To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Jacques R. LaRochelle, Public Works Director
Prepared By: John Ferons, Senior Civil Engineer
TITLE:
Title
FEMA Funding for Repairs of Damage from February 2017 Storms
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
(1) Designate the City Manager, the Finance Director, the Assistant to the City Manager, or the Public Works Administrative Services Manager to serve as the City’s Authorized Designated Agent to implement funding requests submitted to, and funding received from, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) and the California Office of Emergency Services (“Cal OES”); and
(2) Authorize the City's Authorized Designated Agent to prepare and submit FEMA Form 90-49 (Request for Public Assistance) to request funding for the City's response to the damage incurred during the February 2017 Storms (FEMA 4305-DR-CA); and
(3) Determine that the actions authorized by this item are exempt from CEQA.
Body
DISCUSSION:
In addition to the January Storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the State of California to supplement local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides from February 1 to February 23, 2017.
The Napa Valley was subject to a continued series of atmospheric river storm events after January and into February resulting in additional damage to City property at various Napa River and tributary creek banks and adjacent top-of-bank assets.
For the City to participate and be eligible for the February Storm Events, the City must repeat the initiation process by submitting a Request for Public Assistance (FEMA Form 90-49). To facilitate that submittal, FEMA and Cal-OES require that the City designate an agent as the main point of contact for all correspondence regarding this incident. The City previously authorized the Director of Finance or Assistant to the City Manager or the Public Works Administrative Services Manager to execute for and on behalf of the City of Napa for all matters pertaining to state and federal disaster assistance for the 2014 Earthquake incident. That authorization began October 7, 2014 and is valid for three years hence, making the same identified personnel valid as authorized agents for the February 2017 Storms, FEMA 4305-DR-CA.
Upon receipt of the Request for Public Assistance, which is due on or before April 25, 2017, the Cal-OES/FEMA team will schedule a site meeting with City representatives to assess the damage sites and develop our List of Projects (LOP, Cal OES Form 95). Public Works Engineering Staff have been evaluating the damage sites and have developed a draft list of projects for inclusion. The candidate damage sites includes: Browns Valley Road/Browns Valley Creek Bank Scour affecting sidewalk, curb & gutter, road and potable water pipeline as well as various damage within city parks.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
By authorizing the Request for Public Assistance, the City will be in compliance with Cal OES requirements and therefore eligible to receive reimbursement for related expenditures.
CEQA:
City staff recommends that the City Council determine that the Recommended Action described in this Agenda Report is exempt from CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15269 (repair to property and facilities damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster in an area where a state of emergency has been proclaimed by the Governor pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - FEMA Form 90-49 Request for Public Assistance
NOTIFICATION:
None.