Agenda

Return

C. 98

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David Twa, County Administrator
Date:	March 28, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

CONTINUATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCIES ARISING OUT OF JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 STORM DAMAGE

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/28/2017

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

ABSENT:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor

Contact:

Julie DiMaggio Enea (925) 335-1077

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: March 28, 2017
,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

CONTINUE the emergency actions originally taken by the Board of Supervisors effective January 19 and February 14, 2017 regarding the hazardous conditions caused by a series of severe rainstorms in Contra Costa County.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This action is necessary to maintain eligibility for Contra Costa County and its cities to receive disaster relief funds to cover costs of the emergency response and damage repairs needed as a result of the significant storm events in early January 2017 that continued into February. The initial damage estimates for the County from the January 6 -10, 2017 storms are estimated at $9.5 million; additional damage from the February storms has not yet been estimated. The County does not currently have funds designated for the response and repair of the storm damages and has, therefore, applied for relief funds.

BACKGROUND:

Conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property have arisen within the County, caused by a series of severe rainstorms that began in January 2017 and have continued into February, and have led to widespread flooding, mudslides, sinkholes and damage to public buildings, flood control facilities and roadways, including the collapse of a portion of Alhambra Valley Road at Pinole Creek, caused by a massive sinkhole. Due to the continued rains and saturated soil conditions, a portion of Morgan Territory Road, approximately one mile south of Marsh Creek Road in unincorporated Contra Costa County, began showing signs of sliding during the week of February 20. The movement caused a break in the existing water line and the slide has continued, cracking the road surface to the point that the road is no longer passable. Residents to the south of the slide location are now required to travel south to Livermore

as their only access option. To address the emergency situation, the Board of Supervisors is exploring alternate access routes while Morgan Territory Road remains closed. The repair work to Morgan Territory Road will require removal of debris, excavation, installation of a structural retaining wall system, backfill, construction of embankment, new pavement, and pavement striping.

These conditions are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the County. The initial damage estimate encompasses the County’s response and cleanup of various sites throughout the county and estimated costs to repair damages from the storm. The estimate includes road infrastructure, flood control infrastructure, public building facilities and park and recreation facilities. The majority of the damage occurred on or along rural county roads. The largest and most significant damage occurred on Alhambra Valley Road at Pinole Creek, and on Morgan Territory Road in Clayton, where there were washouts of the roads. Flood control infrastructure also experienced storm related damage. Public building and park facilities suffered minimal impact from the storm. A slideshow illustrating the storm damage can be accessed at this link: January 2017 Storm Damage Slideshow .

The effects of the storms continue to be dynamic. Since the Board's original emergency declaration of January 19, Public Works Department crews have been responding to isolated mudslides, localized flooding, downed trees and drainage issues throughout the county, along with intermittent road closures including Marsh Creek Road, Morgan Territory Road, and a partial closure at Alhambra Valley Road at Ferndale Road. There have additionally been isolated issues related to County buildings/facilities including 50 Douglas Drive, 12000 Marsh Creek Rd (Detention Facility) and the County Hospital. Public Works crews continue to respond to items as they are reported. On March 7, 2017, the Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency and authorized the Public Works Director to proceed in the most expeditious manner with the Morgan Territory Road slide repair project.

Government Code Section 8630 requires that, for a body that meets weekly, the need to continue the emergency declaration be reviewed at least every 30 days until the local emergency is terminated, which shall occur at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant. Since the conditions that warranted proclamations of an emergency persist, it is appropriate for the Board to continue the local emergency actions regarding the hazardous conditions caused by storm damage.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Pursuant to Resolution No. 2017/404, the proclamation of local emergencies by the Board of Supervisors on January 19 and February 14, 2017 (Resolutions No. 2017/404 and 2017/65) cannot remain in effect more than 30 days unless they are reviewed and continued by the Board of Supervisors.