigation activities, including elevation of appliances above expected flood levels, use of fire-resistant roofing and defensible space in high wildfire threat and wildfire-urban-interface areas, structural retrofitting techniques for older homes, and use of intelligent grading practices through workshops, publications, and media announcements and events. Develop a public education campaign on the cost, risk, and benefits of earthquake, flood, and other hazard insurance as compared to mitigation. Use disaster anniversaries, such as April (the 1906 earthquake), September (9/11), and October (Loma Prieta earthquake and Oakland Hills fire), to remind the public of safety and security mitigation activities. Establish a framework and process for pre-event planning for post-event recovery that specifies roles, priorities, and responsibilities of various departments within the local government organization, and that outlines a structure and process for policy-making involving elected officials and appointed advisory committees. Prepare a basic Recovery Plan that outlines the major issues and tasks that are likely to be the key elements of community recovery, as well as integrate this planning into response planning (such as with continuity of operations plans). Applicable Hazards 2009-2010 Strategy Number 2015 Strategy Number AH-1 Specific Mitigation Strategy (Orange Shading indicated Climate Adaptation Strategies) Responsible Agency or Department (Required if Existing Program, Existing Program under funded, Very High, High, or Under Study) Ordinance or Resolution # (if existing program), Estimated Cost and Possible Funding Agency (if high priority), Estimated Date of Completion (if study), WHY if not same as regional priority, OR Other Comments Town Hall AH X Public Works / Building Official As staff time allows AH X Public Works / Building Official As staff time allows AH X Public Works / Building Official As staff time allows AH X Public Works/Fire/ Administration AH X Public Works/Fire/ Administration AH X Administration AH X Planninng AH X Public Works / Building Official AH X Town Hall Flood Zone 9, Ross Valley Watershed As staff time allows AH-11 HSNG-a-1 AH-12 INFR-g-1 AH-13 ENVI-b-11 AH-14 ENVI-b-13 AH-15 ENVI-b-2 AH-16 ENVI-b-5 AH-17 ENVI-b-7 AH-18 ENVI-b-9 AH-19 GOVT-b-4 AH-20 GOVT-c-2 AH-21 AH-22 GOVT-b-5 GOVT-c-5 Assist in ensuring adequate hazard disclosure by working with real estate agents to improve enforcement of real estate disclosure requirements for residential properties with regard to seven official natural hazard zones: 1) Special Flood Hazard Areas (designated by FEMA), 2) Areas of Potential Flooding from dam failure inundation, 3) Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, 4) Wildland Fire Zones, 5) Earthquake Fault Zones (designated under the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act), and the 6) Liquefaction and Landslide Hazard Zones (designated under the Seismic Hazard Mapping Act). Using social media and newsletters, provide information to the public related to planning for power outages, family and personal planning for delays due to traffic or road closures, or due to transit system disruption caused by disasters, coping with reductions in water supply or contamination, or coping with disrupted storm drains, sewage lines. Increase recycling rates in local government operations and in the community. AH X Planning & Building AH X Administration AH X Administration AH X Administration AH X Administration AH X Administration AH X Administration AH X Administration AH X Administration and Finance Encourage your employees to have a family disaster plan. AH X Administration and Finance Plan for the emergency relocation of government-owned facilities critical to recovery, as well as any facilities with known structural deficiencies or in hazardous areas. AH X Administration and Finance; Police Department In progress. Periodically assess the need for changes in staffing levels, as well as for additional or updated supplies, equipment, technologies, and in-service training classes. AH X All Town Departments, Ross Valley Fire Department Will be reassessed as funding levels stabilize. AH X Building Official As staff time allows. AH X County OES / Admin Existing Program Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about climate action and adaptation. Update and continue to implement Climate Action Plan which inventories global warming emissions of operations and in the community & sets reduction targets. Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by, for example, investing in “green tags”, advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, recovering landfill methane for energy production, and supporting the use of waste to energy technology. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for local government use. Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles; reduce the number of vehicles; launch an employee education program including anti-idling messages; convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel. Develop a continuity of operations plan that includes back-up storage of vital records, such as plans and back-up procedures to pay employees and vendors if normal finance department operations are disrupted, as well as other essential electronic files. AH-23 ECON-j-13 AH-24 GOVT-c-14 Distribute appropriate materials related to disaster mitigation and preparedness to private business owners. Appropriate materials are (1) culturally appropriate and (2) suitable for special needs populations. For example, such materials are available on the http://www.preparenow.org website and from non-governmental organizations that work with these communities on an on-going basis. Install alert and warning systems for rapid evacuation or shelter-in-place. Such systems include outdoor sirens and/or reverse-911 calling systems. AH X Marin County OES GOVT-c-11 Expand or participate in expanding traditional disaster exercises involving city and county emergency personnel to include airport and port personnel, transit and infrastructure providers, hospitals, schools, park districts, and major employers. Participate in developing and maintaining a system of interoperable communications for first responders from cities, counties, special districts, state, and federal agencies. AH X Marin County; Marin Emergency Radio Authority AH-25 AH-26 GOVT-c-7 55 Climate Action Plan 2011 Disaster Recovery plan in final stages of implementation for TH and PD, est. 2Q/2010- Find This AH-27 AH-28 AH-29 GOVT-c-8 ECON-a-1 ENVI-a-1 AH-30 GOVT-d-10 AH-31 ENVI-b-3 AH-32 ENVI-b-4 AH-33 ENVI-b-6 AH-34 ENVI-b-8 AH-35 ENVI-a-11 AH-36 GOVT-a-13 AH-37 ENVI-a-2 AH-38 GOVT-a-5 AH-39 GOVT-c-10 AH-40 GOVT-c-12 AH-41 GOVT-c-4 AH-42 ENVI-b-12 Harden emergency response communications, including, for example, building redundant capacity into public safety alerting and/or answering points, replacing or hardening microwave and simulcast systems, adding digital encryption for programmable radios, and ensuring a plug-and-play capability for amateur radio. Assist in ensuring adequate hazard disclosure by working with real estate agents to improve enforcement of real estate disclosure requirements for commercial and industrial properties with regard to seven official natural hazard zones: 1) Special Flood Hazard Areas (designated by FEMA), 2) Areas of Potential Flooding from dam failure inundation, 3) Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, 4) Wildland Fire Zones, 5) Earthquake Fault Zones (designated under the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act), and the 6) Liquefaction and Landslide Hazard Zones (designated under the Seismic Hazard Mapping Act). Continue to enforce State-mandated requirements, such as the California Environmental Quality Act, to ensure that mitigation activities for hazards, such as seismic retrofits and vegetation clearance programs for fire threat, are conducted in a way that reduces environmental degradation such as air quality impacts, noise during construction, and loss of sensitive habitats and species, while respecting the community value of historic preservation. Cooperate with researchers working on government-funded projects to refine information on hazards, for example, by expediting the permit and approval process for installation of seismic arrays, gravity survey instruments, borehole drilling, fault trenching, landslide mapping, flood modeling, and/or damage data collection. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create compact, walkable urban communities. Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements, retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging employees to conserve energy and save money. Practice and promote sustainable building practices using Build it Green and the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program or a similar system. When remodeling existing government and infrastructure buildings and facilities, remove asbestos to speed up clean up of buildings so that they can be reoccupied more quickly. Ensure that any regulations imposed on private-owned businesses related to repair and reconstruction (see "Economy Section") are enforced and imposed on local government's own buildings and structures. Encourage regulatory agencies to work collaboratively with safety professionals to develop creative mitigation strategies that effectively balance environmental and safety needs, particularly to meet critical wildfire, flood, and earthquake safety levels. Encourage joint meetings of security and operations personnel at critical facilities to develop innovative ways for these personnel to work together to increase safety and security. Maintain the local government’s emergency operations center in a fully functional state of readiness. Maintain and update as necessary the local government’s Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) Plan and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Plan, and submit an appropriate NIMSCAST report. AH X Marin County; Marin Emergency Radio Authority AH X Planning and Building AH X Planning AH X Building AH X Planning & Building AH X Planning & Public Works AH X Planning & Building AH X Planning & Building AH X Public Works AH X Building and Public Works AH X Planning / Ross Valley Fire Department AH X Police Department AH X Police & Admin AH X Police Department / Marin County OES Updated 01/05 Periodically assess the need for new or relocated fire or police stations and other emergency facilities. AH X Police Department, Ross Valley Fire Department Will be reassessed as funding levels stabilize. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2. AH X Public Works 56 Green Building Ordinance 2011 Ongoing AH-43 GOVT-a-12 AH-44 GOVT-c-15 AH-45 GOVT-d-9 AH-46 HSNG-k-1 AH-47 AH-48 AH-49 AH-50 INFR-a-12 INFR-a-9 INFR-g-5 GOVT-a-10 AH-51 HSNG-k-2 AH-52 LAND-f-2 AH-53 LAND-f-3 AH-54 GOVT-a-1 AH-55 GOVT-a-2 AH-56 GOVT-c-16 AH-57 GOVT-b-3 AH-58 GOVT-c-25 AH-59 HSNG-a-3 AH-60 HSNG-a-4 AH-61 GOVT-c-1 Prior to acquisition of property to be used as a critical facility, conduct a study to ensure the absence of significant structural hazards and hazards associated with the building site. Conduct periodic tests of the alerting and warning system. Conduct and/or promote attendance at local or regional hazard conferences and workshops for elected officials and staff to educate them on the critical need for programs in mitigating earthquake, wildfire, flood, landslide hazards, and climate adaptation. Provide information to residents on the availability of interactive hazard maps on ABAG’s web site and/or MarinMAps. Encourage replacing above ground electric and phone wires and other structures with underground facilities, and use the planning-approval process to ensure that all new phone and electrical utility lines are installed underground. Ensure that critical intersection traffic lights function following loss of power by installing battery back-ups, emergency generators, or lights powered by alternative energy sources such as solar. Proper functioning of these lights is essential for rapid evacuation, such as with hazmat releases resulting from natural disasters. Facilitate and/or coordinate the distribution of emergency preparedness or mitigation materials that are prepared by others, such as by making the use of the internet or other electronic means, or placing materials on community access channels or in city or utility newsletters, as appropriate. Ensure that new or significantly remodeled government-owned facilities comply with and are subject to the same or more stringent regulations as imposed on privatelyowned development. Develop printed materials, utilize existing materials (such as developed by FEMA and the American Red Cross), conduct workshops, and/or provide outreach encouraging residents to have family disaster plans that include drop-cover-hold earthquake drills, fire and storm evacuation procedures, and shelter-in-place emergency guidelines. Work to retrofit homes in older neighborhoods to provide safe housing. Work to retrofit older downtown areas to protect architectural diversity and promote disaster-resistance. Assess the vulnerability of critical facilities (such as city halls, fire stations, operations and communications headquarters, community service centers, seaports, and airports) to damage in natural disasters and make recommendations for appropriate mitigation. Retrofit or replace critical facilities that are shown to be vulnerable to damage in natural disasters. Continue to enforce the location and design of street-address numbers on buildings. Establish a goal for the resumption of local government services following an emergency. May vary from function to function. Support and encourage planning and identification of facilities for the coordination of distribution of water, food, blankets, and other supplies, coordinating this effort with the American Red Cross. Develop a plan for short-term sheltering of residents in conjunction with the American Red Cross. Develop a plan for interim housing for those displaced by working with the Regional Catastrophic Planning Grant Program (CPGP) that funded this effort in 2009. Develop a plan for short-term and intermediate-term sheltering of Town employees. 57 AH X Public Works Existing Program AH X Public Works AH X Public Works AH X Public Works AH X Public Works Pacific Gas & Electric Rule 20A funding required AH X Public Works In place at major intersections. AH X Public Works New program for flood materials per FEMA CRS AH X Public Works / Building Town ordinance adbopting UBC, Ordinance #: 1059, adopted 11/27/07 AH X Public Works / Building Official Existing program for floods (per CRS) expand to other hazards AH X Public Works / Building Official AH X Public Works / Building Official AH X Public Works / Planning AH X Public Works / Planning AH X Public Works / Planning/ Building AH X Public Works/Fire/ Administration AH X Recreation Department AH X Recreation Department AH X Recreation Department AH X Recreation Departtment AH-62 ECON-j-5 AH-63 GOVT-c-3 AH-64 HSNG-k-10 AH-65 AH-66 AH-67 INFR-g-7 GOVT-c-6 GOVT-c-13 AH-68 ENVI-b-1 AH-69 GOVT-d-1 AH-70 GOVT-d-2 AH-71 LAND-f-4 AH-72 AH-73 AH-74 AH-75 ECON-j-1 ECON-j-2 ECON-j-3 INFR-a-3 AH-76 GOVT-a-9 AH-77 INFR-a-8 Sponsor the formation and training of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) training for other than your own employees through partnerships with local private businesses. AH X Ross Valley Fire Department Offer CERT/GetReady type training to Town employees. AH X Ross Valley Fire Department Train homeowners to locate and shut off gas valves if they smell or hear gas leaking. AH X Ross Valley Fire Department Get Ready AH X Ross Valley Fire Department CERT and Get Ready Marin programs ongoing. AH X Ross Valley Fire Department / Police Department AH X Ross Valley Fire Department / Police Department / Public Works Marin Chiefs of Police Association Protocols AH X Planning Town Council Resolution #3639, adopted 4/08/03 AH X Town Hall AH X Town Hall AH X Planning and Town Hall Provide information to private business owners and their employees on the availability of interactive hazard maps on MarinMap’s web site. AH X All Town Departments, Ross Valley Fire Department Develop printed materials, utilize existing materials (such as developed by FEMA and the American Red Cross), conduct workshops, and/or provide outreach encouraging private businesses’ employees to have family disaster plans that include drop-coverhold earthquake drills, fire and storm evacuation procedures, and shelter-in-place emergency guidelines. AH X Ross Valley Fire Department/ Quality of Life Committee Develop and print materials, conduct workshops, and provide outreach to Town private businesses focusing on business continuity and disaster preparedness planning. AH X Ross Valley Fire Department/ Economic Development Committee AH X Public Works Develop and distribute culturally appropriate materials related to disaster mitigation and preparedness, such as those on the http://www.preparenow.org website related to infrastructure issues. Ensure that fire, police, and other emergency personnel have adequate radios, breathing apparatuses, protective gear, and other equipment to respond to a major disaster. Continue to participate not only in general mutual-aid agreements, but also in agreements with adjoining jurisdictions for cooperative response to fires, floods, earthquakes, and other disasters. Stay informed of scientific information compiled by regional and state sources on the subject of rising sea levels and global warming, especially on additional actions that local governments can take to mitigate this hazard including special design and engineering of government-owned facilities in low-lying areas, such as wastewater treatment plants, ports, and airports. Promote information sharing among overlapping and neighboring local governments, including cities, counties, and special districts, as well as utilities. Recognize that emergency services is more than the coordination of police and fire response; it also includes planning activities with providers of water, food, energy, transportation, financial, information, and public health services. Work with non-profits and through other mechanisms to protect as open space those areas susceptible to extreme hazards (such as through land acquisition, zoning, and designation as priority conservation areas). Encourage the cooperation of utility system providers and other lifeline infrastructure with San Anselmo and its municipal partners to develop strong and effective mitigation strategies for infrastructure systems and facilities. Assess the vulnerability of non-critical government facilities to damage in natural disasters based on occupancy and structural type, make recommendations on priorities for structural improvements or occupancy reductions, and identify potential funding mechanisms. Pre-position emergency power generation capacity (or have rental/lease agreements for these generators) in critical buildings of cities, counties, and special districts to maintain continuity of government and services. 58 AH X Building Official / Public Works AH X Public Works / Police Existing program; additionally, Get Ready Marin courses given. Open Space Committee Generator still needed at Corp Yard DAM-1 DR-1 GOVT-c-22 new EQ-1 INFR-b-9, GOVT-a-3 EQ-2 ECON-j-7 EQ-3 ECON-b-4 EQ-4 HSNG-c-6 EQ-5 ECON-c-3 EQ-6 LAND-a-6 new EQ-7 EQ-8 new EQ-9 ECON-b-9,HSNG-c-9 EQ-10 ECON-c-4 EQ-11 HSNG-c-3 EQ-12 INFR-b-1 EQ-13 ECON-h-2 EQ-14 HSNG-e-3 EQ-15 INFR-b-8 Review and update mapped inundation areas procedures pursuant to the State Dam Safety Act for the emergency evacuation of areas located below major water-storage facilities as Phoenix Lake is converted into a detention basin with increased storage. Continue to require projects to comply with the Town's water conserving landscape ordinance and with MMWD water conservation ordinances. Clarify to workers in critical facilities and emergency personnel, as well as to elected officials and the public, the extent to which the facilities are expected to perform only at a life safety level (allowing for the safe evacuation of personnel) or are expected to remain functional following an earthquake. Make use of the materials developed by others (such as found on ABAG’s web site at http://quake.abag.ca.gov/business) to increase mitigation activities related to earthquakes. Conduct an inventory of privately-owned existing or suspected soft-story structures as a first step in establishing voluntary or mandatory programs for retrofitting these buildings. Use the soft-story inventory to require private owners to inform all existing and prospective tenants that they live in this type of building and may need to be prepared to live elsewhere following an earthquake if the building has not been retrofitted. Require private owners to inform all existing tenants (and prospective tenants prior to signing a lease agreement) that they work in an unreinforced masonry building and the standard to which it may have been retrofitted. Recognizing that the California Geological Survey has not completed earthquakeinduced landslide and liquefaction mapping for much of the Bay Area, identify and require geologic reports in areas mapped by others as having significant liquefaction or landslide hazards. Obtain a current initial earthquake performance evaluation of Town owned buildings (public safety, Town Hall, post office). Inform staff, Town Council and the public, regarding the extent to which the Town buildings may be affected by an earthquake and if they will only perform at a life safety level (allowing for the safe evacuation of personnel) or are expected to remain functional following an earthquake. Promote regional retrofit classes or workshops for homeowners. Provide technical assistance in seismically strengthening privately-owned soft-story structures. Require private owners to inform all existing tenants that they may need to be prepared to work elsewhere following an earthquake even if the building has been retrofitted, because it has probably been retrofitted to a life-safety standard, not to a standard that will allow occupancy following major earthquakes. Work to educate building owners, local government staff, engineers, and contractors on privately-owned soft-story retrofit procedures and incentives using materials such as those developed by ABAG and the City of San Jose (see http://quake.abag.ca.gov/eqhouse.html.) Expedite the funding and retrofit of seismically-deficient city- and county-owned bridges and road structures by working with Caltrans and other appropriate governmental agencies. Conduct appropriate employee training and support continued education to ensure enforcement of construction standards for private development. Adopt the latest applicable standard for the design of voluntary or mandatory retrofit of privately-owned seismically vulnerable buildings. Comply with all applicable building and fire codes, as well as other regulations (such as state requirements for fault, landslide, and liquefaction investigations in particular mapped areas) when constructing or significantly remodeling infrastructure facilities. 59 DAM X Planning / Police DR X Admin/ Public Works EQ X Town Hall EQ X Building Official EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Building EQ X Building EQ X Building EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Public Works EQ X Building Official EQ X Planning & Building Department EQ X Public Works Need inventory first Ongoing Town Ordinance #1059 adopting UBC, Ordinance #1060; adopting CFC & UFC, 11/27/07 EQ-16 LAND-a-2 EQ-17 HSNG-f-1 Require preparation of site-specific geologic or geotechnical reports for development and redevelopment proposals in areas subject to earthquake-induced landslides or liquefaction as mandated by the State Seismic Hazard Mapping Act in selected portions of the Bay Area where these maps have been completed, and condition project approval on the incorporation of necessary mitigation measures related to site remediation, structure and foundation design, and/or avoidance. Continue to require that all new housing be constructed in compliance with requirements of the most recently adopted version of the California Building Code. EQ X Building EQ-18 HSNG-f-2 Conduct appropriate employee training and support continued education to ensure enforcement of building codes and construction standards, as well as identification of typical design inadequacies of housing and recommended improvements. EQ-19 ECON-b-2, HSNG-c-2 Adopt the latest applicable standard for the design of voluntary or mandatory softstory building retrofits for use in city/county building department regulations. EQ X Building Official Town Ordinance #: 1059, adopted 11/27/07 EQ X Public Works / Building Official Project complete, 2004, see Report to Seismic Safety Commision 8/13/2004 EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Public Works / Building Official Town ordinance adopting UBC, Ordinance #1059; adopting CFC & UFC, #1060, 11/27/07 EQ X Public Works / Building Official Town Ordinance #: 1059, adopted 11/27/07 EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Building EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Public Works / Building Official Project complete, 2004, see Report to Seismic Safety Commision 8/13/2004 EQ X Public Works / Building Official Project complete, 2004, see Report to Seismic Safety Commision 8/13/2004 EQ-20 EQ-21 EQ-22 ECON-c-1, HSNG-d-1 ECON-c-2 ECON-h-1 EQ-23 HSNG-b-1 EQ-24 HSNG-b-2 EQ-25 HSNG-b-3 EQ-26 HSNG-b-4 EQ-27 HSNG-c-1, ECON-b-1 EQ-28 EQ-29 HSNG-d-2 HSNG-d-3 Continue to actively implement existing State law that requires cities and counties to maintain lists of the addresses of unreinforced masonry buildings and inform private property owners that they own this type of hazardous structure. Accelerate retrofitting of privately-owned unreinforced masonry structures that have not been retrofitted, for example, by (a) actively working with owners to obtain structural analyses of their buildings, (b) helping owners obtain retrofit funding, (c) adopting a mandatory (rather than voluntary) retrofit program, and/or (d) applying penalties to owners who show inadequate efforts to upgrade these buildings. Continue to require that all new privately-owned commercial and industrial buildings be constructed in compliance with requirements of the most recently adopted version of the California Building Code. Utilize or recommend adoption of a retrofit standard that includes standard plan sets and construction details for voluntary bolting of homes to their foundations and bracing of outside walls of crawl spaces (“cripple” walls), such as Plan Set A developed by a committee representing the East Bay-Peninsula-Monterey Chapters of the International Code Council (ICC), California Building Officials (CALBO), the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), the Northern California Chapter of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI-NC), and ABAG’s Earthquake Program. Require engineered plan sets for seismic retrofitting of heavy two-story homes with living areas over garages, as well as for split level homes (that is, homes not covered by Plan Set A), until standard plan sets and construction details become available. Require engineered plan sets for seismic retrofitting of homes on steep hillsides (because these homes are not covered by Plan Set A). Encourage building inspectors to take classes on a periodic basis (such as the FEMAdeveloped training classes offered by ABAG) on retrofitting of single-family homes, including application of Plan Set A. Require engineered plan sets for voluntary or mandatory soft-story seismic retrofits by private owners until a standard plan set and construction details become available. Accelerate retrofitting of privately-owned unreinforced masonry structures that have not been retrofitted, for example, by (a) actively working with owners to obtain structural analyses of their buildings, (b) helping owners obtain retrofit funding, (c) adopting a mandatory versus voluntary, retrofit program, and/or (d) applying penalties to owners who show inadequate efforts to upgrade these buildings. Require private owners to inform all existing tenants (and prospective tenants prior to signing a lease agreement) that they live in an unreinforced masonry building and the standard to which it may have been retrofitted. 60 EQ X Public Works Existing Program EQ X Public Works / Planning Town Ordinance #: 1059, adopted 11/27/07 EQ-30 HSNG-d-4 EQ-31 LAND-a-7 EQ-32 LAND-a-8 EQ-33 HSNG-g-18 EQ-34 ECON-d-2 EQ-35 EQ-36 FL-1 FL-2 GOVT-d-8 ECON-h-3 INFR-d-11 INFR-d-16 FL-3 INFR-d-17 FL-4 new FL-5 FL-6 INFR-d-5 INFR-d-9 new FL-7 new FL-8 FL-9 GOVT-c-20 As required by State law, require private owners to inform all existing tenants that they may need to be prepared to live elsewhere following an earthquake even if the building has been retrofitted, because it has probably been retrofitted to a life-safety standard, not to a standard that will allow occupancy following major earthquakes. Support and/or facilitate efforts by the California Geological Survey to complete the earthquake-induced landslide and liquefaction mapping for the Bay Area. Require that local government reviews of geologic and engineering studies are conducted by appropriately trained and credentialed personnel. Create a mechanism to require the bracing of water heaters and flexible couplings on gas appliances, and/or (as specified under “b. Single-family homes vulnerable to earthquakes” above) the bolting of homes to their foundations and strengthening of cripple walls to reduce fire ignitions due to earthquakes. Adopt the latest applicable standard for the design of voluntary or mandatory retrofit of privately-owned seismically vulnerable buildings. Encourage staff to participate in efforts by professional organizations to mitigate earthquake and landslide disaster losses, such as the efforts of the Northern California Chapter of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, the East BayPeninsula Chapter of the International Code Council, the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California, and the American Society of Grading Officials. Work with private building owners to help them recognize that many strategies that increase earthquake resistance also decrease damage in an explosion. In addition, recognize that ventilation systems can be designed to contain airborne biological agents. Identify critical locally-owned bridges affected by flooding and either elevate them to increase stream flow and maintain critical ingress and egress routes or modify the channel to achieve equivalent objectives. Work for better cooperation among the patchwork of agencies managing flood control issues. Improve monitoring of creek and watercourse flows to predict potential for flooding downstream by working cooperatively with land owners and the cities and counties in the watershed. Continue Mapping of the creek to further evaluate, design, and implement additional flood control projects Pursue funding for the design and construction of storm drainage projects to protect vulnerable properties, including property acquisitions, upstream storage such as detention basins, and channel widening with the associated right-of-way acquisitions, relocations, and environmental mitigations. Develop an approach and locations for various watercourse bank protection strategies, including for example, (1) an assessment of banks to inventory areas that appear prone to failure, (2) bank stabilization, including installation of rip rap, or whatever regulatory agencies allow (3) stream bed depth management using dredging, and (4) removal of out-of-date coffer dams in rivers and tributary streams. Working with stakeholders and the community, consider feasibility (including cost, funding, environmental and downstream impacts) and options for purchasing and removal of Building Bridge 2; the structure at 634-636 San Anselmo venue which is a major flow constriction at flood levels. Working with stakeholders and the community, consider feasibility (including cost, funding, environmental and downstream impacts) and options for removal of Morningside Avenue Bridge and potential construction of upstream and downstream extended wingwalls. Create and maintain an automated system of rain and flood gauges that is web enabled and publicly-accessible. Work toward creating a coordinated regional system. 61 Project complete, 2004, see Report to Seismic Safety Commision 8/13/2004 EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ X Ross Valley Fire Department / Building Department EQ X Public Works / Building Official EQ LS X Public Works EQ X Building Official Ongoing Existing Program Town Ordinance #: 1059, adopted 11/27/07 FL X Public Works/ Flood Zone 9 / Ross Valley Watershed Existing Program FL X Public Works Could be part of the CRS Program for Public Information FL X Public Works & Ross Valley Fire Department FL X Public Works/Flood Control District FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Ross Valley Fire Department / Town Hall FL-10 GOVT-d-3 FL-11 INFR-d-1 FL-12 New FL-13 ECON-j-8, HSNG-k-13 new FL-14 FL-15 HSNG-h-9 FL-16 New FL-17 INFR-d-3 FL-18 INFR-d-2 FL-19 HSNG-h-3, Econ-f-3 FL-20 ECON-f-7 FL-21 HSNG-h-10 FL-22 FL-23 HSNG-h-8 new FL-24 ECON-f-6 FL-25 ECON-f-1 FL-26 ECON-f-2 FL-27 LAND-c-5 FL-28 FL-29 ENVI-a-13 ENVI-a-6 Recognize that a multi-agency approach is needed to mitigate flooding by having flood control districts, cities, counties, and utilities meet at least annually to jointly discuss their capital improvement programs for most effectively reducing the threat of flooding. Work toward making this process more formal to insure that flooding is considered at existing joint-agency meetings. Improve upon existing hydrologic analysis of runoff and drainage systems to predict areas of insufficient capacity in the storm drain and natural creek system. Integrate future flood control and water quality protection planning efforts in a Stormwater Resource Plan Develop the “Village Volunteers” campaign encouraging private businesses and residents to keep storm drains in their neighborhood free of debris. Continue to develop guidelines that limit the coverage of impervious surfaces, that require the use of permeable surfaces, that implement other regulations to effectively channel and minimize site runoff, and that allow water to percolate into the ground. As funding opportunities become available, encourage home and apartment owners to participate in elevation and floodproofing programs for areas within flood plain. Develop a stormwater master plan Conduct a watershed analysis at least once every ten years unless there is a major development in the watershed or a major change in the Land Use Element of the General Plan of the cities or counties within the watershed. Develop procedures for performing a watershed analysis to examine the impact of development on flooding potential downstream, including communities outside of the jurisdiction of proposed projects. Ensure that new private development pays its fair share of improvements to the storm drainage system necessary to accommodate increased flows from the development, or does not increase runoff by draining water to pervious areas or detention facilities. Encourage private business owners to participate in building elevation programs within flood hazard areas. Encourage owners of properties in a floodplain to consider purchasing flood insurance. For example, point out that most homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover a property for flood damage. Encourage home and apartment owners to get elevation certificates and participate in home elevation programs within flood hazard areas. Continue to provide link to web enabled and publicly-accessible system of flood gauges. Apply floodplain management regulations for private development in the floodplain and floodway. To reduce flood risk, thereby reducing the cost of flood insurance to private property owners, work to qualify for the highest-feasible rating under the Community Rating System of the National Flood Insurance Program. Balance the needs for private commercial and industrial development against the risk from potential flood-related hazards. Encourage new development near floodways to incorporate a buffer zone or setback from that floodway to allow for changes in stormwater flows in the watershed over time. Enforce provisions under creek protection, stormwater management, and discharge control ordinances designed to keep watercourses free of obstructions and to protect drainage facilities to conform with the Regional Water Quality Control Board's Best Management Practices. Comply with applicable performance standards of any National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II municipal stormwater permit that seeks to manage increases in stormwater run-off flows from new development and redevelopment construction projects. 62 FL X Town Hall FL X Flood Zone 9 / Ross Valley Watershed FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Building Department FL X Public Works FL X Flood Zone 9 / Ross Valley Watershed FL X Flood Zone 9 / Ross Valley Watershed FL X Planning/ Public Works / Bldg Ofc. Existing Program FL X Building Department FL X Public Works / Bldg Official FL X Public Works / Building FL X Admin/Public Works FL X Building Department FL X Planning / Public Works FL X Planning Town is built out. FL X Planning and Building Existing Program FL X Public Works Town Ordinance #: 1010, adopted 10/28/99 FL X Public Works Existing program FL-30 INFR-d-4 FL-31 INFR-d-6 FL-32 INFR-d-7 FL-33 LAND-c-6 FL-34 new FL-35 new FL-36 new FL-37 new new FL-38 FL-39 new new Assist, support, and/or encourage the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, various Flood Control and Water Conservation Districts, and other responsible agencies to locate and maintain funding for the development of flood control projects that have high costbenefit ratios (such as through the writing of letters of support and/or passing resolutions in support of these efforts). Continue to repair and make structural improvements to storm drains, pipelines, and/or channels to enable them to perform to their design capacity in handling water flows as part of regular maintenance activities. Continue maintenance efforts to keep storm drains and creeks free of obstructions, while retaining vegetation in the channel (as appropriate) to allow for the free flow of water. Per Community Rating System requirements, conduct annual outreach to San Anselmo's Repetitive Loss Structure area (currently only one). Continue to encourage new development near floodways to incorporate a setback from watercourses to allow for changes in stormwater flows in the watershed over time. Continue to have Town staff inspect creek areas after each storm. Continue to investigate flood control ideas and projects throughout Town Work with other Ross Valley jurisdictions to explore and adopt land use regulations to minimize additional runoff, or reduce runoff, within the Ross Valley watershed. Working with stakeholders and the community, consider feasibility (including cost, funding, environmental and downstream impacts) and options for econstructing and enlarging bridge openings and culverts. Continue to seek grants for Ross Valley Flood Control Program for projects within the Town limits with the County Create and update a photo record of the Town creeks to document condition and structures linked with GPS. FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Planning / Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works FL X Public Works / Admin Existing program FL X Public Works / Building Official / Planning Existing Program- see Title 5 Ch 8 Muni Code FL X Public Works / Building Official / Planning Existing Program FL X Public Works / Building Official / Planning Existing Program FL X Public Works / Building Official / Planning Existing Program FL X Public Works / Police Department / Ross Valley Fire Department FL X Public Works and Building Official Existing Program FL-40 new FL-41 FL-42 HSNG-h-4 FL-43 LAND-c-1 FL-44 LAND-c-2 FL-45 FL-46 FL-47 FL-48 LAND-c-3 LAND-c-4 ECON-f-4 INFR-d-8 Working with stakeholders and the community, consider feasibility (including cost, funding, environmental and downstream impacts) and options for flow bypass accomodation for downtown constrictions Provide and publicize sandbags to residents in anticipation of rainstorms, and deliver those materials to vulnerable populations upon request. Establish and enforce requirements for new development so that site-specific designs and source-control techniques are used to manage peak stormwater runoff flows and impacts from increased runoff volumes. Incorporate FEMA guidelines and suggested activities into local government plans and procedures for managing flood hazards. Provide an institutional mechanism to ensure that development proposals adjacent to floodways and in floodplains are referred to flood control districts and wastewater agencies for review and comment (consistent with the NPDES program). Establish and enforce regulations concerning new construction (and major improvements to existing structures) within flood zones in order to be in compliance with federal requirements and, thus, be a participant in the Community Rating System of the National Flood Insurance Program. Provide sandbags and plastic sheeting to private businesses in anticipation of rainstorms, and deliver those materials to vulnerable populations upon request and make location information know. Enforce provisions under creek protection, stormwater management, and discharge control ordinances designed to keep watercourses free of obstructions and to protect drainage facilities to conform with the Regional Water Quality Control Board's Best Management Practices. 63 FL-49 GOVT-d-4 FL-50 GOVT-d-5 FL-51 HAZ-1 HAZ-2 LS-1 new FL X Town Hall FL X Town Hall FL X ENVI-a-9 HSNG-i-1, ECON-g-1 INFR-e-2 LS-3 LAND-d-5 LS-4 LAND-d-1 LS-5 LAND-d-2 LS-6 LAND-d-3 LS-7 LAND-d-4 LS-8 HSNG-i-2 LS-9 ENVI-a-7 LS-10 LAND-e-2 LS-11 LAND-e-1 WF-1 HSNG-g-11 ECON-e-2, Hsng-g-2 Building Provide information on hazardous waste disposal and/or drop off locations. HAZ X Hazardous & Solid Waste Joint Power Authority Enforce and/or comply with the hazardous materials requirements of the State of California Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA). HAZ X Ross Valley Fire Department / Public Works ENVI-a-10 LS-2 WF-2 As new flood-control projects are completed, request that FEMA revise its floodinsurance rate maps and digital Geographic Information System (GIS) data to reflect flood risks as accurately as possible. Participate in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program & Community Rating System Clarify and consider expanding cumulative substantial improvement requirements from 3 to 5 years Increase efforts to reduce landslides and erosion in existing and future development by improving appropriate code enforcement and use of applicable standards for private property. Establish requirements in zoning ordinances to address hillside development constraints in areas of steep slopes that are likely to lead to excessive road maintenance or where roads will be difficult to maintain during winter storms due to landsliding. Establish requirements in zoning ordinances to address hillside development constraints, especially in areas of existing landslides. Establish and enforce provisions (under subdivision ordinances or other means) that geotechnical and soil-hazard investigations be conducted and filed to prevent grading from creating unstable slopes, and that any necessary corrective actions be taken prior to development approval. Require that local government reviews of these investigations are conducted by appropriately trained and credentialed personnel. Establish and enforce grading, erosion, and sedimentation ordinances by requiring, under certain conditions, grading permits and plans to control erosion and sedimentation prior to development approval. Establish and enforce provisions under the creek protection, storm water management, and discharge control ordinances designed to control erosion and sedimentation. Increase efforts to reduce landslides and erosion in existing and future private development through continuing education of design professionals on mitigation strategies. Enforce and/or comply with the grading, erosion, and sedimentation requirements by prohibiting the discharge of concentrated stormwater flows by other than approved methods that seek to minimize associated pollution. Consider mitigation strategies for development proposed on steeper sites with greater lanslide or wildfire hazard concerns. For new development, require a buffer zone between residential properties and landslide or wildfire hazard areas. Work with residents to ensure adequate plans are developed for appropriate access and evacuation in wildland-urban-interface areas exposed to high-to-extreme fire threat. Tie public education on defensible space and a comprehensive defensible space ordinance to a field program of enforcement. 64 LS X Public Works LS x Planning LS X Planning LS X Public Works / Building Official LS X Public Works / Building Official LS X Public Works / Building Official LS X Public Works / Building Official LS X LS FL LS WF LS WF WF WF X Handled thru membership in Authority. Zoning, Ordinance #917, February 26, 1991: Town Ordinance #: 1010 adopted 10/28/99 Public Works X Public Works X Planning X Public Works / Ross Valley Fire Department Ross Valley Fire Department X Ross Valley Fire Department No funds available for enforcement or additional education. WF-3 WF-4 WF-5 WF-6 WF-7 HSNG-g-9 HSNG-k-14 ECON-j-9 HSNG-g-10 GOVT-d-6 WF-8 ECON-e-1 WF-9 ECON-e-10 WF-10 ECON-e-12 WF-11 ECON-e-3 WF-12 ECON-j-6 WF-13 GOVT-c-19 WF-14 HSNG-g-12 WF-15 HSNG-g-13 WF-16 HSNG-g-14 WF-17 HSNG-g-16 Expand vegetation management programs in wildland-urban- interface fire-threatened communities or in areas exposed to high-to-extreme fire threat to more effectively manage the fuel load through roadside collection and chipping, mechanical fuel reduction equipment, selected harvesting, use of goats or other organic methods of fuel reduction, and selected use of controlled burning. Encourage the formation of a community- and neighborhood-based approach to wildfire education and action through local Fire Safe Councils and the Fire Wise Program. This effort is important because grant funds are currently available to offset costs of specific council-supported projects. Encourage the formation of a community- and neighborhood-based approach to wildfire education and action through local Fire Safe Councils and the Fire Wise Program. This effort is important because grant funds are currently available to offset costs of specific council-supported projects. Establish special funding mechanisms (such as Fire Hazard Abatement Districts or regional bond funding) to fund reduction in fire risk of existing properties through vegetation management that includes reduction of fuel loads, use of defensible space, and fuel breaks. Participate in multi-agency efforts to mitigate fire threat, such as the Hills Emergency Forum (in the East Bay), various FireSafe Council programs, and city-utility task forces. Such participation increases a jurisidiction's competitiveness in obtaining grants. Increase efforts to reduce hazards in existing private development in wildland-urbaninterface fire-threatened communities or in areas exposed to high-to-extreme fire threat through improving engineering design and vegetation management for mitigation, appropriate code enforcement, and public education on defensible space mitigation strategies. Conduct periodic fire-safety inspections of all privately-owned commercial and industrial buildings. Ensure that city/county-initiated fire-preventive vegetation-management techniques and practices for creek sides and high-slope areas do not contribute to the landslide and erosion hazard. Require that new privately-owned business and office buildings in high fire hazard areas be constructed of fire-resistant building materials and incorporate fire-resistant design features (such as minimal use of eaves, internal corners, and open first floors) to increase structural survivability and reduce ignitability. Assist private businesses and residents in the development of defensible space through the use of, for example, “tool libraries” for weed abatement tools, roadside collection and/or chipping services (for brush, weeds, and tree branches) in wildlandurban-interface fire-threatened communities or in areas exposed to high-to-extreme fire threat. Increase local patrolling during periods of high fire weather. Require fire sprinklers in new homes located more than 1.5 miles or a 5-minute response time from a fire station or in an identified high hazard wildland-urbaninterface wildfire area. Require fire sprinklers in all new or substantially remodeled multifamily housing, regardless of distance from a fire station. Require sprinklers in all mixed use development to protect residential uses from fires started in non-residential areas. Conduct periodic fire-safety inspections of all multi-family buildings, as required by State law. 65 WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Town Ordinance #1061, adopted 11/27/07 WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Ongoing Program WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Ongoing Program WF X Building / Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF-18 HSNG-g-3 WF-19 HSNG-g-5 WF-20 INFR-c-1 WF-21 INFR-c-2 WF-22 INFR-c-3 WF-23 INFR-c-4 WF-24 INFR-c-6 WF-25 INFR-c-7 WF-26 INFR-c-8 WF-27 GOVT-c-17 WF-28 WF-29 WF-30 WF-31 ECON-e-4, HSNG-g-6 LAND-b-1 LAND-b-2 HSNG-g-7, ECON-e-5 Require that new homes in wildland-urban-interface fire-threatened communities or in areas exposed to high-to-extreme fire threat be constructed of fire-resistant building materials (including roofing and exterior walls) and incorporate fire-resistant design features (such as minimal use of eaves, internal corners, and open first floors) to increase structural survivability and reduce ignitability. Note - See Structural Fire Prevention Field Guide for Mitigation of Wildfires at http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/structural.html. Consider fire safety, evacuation, and emergency vehicle access when reviewing proposals to add secondary units or additional residential units in wildland-urbaninterface fire-threatened communities or in areas exposed to high-to-extreme fire threat. Ensure a reliable source of water for fire suppression (meeting acceptable standards for minimum volume and duration of flow) for existing and new development. Develop a coordinated approach between fire jurisdictions and water supply agencies to identify needed improvements to the water distribution system, initially focusing on areas of highest wildfire hazard (including wildfire threat areas and in wildland-urbaninterface areas). Develop a defensible space vegetation program that includes the clearing or thinning of (a) non-fire resistive vegetation within 30 feet of access and evacuation roads and routes to critical facilities, or (b) all non-native species (such as eucalyptus and pine, but not necessarily oaks) within 30 feet of access and evacuation roads and routes to critical facilities. For new development, ensure all dead-end segments of public roads in high hazard areas have at least a “T” intersection turn-around sufficient for typical wildland fire equipment. Require that development in high fire hazard areas provide adequate access roads (with width and vertical clearance that meet the minimum standards of the Fire Code or relevant local ordinance), onsite fire protection systems, evacuation signage, and fire breaks. Ensure adequate fire equipment road or fire road access to developed and open space areas. Maintain fire roads and/or public right-of-way roads and keep them passable at all times. Monitor weather during times of high fire risk using, for example, weather stations tied into police and fire dispatch centers. WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire Department WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Existing Program WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Existing Program WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Existing Program WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Existing Program WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Existing Program WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Existing Program WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Existing Program WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Adopt and amend as needed updated versions of the California Building and Fire Codes so that optimal fire-protection standards are used in construction and renovation projects of private buildings. WF X Ross Valley Fire Department / Public Works Town Ordinance #1059 adopting UBC, Ordinance #1060; adopting CFC & UFC, 11/27/07 Review new development proposals to ensure that they incorporate required and appropriate fire-mitigation measures, including adequate provisions for occupant evacuation and access by emergency response personnel and equipment. WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Mount Tamalpais Mutual Threat Zone Emergency Operations Plan project. WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Town ordinance adbopting UBC, Ordinance #: 1061, adopted 11/27/07 Develop a clear legislative and regulatory framework at both the state and local levels to manage the wildland-urban-interface consistent with Fire Wise and sustainable community principles. Create a mechanism to enforce provisions of the California Building and Fire Codes and other local codes that require the installation of smoke detectors and fireextinguishing systems on existing residential buildings by making installation a condition of (a) finalizing a permit for any work valued at over a fixed amount and/or (b) on any building over 75 feet in height, and/or (b) as a condition for the transfer of property. 66 WF X Public Works / Building Official WF-32 HSNG-g-1 Increase efforts to reduce hazards in existing private development in wildland-urbaninterface fire-threatened communities or in areas exposed to high-to-extreme fire threat through improving engineering design and vegetation management for mitigation, appropriate code enforcement, and public education on defensible space mitigation strategies. Work to ensure a reliable source of water for fire suppression in rural-residential areas through the cooperative efforts of water districts, fire districts, and residents. WF-33 WF-34 WF-35 WF X WF X Ross Valley Fire Department Ross Valley Fire Department HSNG-g-8 ECON-j-4 HSNG-g-17 Inform San Anselmo's residents and private business owners of mitigation activities, including elevation of appliances above expected flood levels, use of fire-resistant roofing and defensible space in wildland-urban-interface fire-threatened communities or in areas exposed to high-to-extreme fire threat, structural retrofitting techniques for older buildings, and use of intelligent grading practices through workshops, publications, and media announcements and events. Ensure that city/county-initiated fire-preventive vegetation-management techniques and practices for creek sides and high-slope areas do not contribute to the landslide and erosion hazard. For example, vegetation in these sensitive areas could be thinned, rather than removed, or replanted with less flammable materials. When thinning, the non-native species should be removed first. Other options would be to use structural mitigation, rather than vegetation management in the most sensitive areas. 67 WF FL X Public Works / Building Official / Ross Valley Fire WF LS X Ross Valley Fire Department Replacement needed as soon as funding is found: Scenic Avenue above #235 Ridge Road, including Parkside and Wood Courts Laurel Avenue above #440 Hillcrest Avenue from #12 to the end of Olive Avenue. Fernwood Drive Future Plan Maintenance Process Future Monitoring, Evaluating, and Updating the Plan The Town is required to review and revise this hazard mitigation plan and resubmit it for approval within 5 years in order to remain eligible for mitigation project grant funding. To ensure the plan stays current and incremental progress is made on implementing the mitigation strategies, the Town will make every effort to update this Plan within five years by using a similar method to update the plan as was used to develop this plan. During this time, several related planning procedures are anticipated to elicit monitoring and review. One of these is the FEMA Community Rating System. If San Anselmo gets credit for this plan under Activity 512 Floodplain Management Planning it must evaluate its progress annually. Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms The Town will incorporate the mitigation programs into existing programs. The mitigation objectives and actions are designed to be carried out through the normal government activity. For example, any code revisions or updates will be accomplished using standard procedures for code development. Structural improvements to buildings and infrastructure will be incorporated into the Town capital improvement projects and be subject to that process. Continued Public Involvement The Town will continue to involve the public in the plan maintenance by noticing meetings when the plan will be reviewed and discussed through the Town email list and by postings at Town Hall and the Town Post Office. The adopted plan will be placed on the Town website. When the Town proceeds with an update of the plan, a public hearing will be held to solicit public comment and input. All draft updates will be posted on the Town website for public review prior to consideration by the Town Council. Appendices Resolution of Adoption Paste Resolution Here 68 Public Meetings and Outreach Documentation #1 Town Council Meeting July 28, 2015 Agenda Item 12: http://sananselmoca.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=83 Staff Report: http://sananselmo-ca.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=sananselmoca_5725f9b07291f91f59265f5c819264fc.pdf Minutes: http://sananselmo-ca.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=sananselmo-ca_5009d2068bc7-4a4c-8b07-0310b4d70939.pdf Flier for Public Meeting Town Manager’s Newsletter- July 24, 2015 #2 Country Fair Day Booth- On September 27 San Anselmo had a booth at a popular event downtown and asked the public to fill out this 5-question survey about the hazard plan update. 14 people completed the survey and results are pasted below. #3 Flood Committee Meeting November 19, 2015: http://www.townofsananselmo.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4827 #4 Quality of Life Commission Meeting January 18, 2016 http://www.townofsananselmo.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4824 #5 Planning Commission February 1, 2016 http://sananselmo-ca.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=126 #6 Town Council February 9, 2016 http://sananselmo-ca.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=128 69 Country Fair Day Survey and Results Question 1 70 Question 2 How do you get information concerning emergencies? radio, internet, emergency alert systems Text-message/phone alerts, local television, radio & internet. neighbors and on-line community bulletin + emergency response emails Nixel and news updates via text radio, on line San Anselmo Country Fair. Plus I know Sean Condry. We walk down and look at the creek level under the La Apertife building where the creek is constricted and two large culverts feed into it. Nothing else is reliable Call from agency/police Nixle Text Town of SA and Ross Valley Fire You Nixle Question 3 71 Question 4 Question 5 “I am not in favor of using Memorial Park as a flood basin.” “Additional community events during dry months regarding creek clean-up and the ways the community can stay involved/participate.” “Looking to do CERT truing but haven't found a good weekend to do it locally” “educate people on what to plant for fire resistant gardens. I think the town is doing a great job offering up CERT, offering flood info/ideas....it's hard to reach people who already have made up their minds on issues” “My son works for San Anselmo and I'm sure they have a plan in place” 72 “Make sure the siren goes off it didn't last year. Clean the creeks, abate where owners have built into the creeks, remove the LaApertife building dredge the sand out of the bottom of the creek there are no habitat issues when the creek is dry other than rats. Stop using our taxpayers money on grandiose solutions that do nothing but line consultants pockets. Do not allow dams to let water out during a flood,” “Dam failure only affects Ross and downstream.” “When are we going to get flood control!” 73 Plan Development Team Meeting Documentation 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 Stakeholders Personnel from the following stakeholder groups were emailed twice during the planning process, first on July 20, 2015 and again in December once the draft was completed. 81 Stakeholder Group Ross Valley School District Tamalpais School District Marin Municipal Water District City of San Rafael Town of Fairfax Town of Ross Transportation Authority of Marin Marin Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control ABAG Marin County Supervisor’s Office Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program Marin Sheriff Ross Valley Sanitary District Marin County Parks and Open Space PG&E Marin County Flood Control District Marin General Services Authority Name, Title Marci Trahan, Assistant Superintendent Liz Seabury, Drake High School Principal David Peery, Safety and Risk Manager Krishna Kumar, General Manager Paul Jensen, Community Development Director Raffi Boloyan, Planning Manager Garrett Toy, Town Manager Leann Taagepera, Contract Planner Scott McDonald, Senior Transportation Planner David Chan, Manager of Programming and Legislation Phil Smith, District Manager Dana Brechwald, Earthquake & Hazards Specialist Danielle Mieler, Resilience Program Coordinator Nancy Vernon, Board Aide Lynne Scarpa, Outreach Program Coordinator Terri Fashing, Program Manager Tom Jordan, Emergency Services Coordinator Randell Ishii, District Engineer Katherine Hayden, Assistant Engineer James Raives, Senior Planner James Wickham, Senior Public Safety Specialist Scott Lyle, Marin County Flood Control District Program Manager Hannah Lee, Associate Civil Engineer Paul Berlant, Executive Director 82 Works Cited ABAG Association of Bay Area Governments Resilience Program.s.l., http://resilience.abag.ca.gov/projects/2016-mitigation-adaptation-plans/,2015. IPCC 5th Assessment Report WG1 Chapter 13: Sea Level Rise.s.l., https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/wg1/WG1AR5_Chapter13_FINAL.pdf,2015. Larkspur City of Larkspur Updated All-Hazard Mitigation Plan.s.l., http://hazardmitigation.calema.ca.gov/docs/lhmp/Larkspur_City_ofl.pdf,2014. MCDPW Marin County Public Works Department Hazardous Materials Area Plan.s.l., http://www.marincounty.org/~/media/files/departments/fr/080722-16-pw-attach-rep-hazmatplan.pdf ,2008. —.Marin County Public Works Flood Control District reports. [Online]http://www.marinwatersheds.org/documents_and_reports/documents-reports.html. MCOES Marin County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2012 Update. MMWD Marin Municipal Water District Urban Water Management Plan Water Demand Analysis and Water Conservation Measures Update.s.l.,http://www.marinwater.org/documentcenter/view/3497 ,2015. Ross Town of Ross Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.s.l., http://www.townofross.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/police/page/295/ross-hazardmitigation-plan.pdf,2012. RVSD Ross Valley Sanitary District Sewer System Management Plan.s.l., http://rvsd.org/contractors/planning-and-capital-improvements,2013. TSA San Anselmo Climate Action Plan.s.l.,http://www.townofsananselmo.org/index.aspx?NID=636, 2011. —. San Anselmo Flood Mitigation Plan.s.l., http://hazardmitigation.calema.ca.gov/docs/fmp/San_Anselmo_Flood_Mitigation_Plan08.pdf,2008. —. San Anselmo General Plan.s.l.,http://www.townofsananselmo.org/index.aspx?NID=216,1989 . —. San Anselmo Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex to Taming Natural Disasters .s.l., http://resilience.abag.ca.gov/wp-content/documents/2010LHMP/SanAnselmo-Annex-2011.pdf,2011 . 83 USGS Flood of January 1982 in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.1989. Weather Channel Accessed December 2015.s.l., http://www.weather.com/weather/monthly/l/94960?x=0&y=0. WickhamJamesPublic Safety Specialist Pacific Gas & Electric Co.|.Personal Communication.12 January 2016. 84