HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-06-2019 Public Safety Task Force Agenda Packet
Saratoga Public Safety Task Force Agenda - Page 1 of 2
SARATOGA
PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE
REGULAR MEETING
May 6, 2019
6:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING
City Hall, Linda Callon Conference Room | 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070
ROLL CALL
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
Any member of the public may address the Public Safety Task Force for up to three (3) minutes
on matters not on the Agenda. The law generally prohibits the Public Safety Task Force from
discussing or taking action on such items. However, the Public Safety Task Force schedule the
item for discussion at a future meeting.
PRESENTATIONS:
1. Overview of State and City Laws and Policies
Recommended Action:
Receive brief presentation on the State and City laws and policies that apply to the Public
Safety Task Force.
2. Wildfire Prevention/Preparedness and Emergency Preparedness
Recommended Action:
Receive presentations on wildfire prevention/preparedness and emergency preparedness
efforts in the City of Saratoga.
AGENDA ITEMS:
1. Nomination of Chair and Vice Chair
Recommended Action:
Nominate a member of the Task Force to the position of Chair and Vice Chair.
2. Review of Public Safety Task Force Objectives & Development of a Proposed Work Plan
Recommended Action:
Review Council priorities and timeline for the Public Safety Task Force. Begin developing a
proposed work plan for the Public Safety Task Force based on Council priorities and timeline
of the Public Safety Task Force.
Saratoga Public Safety Task Force Agenda - Page 2 of 2
3. Task Force Meeting Schedule
Recommended Action:
Decide on a regular meeting schedule for the Public Safety Task Force.
4. Future Agenda Items
Recommended Action:
Consider agenda items for upcoming meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
CERTIFICATE OF POSTING OF THE AGENDA, DISTRIBUTION OF AGENDA
PACKET, & COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
I, Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing
agenda for the meeting of the Public Safety Task Force was posted and available for review on
May 2, 2019 at the City of Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 and on the
City's website at www.saratoga.ca.us.
Signed this May 2, 2019 at Saratoga, California.
Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager
In accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, copies of the staff reports and other materials
provided to the Public Safety Task Force by City staff in connection with this agenda are available
at the office of the City Clerk at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070.
In Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in
this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 408.868.1294. Notification 24 hours prior to the
meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this
meeting. [28 CFR 5.102-35.104 ADA title II]
CITY OF SARATOGA - WILDFIRE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE
Membership
FIRST NAME LAST NAME NOMINATED BY EMAIL
Bill Cooper Mayor Cappello bill@cgv.com
Paul Hansen Council Member Bernald paul.hansen@gmail.com
May Lu Mayor Cappello mayweilu@gmail.com
Chuck Page Vice Mayor Miller chuck@chuckpage.org
Arun Venkatachar Council Member Kumar aruntv@gmail.com
Michael Zhang Council Member Zhao mtzhangusa@gmail.com
Staff Liaison:
Crystal Bothelio | 408.868.1269 | cbothelio@saratoga.ca.us
Role & Responsibilities – Resolution 19-007
The Wildfire Public Safety Task Force serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council on matters
related to wildfire and emergency preparedness. The Task Force is charged with providing
recommendations on improvements and additions to the City of Saratoga Community Wildfire
Protection Plan, strategies to strengthen wildfire hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness efforts
in Saratoga, and serving as community ambassadors on the topics of wildfire and emergency
preparedness for a limited term, ending November 30, 2020.
CITY OF SARATOGA
Memorandum
To: Public Safety Task Force
From: Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager
Date: May 6, 2019
Subject: Overview of State and City Laws and Policies
The Saratoga Public Safety Task Force is subject to many of the same laws and rules that Saratoga
Commissions are subject to. Key laws and policies that apply to the Task Force are summarized here
and staff will also provide a brief overview during the meeting on May 6. Additional information is
also available in the City of Saratoga Commission Handbook.
GENERAL POLICIES & REQUIREMENTS
Use of Title or City Resources for Non-City Business: Like all City officials, Task Force Members
may not use their official title or City equipment for non-City business.
Expression of Opinions: In accordance with the City Council Norms of Operation, when a Member
addresses the City Council, a City Commission, or the public, the Member should make it clear whether
he or she is speaking on behalf of the Task Force or as an individual citizen. Individual members of
Task Force may not represent their personal opinions or recommendations as those of the Task Force
unless the Task Force has voted to approve such views and authorized the individual to speak on the
Task Force’s behalf. Members expressing views not formally approved by the majority of a Task Force
as part of a properly noticed agenda item should clearly state that their opinions are being expressed as
a “private citizen.”
In addition, when a Member makes a public statement on behalf of the Task Force it should not include
promises that may be construed to be binding on the City. Because the Task Force is advisory to the
City Council, when making a public statement, members should indicate that Task Force actions are
recommendations only and that final action will be taken by the City Council.
Participation in Political Activities: Acceptance of an appointment to the Task Force does not generally
restrict individual citizen participation in political activities of the individual’s choosing at any level of
government, be it local, state, or federal. Members may not, however, use their appointed office, title,
or City resources in the conduct of such activity.
State law provides that City Council Members, Commissioners (including the Task Force), and
employees may not:
• Use their office, authority or influence to obtain a change in position or compensation in
exchange for a particular vote or political action by the official or employee. This includes
urging or discouraging an individual employee to engage in or refrain from specific action.
(Government Code 3204)
• Directly or indirectly solicit political funds or contributions from other officers or employees
of the local agency unless the communication is made to a significant segment of the public,
which may include officers and employees of the local agency. (Government Code 3205)
• Directly or indirectly offer to increase the compensation or salary of another in exchange for a
contribution or loan to any committee controlled directly or indirectly by the person who holds
or is seeking election to an office. (Government Code 3205.5)
• Accept, solicit, or direct a campaign contribution of more than $250 from any applicant or
others with a financial interest participating in a proceeding on a license, permit, or other
entitlement before the Task Force while the proceeding is under consideration or within 3
months following the date of the final decision. If a Member receives a contribution of more
than $250 from an applicant or others with a financial interest in a proceeding on a license,
permit, or other entitlement in the 12 months before the proceeding, then the candidate must
disclose the contribution and cannot participate or in any way influence the decision on the
proceeding. (Government Code 84308)
Reimbursement: In March 2015, the City Council adopted the Council and Commission Expense
Policy. This policy describes how City funds can be used for training and travel purposes. Task Force
Members who receive reimbursements are required to participate in Assembly Bill (AB) 1234 ethics
training described in the following section on ethics, public records, and open meeting laws.
E-Communications: The City’s E-Communications Policy, adopted in 2010, describes proper use of
electronic media and devices by Council Members, Commissioners, and Task Force Members. The
policy prohibits discussion or exchange of facts about City issues via e-communications. This may
include email, online forums, social media, or blogs. This provision is intended to prevent conflicts
with the requirements of the Brown Act and to ensure that all Members have an equal opportunity to
share their views with the public.
Additionally, use of e-communications (for example, use of a phone, sending emails, or text messaging)
is prohibited during meetings. This does not include telephone calls or other messages sent in the event
of an urgent family matter.
TASK FORCE MEETINGS & THE BROWN ACT
The Brown Act: Passed in the 1950s, the Brown Act guarantees the public’s right to attend and
participate in the meetings of local legislative bodies. The State law requires that:
• Meetings of a legislative body, including the Public Safety Task Force, are properly noticed
and open to the public;
• Members of the public can comment on all agenda items and at all regular meetings on items
not on the agenda; and
• The legislative body conducts votes (except those permitted to take place in closed session) in
a public meeting.
There generally may be no action or discussion by Task Force Members on any item not appearing on
the posted agenda. Task Force Members may only briefly respond to statements made or questions
posed about items not on the agenda; they may request that the topic be agendized for a future meeting.
The Brown Act also requires that meetings be held in a facility that is accessible to handicapped
individuals.
The definition of “meeting” includes any action among a majority of the members to hear, discuss, or
deliberate upon an item that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Task Force. The Brown Act
specifically prohibits the use of any series of communications of any kind (e.g., telephone, fax or email)
directly or through intermediaries, to discuss, deliberate, or take action on any item of business that is
within the Task Force’s subject matter jurisdiction.
A majority of Members may attend the following gatherings without following the notice and other
rules pertaining to regular meetings (provided Task Force business is not discussed as part of the
meeting or in breaks): (1) meetings or conferences on general issues that are not City specific; (2)
meetings organized by others to address topic(s) of local community concern; and (3) social or
ceremonial functions.
Regular meetings are noticed by posting an agenda that includes a general description of each item to
be discussed. The agenda must be posted at least 72 hours before a regular meeting. Special Meetings
must be posted 24 hours in advance of the meeting and any media outlets that have requested notices
of such meetings must be notified of the special meeting.
Agenda: The agenda for meetings are prepared by the Chair and the staff person supporting the Task
Force. Members may propose additions to a future agenda at the end of a meeting. A second Member
must concur with the request. A Member may also request an item be placed on a future agenda by
speaking with the Chair. Members may only discuss or take action on items that are listed on that
meeting’s agenda.
Minutes: Action minutes of all meetings will be prepared by City staff. Minutes are presented at a
subsequent meeting for approval by the Task Force Members. Written minutes approved by the Task
Force constitute the official record of its actions. Additions and corrections to the minutes may be
made only in public meetings, with the approval of a majority of the Task Force, and not by the private
request of individual members.
Attendance Requirements: If a Task Force Member is absent without permission of the Chair (or in the
case of the Chair, permission from the Mayor) from three regular meetings within a 12-month period,
the Member’s position becomes vacant and is filled as any other vacancy. A Task Force Member
removed from his or her position in this manner may request that the vacancy be excused by filing a
letter with the City Clerk within 30 days of the effective date of the vacancy. It should be noted in the
minutes if a Task Force Member’s absence is excused.
Saratoga Rules of Parliamentary Procedure: In 2009, the Council moved from Robert’s Rules of Order
to the Saratoga Rules of Parliamentary Procedure. The City’s rules are based on Rosenberg’s Rules of
Order, a simplified version of rules of parliamentary procedure. The rules were adopted as part of the
City Council Norms of Operation.
Public Comment: Any member of the public comment may comment on any item on the agenda. At
every regular meeting, members of the public may address the Task Force regarding items within the
Task Force’s jurisdiction that are not on the agenda under the “Oral Communications” portion of the
meeting agenda. A time limitation for each speaker, typically three minutes, may be imposed.
While Members or staff are permitted to respond to any questions or to seek clarification concerning a
point raised, it is imperative to note that the Brown Act specifically prohibits any public body from
discussing or taking action on an item that is not listed on the agenda. Therefore, if the Task Force
wishes to discuss the item, the topic should be agendized for a future meeting.
Length of Meetings: In 2013, the City Council adopted a resolution establishing guidelines for the
length of meetings. The goal of the guidelines is to prevent meetings from extending beyond midnight.
If a meeting runs till 10:00 p.m., the Chair should determine if the meeting will continue past midnight
if all items on the agenda are heard. If the Chair believes that the meeting will not adjourn by midnight
then the Chair should request a motion continue a sufficient number of agenda items to the next regular
meeting to allow the meeting to conclude by midnight.
Meeting Decorum: The City Council Norms of Operation provide some standards for meeting decorum
that minimize disruptions and maintain a respectful environment. It is recommended that Task Force
Members consider maintaining the meeting decorum standards below:
• Members should not engage in debate with a member of the public or staff at meetings since
these debates seldom resolve concerns and many times inflame feelings at a public meeting.
Any concerns by a member of the Task Force over the behavior or work of a City employee
during a meeting should be directed to the City Manager privately to ensure the concern is
resolved. (Council Norms of Operation, Section 1, G)
• Persons in the audience shall refrain from behavior which will disrupt the public meeting. This
includes making loud noises, clapping, shouting, booing, hissing or engaging in any other
activity in a manner that disturbs, disrupts or impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting.
Persons in the audience shall also refrain from creating, provoking or participating in any type
of disturbance involving unwelcome physical contact and from using cellular phones and/or
pagers while the meeting is in session. Appropriate attire, including shoes and shirts, are
required in meeting rooms at all times. Persons in the audience will not place their feet on the
seats in front of them. No food, drink (other than bottled water with a cap), or chewing gum
will be allowed in meeting rooms, except as otherwise pre-approved by City staff. All persons
entering meeting rooms, including their bags, purses, briefcases and similar belongings, may
be subject to search for weapons and other dangerous materials.(Council Norms of Operation,
Section 1, J)
• No person who addresses the Task Force shall make any belligerent, personal, impertinent,
irrelevant, redundant, slanderous, loud, threatening, abusive or disparaging remark, statement
or commentary toward the Task Force, staff or other individuals in a manner which disrupts,
disturbs or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting, nor shall any person engage
in any other disorderly conduct which so disrupts, disturbs or impedes the orderly conduct of
the meeting. Any violation of this rule shall be grounds for terminating the person’s comment
period. Continued inappropriate behavior or comments, after having been directed to
discontinue, also shall be grounds for removal from the meeting. Members shall not be
belligerent or make disparaging commentary toward the speaker. Nothing in this section shall
prohibit or discourage orderly criticism of any City decision or policy within the limits of these
rules. If a member of the public fails to follow these rules after being warned once, that
individual may be barred from further testimony for the evening or may be removed from the
meeting. (Council Norms of Operation, Section 6, C)
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT
The California Public Records Act was adopted in 1968 and allows any member of the public to inspect
local government records. While there are a few exceptions to the law, the public may generally request
any public record. Government Code Section 6252 defines public records as “any writing containing
information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any
state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.”
All records pertaining to the Task Force’s business are public records. This includes agendas, minutes,
staff reports, emails, and other letters to or from Task Force Members on issues within the jurisdiction
of the Task Force, and reports from City consultants that are distributed to the Task Force.
Members should be aware that all their correspondence concerning Task Force business is a matter of
public record.
CITY OF SARATOGA
Memorandum
To: Public Safety Task Force
From: Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager
Date: May 6, 2019
Subject: Wildfire Prevention/Preparedness and Emergency Preparedness
At the meeting, Task Force Members will receive several presentations on wildfire
prevention/preparedness and emergency preparedness. During the meeting, the Task Force will receive
copies of planning and mitigation plans related to wildfire and emergency preparedness. Several key
documents are also attached.
Attachments:
- Fire Hazard/Wildland Urban Interface Map
- Community Wildfire Protection Plan
- Hazard Mitigation Plan
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SAFETY ELEMENT
Fire Hazard Zones
Exhibit 7
0 1,500 3,000750 Feet
Prepared by RBF Consulting: 12/04/2012
Sources: City of Saratoga - Zoning Map (2010) Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area Map (2009) : ESRI Terrain Basemap
County of Santa Clara - CityLimits (2010) StreetEdge (2009) : CA Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection (2007)
C IT Y OFSA R ATO G A
Fire Station
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Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 6. City of Saratoga
SWCA Environmental Consultants 1 August 2016
ANNEX 6. CITY OF SARATOGA
The City of Saratoga is located on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley directly west of San
Jose, bordered to the east by Los Gatos and Monte Sereno to the southeast (Figure 6.1). The
population in 2010 was 29,926 with a population density of 2,416.9 people per square mile (U.S.
Census Bureau 2010).
Figure 6.1. City of Saratoga .
ORGANIZATION AND JURISDICTION
The City of Saratoga is governed by a publicly elected city council and has authority for General
Plan-land use planning, code adoption and permit processing. The City of Saratoga does not have
a city fire department; services are provided through two fire districts .
State law designates all lands within the city limits of Saratoga as Local Responsibility Area (LRA)
for purposes of wildland fire protection. Most state fire prevention and defensible space laws do
not apply within LRA. Recent legislation requires State review and input on General Plan Safety
Element updates where wildland fire is a hazard (Government Code Section 65040.20).
Fire Protection services for the City of Saratoga is split jurisdictionally between the two fire
protection districts. The Saratoga Fire Protection District (Annex 5), an independent special district
encompasses the western half of the City of Saratoga. The eastern half of the city is w ithin the
Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District (a Board of Supervisors governed dependent
special district) that also provides fire protection to other local cities and unincorporated areas
(Annex 1 - Chapter 3).
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 6. City of Saratoga
SWCA Environmental Consultants 2 August 2016
The planning area is best described as a wildland urban interface (WUI) with homes scattered
among wildland fuels, although Saratoga Village is also considered a WUI designation. The City
of Saratoga WUI planning area includes designated and adopted very high fire hazard severity
zone (FHSZ) areas in the LRA. Structures that fall within the City of Saratoga are subject to the
City planning ordinances:
Designated WUI areas require application of Chapter 7A WUI regulations of the City’s adopted
Building Code.
Saratoga has adopted the WUI Requirements under the California Fire Code with amendments to
address local conditions that can be viewed here:
https://library.municode.com/ca/saratoga/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH16BURE_ART
16-20FICO_16-20.150AMCH49FICOREWIBAINFIAR
Tree Information and Permits: http://www.saratoga.ca.us/172/Tree-Regulations
LAND USE PLANNING, GENERAL PLAN, BUILDING CODES, AND LOCAL
HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS
Authority and jurisdiction for approving the General Plan and elements, determining land use,
community design and building code adoption rests with the Saratoga City Council. The Local
Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) identifies hazards that exist in Saratoga that create risk to citizens
and properties in Saratoga. WUI fires are a real and present danger to the western portions of
Saratoga. This Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) identifies several goals related to
functions the City of Saratoga has the authority to undertake.
This CWPP may serve as basis for the WUI fire component for LHMP, General Plan, or General
Plan element updates.
MITIGATION PROJECTS AND PRIORITIZATIONS
The following project matrixes have been developed by the community and Core Team to direct
specific project implementation for communities in the City of Saratoga WUI (Table 6.1 through
Table 6.5). The matrixes below are tiered to the strategic goals presented in the body of the
countywide CWPP through project IDs in the first column of each matrix.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 6. City of Saratoga
SWCA Environmental Consultants 3 August 2016
Table 6.1. Recommendations for Public Outreach and Education in the City of Saratoga
ID
(S) Project Presented
by Target Date Priority
(1,2,3) Resources Needed Serves to
Strategic Goal:
EO1- Educate citizens on how to achieve contemporary WUI code compliance in retrofits/cost: benefit ratio. Provide workshops and/o r demonstration site. and
EO5- Emergency preparedness meetings. Use American Red Cross volunteers and other preparedness experts. Attend community functions and hold special
meetings to provide guidance for creating household emergency plans. Use Ready, Set, Go! program.
S-EO1.1 Wildfire Preparedness and
WUI Code workshops.
Fire Safe
Councils,
County Fire
Within 2 years. 1 Workshop expenses, personnel.
Workshop venues.
Demonstration site.
Strategize on avenues for
engaging the public.
Increase compliance with County code.
Reduce fire risk level for individual parcels and
community as a whole.
Strategic Goal: EO3- Organize a community group made up of residents and agency personnel to develop materials and communicate relevant defensible space
messages. Could coordinate with fire departments or Fire Safe Council.
S-EO3.1 Form community working
group for defensible space
outreach.
Fire Safe
Council, fire
departments,
local
residents,
Eagle
Scouts, High
School
Community
Volunteer
Program
Within 1 year. 1 Funding to help cover costs of
materials (green waste removal
or chipper) and participation.
Hire contractor trained in
defensible space practices.
Engage diverse stakeholders in reaching out to
community members and encourage defensible
space practices.
Empower homeowners to make affordable and
effective changes to reduce the vulnerability of
individual homes.
Strategic Goal: EO4- Media involvement.
Develop a local newspaper column that provides fire safety information, promotional information for volu nteer fire departments, fire announcements, and emergency
planning.
S-EO4.1 Develop a local newspaper
column or community
newsletter for the Saratoga
community that provides fire
safety information, promotional
information for fire
departments, fire
announcements, and
emergency planning.
City of
Saratoga,
County Fire
Within 1 year. 1 Columns, information, and
articles to be provided by fire
departments, local residents,
Santa Clara County Fire Safe
Council (SCCFSC).
Protect communities and infrastructure through
increasing public awareness and providing a
channel for information regarding emergency
fire response.
Strategic Goal: E10- Insurance Services informational meetings
S-E10.1 Outreach to the community to
schedule an Insurance
Services informational
meeting.
Invite Insurance Services
representatives to speak to
groups regarding ways to
improve WUI insurance ratings
in the community.
Insurance
Services in
conjunction
with County
Fire and
SCCFSC
Within 2 years. 2 Resources provided by
Insurance Services.
Communities can learn how to improve their
insurance ratings, which will reduce insurance
costs in their community by implementing
wildfire prevention measures.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 6. City of Saratoga
SWCA Environmental Consultants 4 August 2016
ID
(S) Project Presented
by Target Date Priority
(1,2,3) Resources Needed Serves to
Strategic Goal: EO11- Increase signage/replace or augment existing signage.
S-EO11.1 Increase signage/replace or
augment existing signage.
Use existing signage to spread
fire prevention message along
highways and in public open
space areas (trailheads, info
kiosks) to reduce human
ignitions.
Promote the use of existing
electronic signs at firehouses
and other locales to display fire
prevention information, safety
messages, and fire danger
rating linked to safety actions.
County Fire,
Saratoga
Fire
Protection
District, City
of Saratoga
Within 2 years. 2 Mostly existing signs and posting
sites, people to post and update
signs.
Replace, or augment the
existing Smokey Bear signs with
electronic Fire Danger Warning
Signs that are solar powered,
LED displays (visible day and
night), and accessible and
programmable through an
internet website.
Protect communities and infrastructure by
raising awareness of local citizens and those
traveling in the area about actions that can
prevent fire.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 6. City of Saratoga
SWCA Environmental Consultants 5 August 2016
Table 6.2. Recommendations for Reducing Structural Ignitability in the City of Saratoga
ID (S) Project Presented by Programs Available Description Priority
(1,2,3) Timeline
Strategic Goal: SI1: Retrofit/Eliminate flammable roofs
S-SI1 Identify all wood shake roofed
properties within planning
area and target homeowners
with outreach on retrofitting
roofs.
City and County Planning
in conjunction with County
Fire and municipalities.
FEMA grants. Require elimination of all flammable
roofs through attrition or time deadline.
1 By 2030
Strategic Goal: SI5- Adopt landscape standards for recommended plant landscape materials.
S-SI5.1 Adopt landscape standards
for recommended plant
landscape materials.
Fire Safe Councils to lead. Research Firewise plants
suitable for the region.
Develop plant list, poster
materials and research
demonstration site.
Firewise Communities USA:
www.firewise.org
Educate property owners, landscape
firms and landscape architects in
appropriate ornamental plantings,
mulches, and landscape design/
maintenance in WUI areas.
3 Next 2 years
Strategic Goal: SI6- Develop landscape contractor maintenance program for “Right Plant-- Right Pl ace” and maintenance.
S-SI6.1 Develop landscape contractor
non-flammable plant list.
Fire Safe Councils to lead
in cooperation with local
homeowner association
(HOA)
Firewise Communities USA:
www.firewise.org
Educate property owners, landscape
firms and landscape architects in
appropriate ornamental plantings,
mulches, and landscape design/
maintenance in WUI areas. Work with
HOA.
2 Next 2 years
Strategic Goal: SI8- Interactive tool for citizens to use on line, ID their property and what hazard/risks exist and mitigations they can apply to improve their
survivability.
S-SI8.1 Work with County Fire to
develop parcel level
application of Community
Wildfire Protection Plan risk
assessment using Intterra
software.
Santa Clara County Fire
Department with revised
Intterra contract
Intterra County Fire to pursue funding to
increase contract provisions with Interra
to provide public facing tool.
Simplify tool and provide easy to follow
instructions.
Could develop You Tube informational
video.
1 Next 3 years
Strategic Goal: SI11- Implement spring community yard clean-up days.
In combination with Fire Safe Council chipper program.
S-SI11.1 Implement community work
day to encourage yard clean-
up and defensible space
maintenance.
County Fire, Municipal Fire
Departments, CAL FIRE,
Fire Safe Councils
Fire Safe Council chipping
program
Ready, Set, Go
CAL FIRE
A community led day of yard clean-up
with fire mitigation in mind would
encourage large numbers within the
community to carry-out mitigation
measures and implementation of
defensible space.
2 Next 2 years
Strategic Goal: SI12- Assess and improve accessibility to property.
Weekend program to inform homeowners about emergency response access .
S-SI12 Institute a weekend program
to inform homeowners about
emergency response access.
Fire departments, Fire
Marshal
Firewise Inform homeowners about the
importance of keeping driveways
accessible to fire trucks and emergency
responders.
1 Within 1 year
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 6. City of Saratoga
SWCA Environmental Consultants 6 August 2016
Table 6.3. Recommendations for Improving Firefighting Capabilities in the City of Saratoga
ID Project Description Fire
Department/Agency Benefits of the Project to the community Timeline Priority
(1.2.3)
Resources/funding
sources available
Strategic Goal: FC2- Define Safe Refuge Areas and establish maintenance program in WUI areas where fire behavior and evacuation timing is problema tic.
S-FC2.1 Define and delineate
spatially Safe Refuge Areas
and establish maintenance
program in WUI areas
where fire behavior and
evacuation timing is
problematic. Example:
Mountain Winery
County Fire/CAL
FIRE/Fire Safe
Councils
Provides safety measure for residents of rural
areas in event that evacuation is limited.
Provides for public and firefighter safety by
creating escape routes.
2 years 1 Grants: Federal Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA), California Fire Safe
Council, Department of
Homeland Security
Strategic Goal: FC5- Develop WUI preplans and accompanying evacuation plans for all WUI areas in Santa Clara County using standardized format.
S-FC5.1 Develop WUI preplans and
accompanying evacuation
plans for Saratoga WUI.
County Fire/CAL
FIRE/Fire Safe
Councils
Helps fire response agencies pre-plan for
evacuations.
Helps identify areas where mitigation
measures are needed to facilitate safe
evacuation.
Helps establish consistent model across all
agencies.
1 year 1 Grants: FEMA, CA FSC,
DHS
Strategic Goal: FC8: Where road systems are antiquated and do not provide for proper evacuation or two way flow, require removal of obstructions o r upgrade to
minimum 2 lanes road system over time.
S-FC8.1 Evalulate poor road access
issues, develop long-term
plan for road improvements
where feasible and
prioritized routes for
evacuation.
City of Saratoga Public
Works
Alleviates evacuation concerns of residents
living in areas with poor ingress/egress.
Provides for improved response capabilities
and reduces risk that responding emergency
vehicles will conflict with evacuation of
residents.
2 years 1 HOAs, Road Associations,
City staff
Strategic Goal: FC11- Investigate and potentially install Fire Detection Robots to alert departments of a fire start in remote areas.
S-FC11.1 Investigate installation of
Fire Detection Robots on
open space lands adjacent
to Saratoga.
County Fire Uses technology for single-tree wildfire
detection solution that help forestry agencies
and fire protection professionals manage the
risks of fire damage cost-effectively.
Within 2
years
1 Private companies provide
robotic technology
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 6. City of Saratoga
SWCA Environmental Consultants 7 August 2016
ID Project Description Fire
Department/Agency Benefits of the Project to the community Timeline Priority
(1.2.3)
Resources/funding
sources available
Strategic Goal: FC14- Where possible encourage sharing of water sources in areas where residential water supplies may be low or non -existent during periods of
drought or when wells/springs have run dry.
S-FC14.1 Address water shortage
concerns, particularly at
high elevations by following
the model currently under
way by Loma Prieta
Volunteer Fire Company.
Example:
Loma Prieta Volunteer Fire
Company is providing small
grants to home owners to
purchase and install
additional water tanks on
private residential lots
where a reliable supply of
water exists. These tanks
then provide water for
adjacent properties where a
well or spring may be
seasonal or dry.
Fire agencies, local
community
organizations, local
water purveyors.
Encouragement and assistance from Fire Safe
Council can provide a catalyst for action.
1–5 years 1 County Fire
Strategic Goal: FC15- Where Open Space and Park Agencies establish trail head parking areas, operating facilities such as horse stables and camping areas that will
increase public access add large capacity water tanks and hydrants for wildfire protection.
S-FC15.1 Installation of water tanks
on Open Space property for
fire suppression purposes.
Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
(MROSD will follow
permitting
requirements.); County
Parks.
Alleviates public and agency concern for
limited water supply in remote areas.
Within 5
years
3 This could eventually be
amended into the building
code.
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 6. City of Saratoga
SWCA Environmental Consultants 8 August 2016
Table 6.4. Fuel Reduction Treatment Recommendations in the City of Saratoga
ID Project
Description
Location and
Responsible Party Method Serves to:
Timeline
for
Action
Priority
(1,2,3) Monitoring Resources/funding
sources available
Strategic Goal: FR1- Incorporate single track trails into fire defense system where practical
S-FR1.1 Form a
community
working group to
work with open
space land
managers to
collaboratively
develop fuel
treatments plans
on open space
lands. Prioritize
treatments along
existing trails
that could help
to provide a
more substantial
fuel break and
break up the
continuity of
fuels.
Open space lands:
Trails that run adjacent
to community.
Detailed analysis would
be needed in
development of
treatment location to
ensure protection of
natural resources.
Provide access when
fires occur to reduce
spread.
Enhance Community
fire defense by
breaking up fuel
continuity.
Ongoing-
long
range
1 Regular
monitoring to
determine
project
success in
reducing fuel
loading and
enhanced
access.
Grants: California Fire
Safe Council
(CAFSC); California
Forest Improvement
Program (CFIP);
Natural Resource
Conservation Service
(NRCS), Federal
Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA), Green House
Gas Reduction Fund
(GHGRF)
Strategic Goal: FR7- Develop roadside fuel treatment program, including suite of methods available and sustainability mechanism
S-FR7.1 Implement
roadside
brushing/mowing
throughout
community to
increase buffer
from wildfire
ignitions and
provide for safe
evacuation.
Community
members to
approach
SCCFSC to
identify roadside
fuel treatment
priorities and
seek funding to
implement.
County and city road
agencies; private road
associations, PG&E,
Cable and Phone
companies.
Led by SCCFSC.
Determine suite of
treatment methods
allowed and restriction
for roadside hazard
reduction including
mowing, mastication,
chemical, plantings,
mulching, etc.
Develop treatment plan
and rotation schedule
for roadside treatments,
focusing of primary
evacuation or
access/egress
corridors.
Reduce fuel loading
around roads and
highways to ensure
safe passage of
vehicles in event of
evacuation and
reduce unplanned
ignitions from vehicles
and highway users.
Within 2
years
1 Regular
maintenance
schedule
should be
implemented to
ensure
clearance
levels are
maintained.
Develop
standards for
road crews.
Grants: CA FSC;
CFIP; NRCS, FEMA,
GHGRF
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 6. City of Saratoga
SWCA Environmental Consultants 9 August 2016
ID Project
Description
Location and
Responsible Party Method Serves to:
Timeline
for
Action
Priority
(1,2,3) Monitoring Resources/funding
sources available
Strategic Goal: FR9- Establish assistance program for hazardous fuel reduction for physically or fiscally challenged parcels
S-FR9.1 Establish
assistance
program for
hazardous fuel
reduction and
defensible space
for elderly or
physically
challenged
individuals within
Saratoga.
Saratoga neighborhood
groups, Home Owner
Association (HOA).
Identify barriers to
achieving parcel level
defensible space and
establish assistance
program of resources:
education, consulting,
guidance, people,
funding.
Ensure that individual
properties with poor
property hygiene do
not put adjoining
properties at risk in
event of wildfire.
For residents who are
not capable of
implementing good
property hygiene.
Within 2
years
2 Establish
levels of
participation by
assistance
type.
Grants: CA FSC;
CFIP; NRCS, FEMA,
GHGRF
Strategic Goal: FR 11- Create Sustainable programs for creating Defensible Space at the parcel Level.
S-R11.1 Create
Sustainable
programs for
creating
Defensible
Space at the
parcel Level
within Saratoga.
Home Owner, Fire Safe
Councils, Home Owner
Associations, County
Fire, Administrators for
SRA fee distributions.
Example projects:
Curbside green waste
pickup programs,
community chipping
piles, drive-up chipping,
on site chipping.
Ensure that
defensible space
actions are sustained
in all communities.
Within 1
year
1 Regular
maintenance
schedule
should be
implemented to
ensure
clearance
levels are
maintained.
Grants: CA FSC;
CFIP; NRCS, FEMA,
GHGRF
Table 6.5. Recommendations for General Planning Projects in City of Saratoga
ID Project Description Method Timeline for
Action
Priority
(1,2,3) Monitoring/Sustainability Resources/Funding
Sources Available
Strategic Goal GP1: Ensure project sustainability.
S- GP1.1 The CWPP serves as the
wildfire component of
Saratoga LHMP and
General Plan - Safety and
other element
amendments.
Work with city planning to identify timeline
for incorporation in next LHMP update.
Aim to have the strategic-level CWPP
incorporated into the Safety Element of the
General Plan when the safety element is
next revised. Getting it into the General
Plan is equivalent to getting the CWPP
adopted.
Next 5 years 2 The core group of stakeholders
would need to ensure that the
document is kept relevant in that
time and position it for
incorporation.
Internal funding
Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Annex 6. City of Saratoga
SWCA Environmental Consultants 10 August 2016
ID Project Description Method Timeline for
Action
Priority
(1,2,3) Monitoring/Sustainability Resources/Funding
Sources Available
Strategic Goal GP3: Ensure project sustainability.
S- GP3.1 Ensure project
sustainability.
Have a target date for updating the
datasets used in the risk assessment model
and re-running the model.
Establish trigger points for updating CWPP.
Make contact with Santa Clara County Fire
Department to note your interest in
participating in the project and identify
CWPP meeting schedule.
Annually
1 Establish annual oversight of the
CWPP and project status.
Get buy-in from Core Team
members for long-term
commitment to CWPP review.
Internal funding
S- GP3.2 Designate a member to the
Countywide CWPP Core
Team for CWPP updates.
Identify staff and convene a kickoff of the
working group and identify tasks and goals
for CWPP updates.
Meet
quarterly
1 Commit to attendance at one
CWPP meeting annually.
Internal funding
S- GP3.3 Develop methods for
sustainability of hazardous
fuel reduction.
Develop action for city council to adopt
method to fund sustainable hazardous fuel
maintenance (such as Mello-Roos
Community Facility Districts for new
subdivisions).
As needed 2 Enactment of policy. Internal funding
Strategic Goal GP4: Parcel Level Defensible Space Inspection Task Force
S-GP4.1 Join countywide task force
to do parcel level
inspection work to enhance
model; utilize portable data
collection and ArcGIS as
analysis tools.
Carryout parcel level assessments to
enhance risk assessment model
components at a finer scale.
Add data to model and re-run as necessary.
2 years 1 Set target number of parcels to
be assessed each year.
Review number of parcels
assessed each year at annual
CWPP meeting.
Internal funding
Strategic Goal GP5: Develop countywide standard and method for continued data gathering and risk analysis.
S-GP5.1 Use a countywide standard
and method for continued
data gathering and risk
analysis.
Conduct funding to purchase a commercial
application, such as Fulcrum, that provides
a standard data collection platform that
could be used on a smart phone/tablet.
2 years 1 Annual review of progress as part
of Core Team.
California Fire Safe
Council
clearinghouse
grants; internal
funding
Strategic Goal GP7: Add hyperspectral and LiDAR imaging to periodic aerial photography flights.
S-GP7 Seek LiDAR and
hyperspectral imagery for
aerial photography of
Saratoga.
Work in conjunction with the City Planning,
County Assessor, or others to add
additional sensing cameras to aerial photo
flights.
Hyperspectral and LiDAR can provide in
depth identification and analysis of hazards
and risks.
1–3 years 1 Periodic new flights to update
data sets.
Grants: Federal
Emergency
Management
Agency, Department
of Homeland
Security,
Greenhouse Gas
Reduction
15. CITY OF SARATOGA
15.1 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN POINT OF CONTACT
Primary Point of Contact Alternate Point of Contact
Michael Taylor, Recreation & Facilities Director, Risk Manager
19655 Allendale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
Telephone: 408-868-1250
e-mail Address: mtaylor@saratoga.ca.us
James Lindsay, City Manager
13777 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
Telephone: 408-868-1213
e-mail Address:
jlindsay@saratoga.ca.us
15.2 JURISDICTION PROFILE
The following is a summary of key information about the jurisdiction and its history:
• Date of Incorporation—1956
• Current Population—30,219 (January 1, 2016)
• Population Growth—Based on data from the State Department of Finance, the City of Saratoga is a
“slow growth” City with an overall population increase of approximately 0.5 percent per year since 2010.
• Location and Description—Tucked away in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains of California,
Saratoga is a residential community with a small-town feel, located south of San José and Cupertino, and
northwest of Los Gatos. The City is well known for its excellent schools, fine dining, unique shops, and
distinctive cultural institutions. Saratoga offers a high quality of life to its residents and a chance to escape
the hustle of Silicon Valley.
• Brief History—From a frontier town to an industrial settlement, from a village of fruit orchards to a
residential city, Saratoga has continually evolved over its colorful 160-year history. It began with a
sawmill. Before long, the sawmill was joined by a tannery, furniture factory, and paper and flour mills.
The community that grew up around them was known for short periods of time as Tollgate,
McCartysville, and Bank Mills. The settlement received a permanent name after residents discovered a
mineral spring in the early 1860s. The spring’s mineral content was quite similar to that of Congress
Spring at Saratoga Springs in New York, and in 1865 the town was officially named Saratoga. At the
same time, industry in Saratoga gradually gave way to fruit orchards and vineyards. From cherries and
apricots to French prunes, Saratoga’s bountiful fruit harvests made it a popular trading post. In 1890,
renowned winemaker Paul Masson opened his Mountain Winery in Saratoga, planting a variety of grapes
in the Santa Cruz mountain soil. Saratoga’s identity continued to transform throughout the 1900s, as
orchards were replaced by homes and the estates of the valley’s wealthy businessmen and politicians. One
of the most impressive of these is Villa Montalvo, established in 1912 by United States Senator James
Phelan, and now a hub for Saratoga’s art and music scene. The valley’s shift towards suburban and urban
living in the years after World War II cemented Saratoga’s status as a residential community and its
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Santa Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan; Volume 2—Planning Partner Annexes (Submittal Draft)
reputation as an excellent place to live. In 1956, wary of potential annexation plans from San José, the
residents of Saratoga voted to incorporate and establish their own City government.
• Climate—Saratoga weather is typical of the Northern California coast, with mild summers and cool, wet
winters. It rarely freezes in the winter and it is rarely hot in the summer. Annual average rainfall is over
40 inches, with 80 percent of that falling from November through April. The average year-round
temperature is 59ºF. Humidity averages 72 to 87 percent. Prevailing winds are from the north and average
5 mph.
• Governing Body Format—The City of Saratoga is a General Law City governed by a Council-City
Manager form of government with a five-member city council, who are elected to overlapping four-year
terms. The Mayor is selected annually by the City Council. The Mayor and Council appoint the City
Manager who is charged with implementing policy decisions made by the elected Council, which the City
Manager accomplishes through delegation to appropriate departments. The City consists of five
departments: Administrative Services, Community Development, Public Works, Recreation & Facilities,
and the City Manager’s Office. The City is a minimum services City that contracts many municipal
services, including the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services. The Santa Clara
County Library and two sanitary districts also provide services. The City has six commissions and two
committees, which report to the City Council. The City Council assumes responsibility for adoption of
this plan, City staff will oversee its implementation under the direction of the City Manager.
15.3 DEVELOPMENT TRENDS
Anticipated development levels for Saratoga are low, consisting primarily of residential infill development.
Table 15-1 summarizes development trends in the performance period since development of the previous hazard
mitigation plan and expected future development trends.
15.4 CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
15.4.1 Resources for the 2017 Planning Initiative
The following technical reports, plans, and regulatory mechanisms were reviewed to provide information for
inclusion into the 2017 Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan for both Volume I and Volume II (Saratoga
Annex). All of the below items were additionally reviewed as part of the full capability assessment for Saratoga.
• Saratoga General Plan—The General Plan, including the Land Use and Safety Elements, were reviewed
for information regarding goals and policies consistent with hazard mitigation for carry over as goals and
objectives.
• Saratoga Municipal Code—The Municipal Code was reviewed for the full capability assessment and for
identifying opportunities for action plan integration.
• Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance—The Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance was reviewed for
compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program.
• Capital Improvements Plan—The Capital Improvements Plan was reviewed to identify cross-planning
initiatives for inclusion as mitigation projects. The Fiscal Year 2017/17 Operating & Capital Budget is
available at: http://www.saratoga.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=9697
• Technical Reports and Information—Outside resources and references used to complete the Saratoga
Annex are identified in the pertinent Sections of this Annex and in Section 15.11.
15-2
15. City of Saratoga
Table 15-1. Recent and Expected Future Development Trends
Criterion Response
Has your jurisdiction annexed any land since the development of the previous hazard mitigation plan? Yes
• If yes, give the estimated area annexed and estimated number of parcels or structures.
Quarry Park (64 acres)
Is your jurisdiction expected to annex any areas during the
performance period of this plan?
No
• If yes, please describe land areas and dominant uses. N/A
• If yes, who currently has permitting authority over these
areas?
N/A
Are any areas targeted for development or major redevelopment in the next five years? No
• If yes, please briefly describe, including whether any of the areas are in known hazard risk areas
N/A
How many building permits were issued in your jurisdiction since the development of the previous hazard mitigation plan?
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Single Family 3 5 5 6 5
Multi-Family 0 0 0 0 0
Other (commercial, mixed use, etc.) 0 0 0 0 0
Please provide the number of permits for each hazard area
or provide a qualitative description of where development
has occurred.
Development has occurred throughout the city during the performance
period for this plan. For those hazards with a clearly defined extent and
location, the City cannot estimate development impacts. For those
hazards with impacts city-wide, it is safe to assume that this new
development could be subject to impacts from those hazards. However,
it is important to note that all new development was subject to the
regulatory capabilities identified in this annex.
Please describe the level of buildout in the jurisdiction, based on your jurisdiction’s buildable lands inventory. If no such inventory exists, provide a qualitative description.
Housing Element has list of vacant land. A small percentage of home
remodels have occurred in hillside areas. New development is expected
to consist primarily of infill development.
15.4.2 Full Capability Assessment
An assessment of legal and regulatory capabilities is presented in Table 15-2. An assessment of fiscal capabilities
is presented in Table 15-3. An assessment of administrative and technical capabilities is presented in Table 15-4.
Information on National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) compliance is presented in Table 15-5. An assessment
of education and outreach capabilities is presented in Table 15-6. Classifications under various community
mitigation programs are presented in Table 15-7. Development and permitting capabilities are presented in Table
15-8, and the community’s adaptive capacity for the impacts of climate change is presented in Table 15-9.
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Santa Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan; Volume 2—Planning Partner Annexes (Submittal Draft)
Table 15-2. Legal and Regulatory Capability
Local Authority
Other Jurisdiction
Authority State Mandated
Integration
Opportunity?
Codes, Ordinances, & Requirements
Building Code Yes Yes Yes Yes
Comment: Chapter 16 of Municipal Code adopted by reference the 2016 California Building Standards Code; 2016 Fire Code
Incorporated by reference. Saratoga Fire District and County of Santa Clara Fire Department are responsible for administration; California
Building Standards Commission promulgates model Statewide Uniform Code every 3 years.
Zoning Code Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: Chapter 15 of Municipal Code contain City’s Zoning Regulations. Authority derived from CA State Planning, Zoning
Development Laws for General Law Cities.
Subdivisions Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: Chapter 14 of Municipal Code contain City’s Subdivision Ordinance. Authority derived from CA State Planning, Zoning
Development Laws for General Law Cities.
Stormwater Management Yes Yes Yes Yes
Comment: Required by Zoning Code 15-47.060. Santa Clara Valley Water District; West Valley Clean Water Program; CA Dept. of Fish
& Wildlife Services.
Post-Disaster Recovery No No No Yes
Comment: None Located.
Real Estate Disclosure No Yes Yes Yes
Comment: CA Department of Real Estate. CA State Real Estate Law Cal. Civ. Code §1102 et seq.
Growth Management Yes Yes No Yes
Comment: General Plan. Governor’s Office of Planning and Research; CA Dept. of Housing and Community Development. Cal. Gov.
Code §65300 et seq.
Site Plan Review Yes No Yes Yes
Comment: Design Review required by Zoning Code. Authority derived from CA State Planning, Zoning Development Laws for General
Law Cities.
Environmental Protection Yes Yes Yes Yes
Comment: Authority derived from CA Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Santa Clara Valley Water District and Federal Government.
California Fish and Wildlife authority derived from CA Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Flood Damage Prevention Yes Yes Yes Yes
Comment: Authority from City Code Article 16-66 – Flood Plain Management. Santa Clara Valley Water District and Federal Government.
Emergency Management Yes Yes No Yes
Comment: Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Pooled Liability Assurance Network (PLAN)
Climate Change No Yes Yes Yes
Comment: Bay Area Air Quality Mgmt. District; Environmental Protection Agency. SB-32 California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
and SB-379 Land use: general plan: safety element
Other: No N/A N/A N/A
Comment: None Located.
Planning Documents
General Plan Yes Yes Yes Yes
Is the plan compliant with Assembly Bill 2140? YES. Safety Element adopted 2/20/2103. Governor’s Office of Planning and Research;
CA Dept. of Housing and Community Development. Authority derived from CA State Planning, Zoning Development Laws for General
Law Cities.
Comment: General Plan is available at: http://www.saratoga.ca.us/cityhall/cd/general_plan.asp
Capital Improvement Plan Yes No No Yes
How often is the plan updated? Annually
Comment: Available at: http://www.saratoga.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=9697
Floodplain or Watershed Plan Yes Yes Yes Yes
Comment: Authority from City Code Article 16-66 – Flood Plain Mgmt. Santa Clara Valley Water District and Federal Government.
15-4
15. City of Saratoga
Local Authority
Other Jurisdiction
Authority State Mandated
Integration
Opportunity?
Stormwater Plan Yes Yes Yes Yes
Comment: Authority from City Code Article 16-66 – Flood Plain Mgmt. Santa Clara Valley Water District and Federal Government.
Urban Water Management Plan No No No No
Comment: N/A
Habitat Conservation Plan No No No No
Comment: N/A
Economic Development Plan No No No No
Comment: N/A
Shoreline Management Plan No No No No
Comment: N/A
Community Wildfire Protection Plan No Yes No Yes
Comment: Santa Clara County Fire, Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Forest Management Plan Yes No No Yes
Comment: Tree preservation plans are needed in some instances
Climate Action Plan None adopted Yes No Yes
Comment: Bay Area Air Quality Mgmt. District
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Yes Yes No Yes
Comment: Santa Clara County Operational Area
Threat & Hazard Identification & Risk
Assessment (THIRA)
Yes Yes
Yes Yes
Comment: Santa Clara County Operational Area
Post-Disaster Recovery Plan No No No Yes
Comment: N/A
Continuity of Operations Plan No No No Yes
Comment: N/A
Public Health Plan No Yes No Yes
Comment: Santa Clara County Health Department
Other: No No No No
Comment: N/A
Table 15-3. Fiscal Capability
Financial Resources Accessible or Eligible to Use?
Community Development Block Grants Yes – part of Santa Clara County Joint Powers Authority
Capital Improvements Project Funding Yes – part of Annual Budget
Authority to Levy Taxes for Specific Purposes Yes – subject to Prop 218 and local politics
User Fees for Water, Sewer, Gas or Electric Service No – political resistance
Incur Debt through General Obligation Bonds Yes – subject to local political will
Incur Debt through Special Tax Bonds Yes – subject to local political will
Incur Debt through Private Activity Bonds Yes – highly unlikely
Withhold Public Expenditures in Hazard-Prone Areas Yes
State-Sponsored Grant Programs Yes
Development Impact Fees for Homebuyers or Developers Yes – subject to local political will
Other Yes
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Table 15-4. Administrative and Technical Capability
Staff/Personnel Resources Available? Department/Agency/Position
Planners or engineers with knowledge of land
development and land management practices Yes City of Saratoga Community Development Director and
Planning/Building staff
Engineers or professionals trained in building or infrastructure construction practices Yes
John Cherbone, Public Works Director, and Iveta Harvancik,
Senior Civil Engineer, and Poh Yee, Sr. Plan
Checker/Building Inspector
Planners or engineers with an understanding of natural hazards Yes Erwin Ordoñez, Community Development Director
Staff with training in benefit/cost analysis Yes Erwin Ordoñez, Community Development Director and Mary
Furey, Finance & Admin Service Director
Surveyors Yes Mark Helton, Contract City Surveyor
Personnel skilled or trained in GIS applications Yes Sung Kwon, Senior Planner
Iveta Harvancik, Sr. Civil Engineer
Scientist familiar with natural hazards in local area Yes Ted Sayres, Contract City Geologist
Emergency Manager Yes James Lindsay, City Manager and Michael Taylor, Recreation
& Facilities Director
Grant writers Yes John Cherbone, Public Works Director and
Erwin Ordoñez, Community Development Director
Table 15-5. National Flood Insurance Program Compliance
Criteria Response
What local department is responsible for floodplain management? Public Works and Community Developments
Who is your floodplain administrator? (department/position) City Manager or designee per City Code
Section 16-66.070
Are any certified floodplain managers on staff in your jurisdiction? No
What is the date of adoption of your flood damage prevention ordinance? 1996
Does your floodplain management program meet or exceed minimum requirements? May Not Meet
• If exceeds, in what ways?
When was the most recent Community Assistance Visit or Community Assistance Contact? Unknown
Does your jurisdiction have any outstanding NFIP compliance violations that need to
be addressed? No
• If so, please state what they are.
Do your flood hazard maps adequately address the flood risk within your jurisdiction? Yes
• If no, please state why.
Does your floodplain management staff need any assistance or training to support its floodplain management program? Yes
• If so, what type of assistance/training is needed? Update in regulation implementation
Does your jurisdiction participate in the Community Rating System (CRS)? No
• If yes, is your jurisdiction interested in improving CRS Classification? N/A
• Is your jurisdiction interested in joining the CRS program? No
How many flood insurance policies are in force in your jurisdiction? 177a
• What is the insurance in force? $57,046,900 a
• What is the premium in force? $87,916 a
How many total loss claims have been filed in your jurisdiction? 16 a
• How many claims were closed without payment/are still open? 7 / 9 a
• What were the total payments for losses? $26,680.53 a
a. According to FEMA statistics as of October 31, 2016
15-6
15. City of Saratoga
Table 15-6. Education and Outreach
Criteria Response
Do you have a Public Information Officer or Communications Office? Yes – City Manager’s Office
Do you have personnel skilled or trained in website development? Yes – City Manager’s Office
Do you have hazard mitigation information available on your
website? Yes
• If yes, please briefly describe. CERT, PEP, Safety Element, Associated Maps
Do you utilize social media for hazard mitigation education and outreach? Yes
• If yes, please briefly describe. CERT, PEP
Do you have any citizen boards or commissions that address issues related to hazard mitigation? Yes – Planning Commission and City Council
Do you have any other programs already in place that could be used to communicate hazard-related information? Yes
• If yes, please briefly describe. KSAR Community Access TV
Do you have any established warning systems for hazard events? Yes – AlertSCC
• If yes, please briefly describe. Crisis Communications Plan
Table 15-7. Community Classifications
Participating? Classification Date Classified
Community Rating System No N/A N/A
Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule No N/A N/A
Public Protection (Santa Clara County Fire Department) Yes 2/2Y December 2015
Storm Ready No N/A N/A
Firewise Yes N/A N/A
Table 15-8. Development and Permitting Capability
Criterion Response
Does your jurisdiction issue development permits? Yes
• If no, who does? If yes, which department? Saratoga Community Development Department
Does your jurisdiction have the ability to track permits by hazard area? No
Does your jurisdiction have a buildable lands inventory? Yes
15-7
Santa Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan; Volume 2—Planning Partner Annexes (Submittal Draft)
Table 15-9. Adaptive Capacity for Climate Change
Adaptive Capacity Assessment Jurisdiction Rating
Technical Capacity
Jurisdiction-level understanding of potential climate change impacts Low
Comment: None provided.
Jurisdiction-level monitoring of climate change impacts Low
Comment: None provided.
Technical resources to assess proposed strategies for feasibility and externalities Low
Comment: None provided.
Jurisdiction-level capacity for development of greenhouse gas emissions inventory Low
Comment: None provided.
Capital planning and land use decisions informed by potential climate impacts Low
Comment: None provided.
Participation in regional groups addressing climate risks Low
Comment: None provided.
Implementation Capacity
Clear authority/mandate to consider climate change impacts during public decision-making processes Low
Comment: None provided.
Identified strategies for greenhouse gas mitigation efforts Low
Comment: None provided.
Identified strategies for adaptation to impacts Low
Comment: None provided.
Champions for climate action in local government departments Low
Comment: None provided.
Political support for implementing climate change adaptation strategies Low
Comment: None provided.
Financial resources devoted to climate change adaptation Low
Comment: None provided.
Local authority over sectors likely to be negative impacted Low
Comment: None provided.
Public Capacity
Local residents knowledge of and understanding of climate risk Low
Comment: None provided.
Local residents support of adaptation efforts Low
Comment: None provided.
Local residents’ capacity to adapt to climate impacts Low
Comment: None provided.
Local economy current capacity to adapt to climate impacts Low
Comment: None provided.
Local ecosystems capacity to adapt to climate impacts Low
Comment: None provided.
15.5 INTEGRATION WITH OTHER PLANNING INITIATIVES
The following describe the jurisdiction’s process for integrating the hazard mitigation plan into local planning
mechanisms.
15-8
15. City of Saratoga
15.5.1 Existing Integration
The following plans and programs currently integrate the goals, risk assessment and/or recommendations of the
hazard mitigation plan:
• General Plan Safety Element—Includes all policies and maps. At the time of the next update, information
obtained in the update of the hazard mitigation plan will be integrated into the General Plan as
appropriate. The General Plan is available at:
http://www.saratoga.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=3501
• Geotechnical Clearance—Clearance is required for any new building or structure, or addition to any
existing building or structure, located in areas with geologic and geotechnical hazards and constrains. A
Ground Movement Map is available at:
http://www.saratoga.ca.us/cityhall/pw/engineering/geotechnical_clearance/ground.asp
15.5.2 Opportunities for Future Integration
The following plans and programs do not currently integrate the goals, risk assessment and/or recommendations
of the hazard mitigation plan, but provide an opportunity for future integration.
• Annual Capital Improvement Budget—Actions and programs identified in the hazard mitigation plan will
be integrated into the annual capital improvement budget as is feasible and appropriate.
• Legal and Regulatory Capabilities—Those capabilities identified as providing an integration opportunity
in Table 15-1 will be reviewed and updated to include information on hazard risk reduction as feasible
and appropriate.
15.6 JURISDICTION-SPECIFIC NATURAL HAZARD EVENT HISTORY
Table 15-10 lists all past occurrences of natural hazards within the jurisdiction.
Table 15-10. Natural Hazard Events
Type of Event FEMA Disaster # (if applicable) Date Preliminary Damage Assessment
Drought 3023 01/20/1977 Not available
Severe Weather (Wind/Rain) 758 02/12/1986 Not available
Earthquake 845 10/17/1989 Not available
Severe Weather (Freeze) 894 12/19/1990 Not available
Severe Weather (Wind/Rain) 1044 01/03/1995 Not available
Severe Weather (Wind/Rain) 1155 12/28/1996 Not available
Severe Weather (Wind/Rain) 1203 02/02/1998 Not available
Severe Weather (Wind/Rain) N/A 12/15/2002 Not available.
Drought N/A 01/15/2012 Not available
Severe Weather (Wind/Rain) N/A 12/03/2014 Not available
15.7 JURISDICTION-SPECIFIC VULNERABILITIES
Repetitive loss records are as follows:
• Number of FEMA-identified Repetitive-Loss Properties: 0
• Number of FEMA-identified Severe-Repetitive-Loss Properties: 0
• Number of Repetitive-Loss Properties or Severe-Repetitive-Loss Properties that have been mitigated: 0
15-9
Santa Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan; Volume 2—Planning Partner Annexes (Submittal Draft)
Other noted vulnerabilities include:
• The City of Saratoga shares a significant reliance on technology and communications that could be
disrupted during a hazard event.
15.8 HAZARD RISK RANKING
Table 15-11 presents the ranking of the hazards of concern.
Table 15-11. Hazard Risk Ranking
Rank Hazard Type Risk Rating Score (Probability x Impact) Category
1 Earthquake 48 High
2 Wildfire 45 High
3 Severe Weather 36 High
4 Landslide 18 Medium
5 Flood 15 Medium
6 Drought 9 Low
7 Dam and Levee Failure 0 None
15.9 STATUS OF PREVIOUS PLAN ACTIONS
The status of previous actions from the 2011 ABAG LHMP for the City of Saratoga can be found in Appendix D
of this volume.
15.10 HAZARD MITIGATION ACTION PLAN AND EVALUATION OF
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Table 15-12 lists the actions that make up the City of Saratoga hazard mitigation action plan. Table 15-13
identifies the priority for each action. Table 15-14 summarizes the mitigation actions by hazard of concern and the
six mitigation types.
15.11 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The hazard mitigation plan annex development tool-kit was used in the development of this annex to the Santa
Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan.
15-10
15. City of Saratoga
Table 15-12. Hazard Mitigation Action Plan Matrix
Applies to new or
existing assets
Hazards
Mitigated
Objectives
Met Lead Agency
Estimated
Cost Sources of Funding Timeline
SAR-1—Norton/Villa Montalvo Emergency Route. Construction of an emergency access road connecting Montalvo with Norton Road
(evacuation route).
New Earthquake 7, 8 Public Works High
($1,000,000)
HMGP, CIP Short Term
SAR-2—Install El Camino Grande Storm Drain Pump to reduce flood risk to assets in the area.
New Flood 7, 8 Public Works High
($361,000)
HMGP, FMA, CIP Short Term
SAR-3—Build the Damon Lane Retaining Wall to reduce the potential for damage to assets in likely slide areas.
New and Existing Landslide 7, 8 Public Works High
($190,000)
HMGP, HR Short Term
SAR-4—Engage in annual storm drain upgrades to improve drainage throughout the City.
New and Existing Flood 7, 8 Public Works High
($200,000)
CIP, Possibly HMGP or
FMA
Ongoing
SAR-5—Engage in curb and gutter maintenance and repairs to improve drainage throughout the City.
New and Existing Flood 7, 8 Public Works High ($50,000) CIP, Possibly HMGP or
FMA
Ongoing
SAR-6—Conduct bridge maintenance and repairs to mitigate against risk from the earthquake hazard.
Existing Earthquake 7, 8 Public Works High
($200,000)
HMGP, CIP Long Term
SAR-7—Improve Saratoga Hills Storm Drains to reduce flood risk to assets in the area.
New and Existing Flood 7, 8 Public Works High
($200,000)
CIP, Possibly HMGP or
FMA
Ongoing
SAR-8—Conduct Well Drilling Project to increase redundancy in the City’s water supply.
New Drought/Eart
hquake
7, 8 Public Works High
($1,000,000)
HMGP, CIP Long Term
SAR-9— Where appropriate, support retro-fitting, purchase or relocation of structures located in high hazard areas and prioritize those
structures that have experienced repetitive losses.
Existing All Hazards 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Planning and Public
Works
High HMGP, PDM, FMA,
CDBG-DR
Short-term
SAR-10—Integrate the hazard mitigation plan into other plans, ordinances and programs that dictate land use decisions within the
community
New and Existing All Hazards 2, 4, Planning Low Staff Time, General
Funds
Ongoing
SAR-11—Actively participate in the plan maintenance protocols outlined in Volume I of the hazard mitigation plan.
New and Existing All Hazards 1, 5 Recreation and
Facilities Department
Low Staff Time, General
Funds
Short-term
SAR-12—Continue to maintain good standing and compliance under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This will be
accomplished through the implementation of floodplain management programs that will, at a minimum, meet the requirements of the
NFIP:
• Update the flood damage prevention ordinance with required changes and adopt those changes
• Enforcement of the flood damage prevention ordinance
• Participate in floodplain identification and mapping updates
• Provide public assistance/information on floodplain requirements and impacts.
New and Existing Flood 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 Public Works Low Staff Time, General
Funds
Ongoing
15-11
Santa Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan; Volume 2—Planning Partner Annexes (Submittal Draft)
Applies to new or
existing assets
Hazards
Mitigated
Objectives
Met Lead Agency
Estimated
Cost Sources of Funding Timeline
SAR-13—Provide incentives for private owners to retrofit soft story buildings. These incentives could take the form of reduced planning
application, building permit and inspection fees, or other suitable incentives.
Existing Earthquake 4, 8 Planning Low Staff Time, General
Funds, Possible HMGP
or PDM
Ongoing
SAR-14—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.
New and Existing Flood 1, 2, 5 Santa Clara Valley
Water District;
Community
Development and
Public Works
Low Staff Time, General
Funds
Ongoing
Table 15-13. Mitigation Strategy Priority Schedule
Action
#
# of
Objectives
Met Benefits Costs
Do Benefits
Equal or
Exceed
Costs?
Is Project
Grant-
Eligible?
Can Project
Be Funded
Under Existing
Programs/
Budgets?
Implementation
Prioritya
Grant
Pursuit
Prioritya
SAR-1 2 High High Yes Yes No Medium High
SAR-2 2 Medium High No Yes No Low Medium
SAR-3 2 High High Yes Yes No Medium High
SAR-4 2 Medium High No Possibly No Low Medium
SAR-5 2 Medium High No Possibly No Low Medium
SAR-6 2 High High Yes Yes No Medium High
SAR-7 2 Medium High No Possibly No Low Medium
SAR-8 2 Medium High No Yes No Low Medium
SAR-9 5 High High Yes Yes No Medium High
SAR-10 2 Medium Low Yes No Yes High Low
SAR-11 2 Low Low Yes No Yes High Low
SAR-12 6 Medium Low Yes No Yes High Low
SAR-13 2 High Low Yes Possibly Yes High High
SAR-14 3 Medium Low Yes No Yes High Low
a. See the introduction to this volume for explanation of priorities.
15-12
15. City of Saratoga
Table 15-14. Analysis of Mitigation Actions
Action Addressing Hazard, by Mitigation Typea
Hazard Type 1. Prevention
2. Property
Protection
3. Public
Education and
Awareness
4. Natural
Resource
Protection
5.
Emergency
Services
6.
Structural
Projects
7.
Climate
Resilient
Severe Weather SAR-10, SAR-11 SAR-9
Wildfire SAR-10, SAR-11 SAR-9,
Earthquake SAR-10, SAR-11,
SAR-13
SAR-6. SAR-8,
SAR-9, SAR-13
SAR-13 SAR-1
Landslide SAR-10, SAR-11 SAR-9, SAR-3
Flood SAR-10, SAR-11,
SAR-12, SAR-14
SAR-2, SAR-3,
SAR-4, SAR-5,
SAR-9, SAR-12
SAR-12 SAR-2 SAR-7
Drought SAR-10, SAR-11 SAR-9, SAR-8
Dam and Levee Failure SAR-10, SAR-11,
SAR-12
SAR-9, SAR-12 SAR-12
a. See the introduction to this volume for explanation of mitigation types.
15-13
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Jurisdictional Boundaries
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FRUITVALE AVESARATOGASUNNYVALERDLAWRENCEEXPWY1% Annual Chance (100-Year)
Flood Zone
0.2% Annual Chance (500-Year)
Flood Zone
Santa Clara County Boundary
Jurisdictional Boundaries
Water Bodies & Channels
0 0.8 1.60.4
Miles
Map Data Sources: Santa Clara County,CalTrans, FEMA, USDA
The City of Saratoga
FEMA Effective DFIRMFlood Hazard Boundaries
/
Flood hazard areas as depicted onEffective FEMA Digital Insurance RateMaps (DFIRM)
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Jurisdictional Boundaries
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Type
Low
Moderate
High
Very High / Existing
0 0.8 1.60.4
Miles
Map Data Sources: Santa Clara County,CalTrans, California Geological Survey,USDA, USGS
The City of Saratoga
Landslide SusceptibilityZones
/
Source dataset created by Wills C.J.,Perez, F., Gutierrez, C., 2011, Susceptibilityto deep-seated landslides in California:California Geological Survey Map Sheet 58
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Susceptibility toLiquefaction
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
0 0.8 1.60.4
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Jurisdictional Boundaries
Water Bodies & Channels
NEHRP Site Class / SoilProfile
B / Rock
C / Very Dense Soil - Soft Rock
D / Stiff Soil
E / Soft Soil
0 0.8 1.60.4
Miles
Map Data Sources: Santa Clara County,CalTrans, California Department ofConservation, USDA
The City of Saratoga
NEHRP (NationalEarthquake HazardReduction Program) Soils
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Wildfire Severity Zone
Moderate
High
Very High
0 0.8 1.60.4
Miles
Map Data Sources: Santa Clara County,CalTrans, CalFIRE, USDA
The City of Saratoga
Wildfire Severity Zones
/
Santa Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan
Appendix D. Status of Prior Actions
Santa Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan
Category 2011 No. 2011 Strategy
Responsible
Agency Status
Carry
Forward to
New Plan? Comments
City of Santa Clara 1 Upgrade the City’s storm water pump
stations. The City is in hopes of
requesting pre-disaster mitigation grant
funding as a possible solution for
upgrades and equipment replacement for
the aging infrastructure.
City of Santa
Clara Public
Works
Department
Complete No Complete
2 Recoat the at grade steel tanks to extend
the useful life of these assets.
The City’s Downtown Tank is a welded
steel water storage tank built in 1975 with
a capacity of 4.5 million gallons. The
original tank coating has reached the end
of its useful life and is in need of
replacement. The project scope of work
includes abrasive blasting and recoating
of the interior and exterior of the tank,
replacement of the existing ladders and
water level indicator, upgrade of the
existing access hatches, piping
modifications, and other safety
improvements. A Water Tank
Improvement Project was recently
awarded by the Santa Clara City Council
on March 29, 2011. This Water Capital
Improvement Multi-year Plan is for like
work on the remaining five at-grade steel
water storage tanks
City of Santa
Clara Public
Works
Department
Complete No Complete
GOVT-d-2 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.
City of Santa
Clara Public
Works
Department
Complete No Complete
City of Saratoga
Earthquakes 1 Implement mitigation strategies
(placement of engineered fill, construction
of retaining walls) in order to eliminate the
potential for landslide areas to become
critical hazards.
Public Works
Development
ONGOING YES The City has identified a
minimum of $1 million in
existing landslide mitigation
projects; however, we
currently do not have
funding to undertake this
work (see SAR-3).
D-10
Appendix D. Status of Prior Actions
Category 2011 No. 2011 Strategy
Responsible
Agency Status
Carry
Forward to
New Plan? Comments
Earthquakes 2 (ECON b-
3, b-4, b-7;
HSNG c-3,
c-4, c-7)
Provide incentives for private owners to
retrofit soft story buildings. These
incentives could take the form of reduced
planning application, building permit and
inspection fees, or other suitable
incentives. The City of Saratoga has
approximately 50 privately owned soft
story buildings that have not been
retrofitted to meet current seismic
standards.
Community
Development
ONGOING YES The City has inventoried
existing soft story buildings
within its jurisdiction (See
SAR-13)
Flood 3 (INFR
Flooding d-
5, d-6)
Install new underground storm drainage
throughout most vulnerable areas in the
City, particularly in the Monte Vista/ El
Camino Grande and Chester Avenue
areas.
Public Works
Development
ONGOING YES The City currently has
approximately $750,000 in
needed storm drain
upgrades; however, we do
not have funding to pursue
these improvements (see
SAR-2, 4, 5, 7) GOVT-d-3 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.
Santa Clara
Valley Water
District
ONGOING YES See SAR-14
City of Sunnyvale 1 To mitigate the failure of the water
system, the City is proposing to retrofit
the key water infrastructure components
at risk.
In-progress Yes See SNY-1 and SNY-2
INFR-a-4 Retrofit or replace critical lifeline
infrastructure facilities and/ or their
backup facilities that are shown to be
vulnerable to damage in natural disasters.
Public Works,
Field Services
and
Environmental
Divisions
In-progress Yes See SNY-1 through SNY-5
and SNY-10
D-11
Santa Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan
Category 2011 No. 2011 Strategy
Responsible
Agency Status
Carry
Forward to
New Plan? Comments GOVT-a-1 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.
Community
Services,
Facilities, Public
Works, Field
Services
Ongoing No PWs conducted a
vulnerabilities assessment
of the City's water system
2004. Other efforts are
ongoing.
1. The City has all buildings
that are regularly occupied
inspected on an annual
basis for safety and hazard
issues. These include
internal wiring, storage of
hazardous materials,
tripping hazards, proper
furniture anchoring, etc.
2. Emergency back-up
power has been evaluated
and identified as including
equipment that is old,
though rarely used. Plans
are being developed to
update, replace or back-up
emergency generators to
provide increased
assurance of operation in
the case of a loss of
primary power. The City
also has service
agreements with two
vendors to provide on-call
service when necessary to
the emergency power
systems.
3. A number of City
buildings are in close
proximity to very large
redwood trees, that could
cause significant damage if
they come down on
adjacent buildings. This
includes City Hall, City Hall
Annex, South Annex,
Library and various fire
stations. The trees are
inspected annually for
weakness or disease.
See SNY-10.
D-12
Appendix D. Status of Prior Actions
Category 2011 No. 2011 Strategy
Responsible
Agency Status
Carry
Forward to
New Plan? Comments
Santa Clara County (Unincorporated Areas)
Wildland Urban
Interface
10.a County-Wide CWPP - Create an
integrated county-wide CWPP and get it
online. Communities have very different
needs and these would have to be
addressed. Market and promote
collaboration of agencies in WUI areas
with signs, etc.… CWPP would need
approval from Board of Supervisors,
CalFire and the local fire agency. There is
a strong feeling that active involvement
from the county-wide stakeholders would
make a huge difference.
a. Create defensible space programs on
a county-wide basis.
County Fire
Funding: FY
2010
Assistance to
Firefighters
Grant Program
Fire Prevention
and Safety
Grants; HMGP,
PDM
In-progress Yes The CWPP was completed
in September, 2016. Need
to get all signatory entities
to accept the county-
wide CWPP, which is in
progress (see SCC-1).
Wildland Urban
Interface
13 Tactical Database - Prepare tactical
information database and accurate maps
ready for Incident Commanders to access
when necessary. Refer to the “Los
Padres model. Develop an evacuation
plan for isolated communities. Evacuation
routes serve the tri-role of evacuation,
response and fire lines. We need to bring
it all together with appropriate
stakeholders (CalTrans, CHP, etc.…)
(Example CHP closes Highway 17
@Madrone Drive due to Wildfire. If 17
traffic goes Into Redwood Estates it’s a
narrow maze. If 17 traffic goes to Old
Santa Cruz Highway they have 2 ways
out. Does CHP know this? Sheriff’s
Office? Signage could be critical. Need
Focused Tactical Planning for problem
areas).
Funding is
provided by
grants from
federal, state
and private
resources.
In-progress Yes Continue to prepare
resources (electronic,
guideline references,
checklists, maps, plans,
etc.) in collaboration with
CalFire and Santa Clara
County (See action SCC-
35)
Wildland Urban
Interface
14 County-Wide Task Force - Establish a
county-wide Wildfire Mitigation Task
Force to study the problem and
coordinate efforts. Get critical
stakeholders involved early in the
process. A core body and extended body
could be used to make efficient use of
time.
Coordinate with
CAL Division of
Forestry, local
Fire
Departments &
USFS;
BLM
In-progress Yes Cal Fire and County Fire
have been working together
for several years to study
areas susceptible to
vegetation fire and develop
pre-plans for response.
Also included both Cal Fire
and County Fire advising
the FireSafe Council on
projects we feel are higher
priorities. (See actions
SCC-2 and SCC-3)
D-13
Santa Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan
Category 2011 No. 2011 Strategy
Responsible
Agency Status
Carry
Forward to
New Plan? Comments
Wildland Urban
Interface -
Supplemental
17 Research and evaluate best practices.
The Lexington Hills model built
relationships with private property
owners. Association of Bay Area
Governments (ABAG) has resources
available for reference. San Bernardino
County and San Diego County have had
frequent practice and collaboration within
this area
Santa Clara
County FireSafe
Council
Complete Yes County Fire/ Cal Fire/
FireSafe Council and
others continue to
collaborate with other
entities regarding latest
research on best practices
(i.e. Be Ember Aware). This
is done through
conferences, seminars and
invitations to attend other
area FireSafe Council
meetings. Many of the local
and regional stakeholders
and interested parties have
participated in guided tours
through areas which have
suffered significant wildfire
events (Valley Fire in 2015
and Loma Fire in 2016).
(See action SCC-3)
Information-
Sharing
19 Create a Santa Clara County
Infrastructure Council (or equivalent) as
an institutional receptacle for matters
pertaining to infrastructure data-sharing
efforts.
County OES/
EOAC/ ISD
Not started Yes Create/ Incorporate Santa
Clara County Information
Sharing Council (or
equivalent) as an
institutional receptacle for
matters pertaining to
infrastructure data-sharing
efforts. (See SCC-5)
Information-
Sharing
19.a Santa Clara County Infrastructure Council
- Approach infrastructure providers and
ask them to become partners in this
council.
County OES/
EOAC/ ISD
Not Started Yes Reach out to the
departments and agencies
who maintain data that can
be used for Emergency
Management. Also,
consider inviting the local
private sector to the
council. (See SCC-5)
Information-
Sharing
19.b Santa Clara County Infrastructure Council
- Create an agenda in cooperation with
council partners. Anticipated agenda
items are:
i. Recognize the legitimate concerns of
the private sector in sharing critical
infrastructure information, and address
those concerns with reasonable
measures (PCII, need-to-know,
encryption, etc.…)
ii. Initially focus on water and/ or power
providers to build success and
momentum.
County OES/
EOAC/ ISD
Not started Yes Create an agenda in
cooperation with council
partners. Anticipated
agenda items are:
i. Recognize the legitimate
concerns of the private
sector in sharing critical
infrastructure information,
and address those
concerns with reasonable
measures (PCII, need-to-
know, encryption, etc.…)
ii. Initially focus on water
and/ or power providers to
build success and
momentum. (See SCC-5)
D-14
Appendix D. Status of Prior Actions
Category 2011 No. 2011 Strategy
Responsible
Agency Status
Carry
Forward to
New Plan? Comments
Information-
Sharing
19.c Santa Clara County Infrastructure Council
- Host Council meetings and meet on a
quarterly basis.
County OES/
EOAC/ ISD
Not started Yes Host Council meetings and
meet on a quarterly basis.
(See SCC-5)
Information-
Sharing
19.e Santa Clara County Infrastructure Council
- Develop a common architecture
interface for data to be shared between
members. Request utilities provide
agreed-upon information in digital,
dynamic format and create a commonality
of layers. Use WebEOC infrastructure for
mitigation and emergency response
efforts.
ISD/ GIS On-Going Yes Develop, or discover, a
common architecture
interface for data to be
shared between members.
Request utilities provide
agreed-upon information in
digital, dynamic format and
create a commonality of
layers. (See SCC-5, SCC-8
and SCC-10)
Information-
Sharing -
Supplemental
19.g Santa Clara County Infrastructure Council
- Invite Santa Clara County FireSafe
Council to join and give them access to
information through WebEOC that they
need. For example, they can’t build a fuel
break without authorization due to
property boundaries. Good GIS
information can facilitate this process.
Well-mapped evacuation routes should
be available to stakeholder agencies and
the public. “Blue hydrants” could be
mapped for the local fire departments.
County OES/
EOAC/ ISD
Not started Yes Invite Santa Clara County
FireSafe Council to join and
give them permission to
contribute and access
information through sharing
portals which may include
WebEOC that they need.
For example, they can’t
build a fuel break without
authorization due to
property boundaries. Good
infrastructure GIS
information can facilitate
this process. Well-mapped
evacuation routes should
be available to stakeholder
agencies and the public.
Assessment of “Blue
hydrants” could be mapped
for the mapping by local fire
departments (see SCC-5).
Information-
Sharing -
Supplemental
22 Coordinate with the private sector on
prioritization of critical facilities before and
during restoration of utility services.
ISD/ GIS Incomplete Yes Coordinate with the private
sector on prioritization of
critical facilities before and
during restoration of utility
services (See SCC-35)
D-15
Santa Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan
Category 2011 No. 2011 Strategy
Responsible
Agency Status
Carry
Forward to
New Plan? Comments
Flood
Mitigation
23 Survey the cities to verify their plan for
replacing and/ or upgrading localized
flooding pump systems and generating
alternate power. Based on results, scope
potential project to upgrade systems
county-wide.
Council,
SCVWD, Santa
Clara City and
San José
Funding:
County Staff
Time, HMGP or
PDM
Complete No Santa Clara City and San
José are concerned that
water is pumped up and
over levees into the
Guadalupe River. Streets
are lower than the levee. If
the power goes down,
residents are at risk if the
pumps are not operating.
Gilroy and Morgan Hill do
not have this risk, only risk
to cities that touch the bay.
The problem will be
exacerbated
by sea level rise.
Flood
Mitigation
24 Build a GIS layer of localized flooding “hot
spots” throughout the County.
Funding:
County Staff
Time, HMGP,
PDM (any
grants or
potential for
funds
from SCVWD?)
Complete Yes Maintain and update a GIS
layer of localized flooding
“hot spots” throughout the
County (see SCC-6).
Flood
Mitigation
25 Scope potential projects to make
localized flooding hot spots deeper and
bigger.
Unclear/
Unaction-
able
Strategy
No The intent of this action is
not clear.
Flood
Mitigation
26 Scope potential projects to mitigate
existing at-risk levee bridges.
No Progress No Dependent on completion
of other actions. To be
considered at a later date.
Flood
Mitigation
27 Scope potential vegetation removal
projects to expedite the flow of water
away from communities and into water
outlets. target high priority waterways;
walk/ drive channels
Unclear/
Unaction-
able
Strategy
No The intent of this action is
not clear.
Flood
Mitigation
28 Verify with the Water District their plans
for managing the risks of the oldest
levees in County.
Not started No Dependent on completion
of other actions. To be
considered at a later date.
Catastrophic
Dam Failure -
Supplemental
34 Use GIS to evaluate catastrophic dam
failure scenarios.
SCVWD Complete Yes Maintain and update GIS to
evaluate catastrophic dam
failure scenarios. (See
SCC-7)
Catastrophic
Dam Failure -
Supplemental
40 Evaluate “Domino Dam Effect” for
potential mitigation.
SCVWD Unclear/
Unaction-
able
Strategy
No Status of action is unclear
as mead agency did not
participate in plan update.
D-16
Appendix D. Status of Prior Actions
Category 2011 No. 2011 Strategy
Responsible
Agency Status
Carry
Forward to
New Plan? Comments
Town of Los Altos Hills Create resources to assist neighbors in
knowing and helping neighbors.
Los Altos Hills
County Fire
District, LAH
Parks & Red,
LAH City
Manager/ Office
of Emergency
Services
Ongoing Yes See Action LAH-1
Continue tree trimming programs, brush
clearance, and other defensible space
outreach efforts as necessary to minimize
the potential for road blockage.
Maintenance of brush and vegetative
growth for fire prevention is addressed in
Section 4-2.115 and 4-2.116 of the Los
Altos Hills Municipal Code.
LAHCFD and
Public Works
Ongoing Yes See Action LAH-2
Develop additional public education and
outreach programs.
City Manager/
OES
Ongoing Yes See Action-LAH-3
Prepare a comprehensive evacuation
plan focusing on potential wildland fire
threats and identifying potential
evacuation routes.
City Manager/
OES/ Fire/ Law/
Public
information
officer
Ongoing Yes See Action LAH-4
Participate in County organized efforts to
develop a countywide Community Wildfire
Protection Plan.
Ongoing Yes See Action LAH-5
Evaluate options and resources available
to support home owners in completing
seismic retrofits.
Ongoing Yes See Action LAH-6
Coordinate with the appropriate state and
county agencies to develop a
comprehensive list of bridges and
overpasses within Los Altos Hills and who
is responsible for their maintenance.
Ongoing Yes See Action LAH-7
Town of Los Gatos
Soft-story
buildings
1 The Town will inventory and map, using
GIS, the location of soft-story buildings.
The maps will be available to first
responders during emergencies.
Town of Los
Gatos
Ongoing Yes See LGT-12.
D-17
Santa Clara Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan
Category 2011 No. 2011 Strategy
Responsible
Agency Status
Carry
Forward to
New Plan? Comments
Soft-story
buildings
2 The Town will also consider developing a
retrofit grant program for building owners.
The grant program would be made more
possible if the Town is able to secure
mitigation grants through having an
adopted Hazard Mitigation Plan. This
project would also be consistent with
General Plan Safety Element Policy SAF
Policy 1.5, which calls for the Town to
provide incentives for seismic retrofits of
structures.
Town of Los
Gatos
No Progress Yes See LGT-13.
Wildfire 1 The Town will coordinate with Santa
Clara County Fire Department to develop
and distribute fire prevention
preparedness education information,
including evacuation plans for residents.
This project would also be consistent with
General Plan Safety Element SAF Action
3.3.
County Fire Complete No County fire lead. The Town
worked with County Fire to
establish evacuation routes
and install signs. The Town
portion of the item is
complete.
Dam failure 1 The Town will coordinate with
surrounding jurisdictions that are in the
inundation area of the Lexington
Reservoir Lenihan Dam to implement a
siren warning system.
Town of Los
Gatos
No Progress Yes See LGT-14.
Dam failure 2 Marketing and public education
campaigns for dam failures will also be
implemented.
Town of Los
Gatos
No Progress Yes See LGT-15.
ENVI-b-4 Promote transportation options such as
bicycle trails, commute trip reduction
programs, incentives for car pooling and
public transit.
Town of Los
Gatos
Ongoing Yes See LGT-16.
ENVI-b-5 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.
Town of Los
Gatos
Ongoing Yes See LGT-17.
ENVI-b-6 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.
Town of Los
Gatos
Ongoing Yes See LGT-18.
HSNG-k-12 Develop a program to provide at-cost
NOAA weather radios to residents of
flood hazard areas that request them,
with priority to neighborhood watch
captains and others trained in their use.
Town of Los
Gatos
Some
Progress
No Radios were distributed to
schools, but a program is
not planned for
development
D-18
CITY OF SARATOGA
Memorandum
To: Public Safety Task Force
From: Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager
Date: May 6, 2019
Subject: Nomination of Chair and Vice Chair
The Public Safety Task Force is subject to most of City Code regulations on Commissions, including
the requirement to select a Chair and Vice Chair. Responsibilities of the Chair include:
- Call meetings to order
- Facilitate meetings and preserve order
- Call for the vote on motions
- Announce decisions
- Decide on questions of orders related to Saratoga Rules of Parliamentary Procedure
- Schedule agenda items
- Excuse absences of Task Force members from regular meetings
- Represent the Task Force, when authorized to do so
If the Chair is unavailable, the Vice Chair will be asked to fulfill the responsibilities of the Chair.
CITY OF SARATOGA
Memorandum
To: Public Safety Task Force
From: Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager
Date: May 6, 2019
Subject: Review of Public Safety Task Force Objectives & Development of a Proposed Work
Plan
The City Council (via Resolution 19-007, attached) established the Wildfire Public Safety Task Force
to serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council until November 2020 on matters related to wildfire
and emergency preparedness. Specifically, the Council has tasked the Task Force with providing
recommendations on improvements and additions to the City of Saratoga Community Wildfire
Protection Plan, strategies to strength wildfire mitigation and preparedness, bolster emergency
preparedness efforts, and serve as community ambassadors on wildfire and emergency preparedness.
Before the Task Force begins its work in these areas, the Task Force should develop a work plan for
the City Council to consider and approve. The work plan should detail specific efforts to achieve the
goals established by the City Council. Once finalized, the work plan will be placed on a future City
Council agenda. The work plan may be developed over the course of several meetings, if desired.
Attachments:
- Resolution No. 19-007 Establishing the Public Safety Task Force
RESOLUTION NO. 19-007
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA
ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE
WHEREAS, the City Council established a 5-member Public Safety Task Force via
Resolution 17-010 for a limited term to serve in an advisory capacity on matters related to public
safety; and
WHEREAS, the term of the original Task Force ended November 30, 2018 and the City
Council wishes to form a new Wildfire Public Safety Task Force to address matters not
addressed by the original Task Force; and
WHEREAS, the new Public Safety Task Force will serve in an advisory capacity to the
City Council on matters related to wildfire and emergency preparedness; and
WHEREAS, the Wildfire Public Safety Task Force is charged with providing
recommendations on improvements and additions to the City of Saratoga Community Wildfire
Protection Plan, strategies to strengthen wildfire hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness
efforts in Saratoga, and serve as community ambassadors on the topics of wildfire and
emergency preparedness; and
WHEREAS, the Wildfire Public Safety Task Force will be comprised of five members,
each member nominated by a member of the City Council and appointed by the City Council;
and
WHEREAS, the Wildfire Public Safety Task Force shall serve for a limited term ending
November 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Wildfire Public Safety Task Force shall hold regular meetings every
other month and schedule special meetings as needed; and
WHEREAS, the Wildfire Public Safety Task Force shall be subject to City Code Article
2-12 City Commissions (not including City Code Section 2-12.020(d), which by its terms does
not apply to committees such as the Task Force) and other City policies and State laws that apply
to the operation and administration of City Commissions; and
WHEREAS, the Wildfire Public Safety Task Force will not be subject to the City of
Saratoga Conflict of Interest Code; and
WHEREAS, each member of the City Council is hereby requested to submit their
nomination to the Public Safety Task Force to the City Clerk no later than March 6, 2019 so that
appointments to the Public Safety Task Force may be made at the March 20, 2019 City Council
Meeting.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Saratoga
hereby establishes a new Wildfire Public Safety Task Force for a limited term ending November
30, 2020.
The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Saratoga
City Council held on the 20th day of February 2019 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor E. Manny Cappello, Vice Mayor Howard Miller, Council Members Rishi
Kumar, Mary -Lynne Bernald, Yan Zhao
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATT
G
ebbie Bretschneider, City Clerk
E. Manny Cappello, Mayor
DATE: 2i /74 /v , i
CITY OF SARATOGA
Memorandum
To: Public Safety Task Force
From: Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager
Date: May 6, 2019
Subject: Task Force Meeting Schedule
Per direction of the City Council, the Public Safety Task Force is slated to meet every other month and
can call special meetings, if desired. The purpose of these agenda item is to determine the Task Force’s
regular meeting schedule. The list below includes available regular meeting options that do not conflict
with the regular meetings of the City Council or other City Commissions.
1. 1st Monday, odd or even-numbered months
2. 1st Tuesday, odd or even-numbered months
3. 1st Thursday, odd or even-numbered months
4. 2nd Monday, odd or even-numbered months
5. 3rd Monday, odd or even-numbered months
6. 3rd Tuesday, odd or even-numbered months
7. 3rd Thursday, odd or even-numbered months
8. 4th Monday, odd or even-numbered months