To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Michael Gossman, 565-2341
Vote Requirement: Informational Only
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
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Recovery Update
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Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
Receive an update on the status of recovery operations, planning and seeking of funding opportunities following the October 2017 Sonoma Complex Fires
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Executive Summary:
The aftermath of the October 2017 Sonoma Complex Fires presents ongoing risks to the residents, property, and environment of Sonoma County. Office of Recovery and Resiliency staff provides the Board regular updates on recovery efforts, including building permits; external funding and grant efforts; and relevant legislation.
Discussion:
In the early morning hours of October 9, 2017, County staff activated the Emergency Operations Center in response to the Sonoma Complex Fires, which eventually burned 173 square miles and destroyed over 7,000 structures, including 5,143 homes. On December 19, 2017, the Board of Supervisors established the Office of Recovery and Resiliency (Office) with the mission to develop a strategy that addresses the immediate and long-term recovery and resiliency efforts needed to help Sonoma County rebuild and recover from the wildfires. This Office continues to actively pursue recovery efforts, and to work with other County departments, agencies, and districts to assist Sonoma County residents in the process of rebuilding.
In an effort to keep the Board and community informed about the County’s recovery efforts, the Office prepares a standing agenda item for each Board meeting, typically included on the consent calendar. This update includes information on: Ongoing Recovery Efforts; Housing; Recovery Related External Funding Opportunities; and other items of interest. In addition to the standing agenda item, the Office will be presenting quarterly updates to the Board on the status of the implementation of the Recovery and Resiliency Framework. The quarterly updates are scheduled for the following Board meetings this calendar year: April 2, July 9, and November 5, 2019.
1. Ongoing Recovery Efforts
A. Debris Removal
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May 2018 concluded the Government-Sponsored Debris Removal Program in Sonoma County on 3,674 participating properties and stopped accepting new debris-related complaints. If property owners require additional clarification specific to the Debris Removal Program, they can contact the California Office of Emergency Services Recovery Section at 916-845-8200. If property owners have other questions or concerns, they can contact Sonoma County’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency at 707-565-1222.
2. Housing
A. Resiliency Permit Center
Permit Sonoma established a Resiliency Permit Center providing expedited comprehensive permitting and inspection services for those who lost homes in the fires and their representatives dealing with reconstruction of approximately 3,000 residential structures destroyed or damaged by the Sonoma Complex Fire. Services at the Resiliency Permit Center began February 13, 2018. In 2019, the Resiliency Permit Center will also provide, free of charge, a general review of bid proposals to fire survivors to help them determine where scope and pricing are appropriate.
B. Rebuilding Permits
1. The County has issued 922 building permits for homes as of March 5, 2019; 126 permits are in process; 46 homes have been finished. For the latest numbers, go to <http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/PRMD/Performance-Data/Rebuilding-Permits-Data/>
2. The City of Santa Rosa has issued 1,218 building permits for homes as of March 5, 2019; 333 permits are in process; 180 homes have been finished. For latest numbers, go to <https://www.srcity.org/2675/Rebuilding>
See attachment: Permit Report 3-5-19
3. Recovery-Related External Funding Opportunities
A. Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery
Announcement of $212 Million: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on April 10, 2018, that California would be receiving $212 million to support long-term disaster recovery through the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, including $124 million for unmet disaster recovery needs, and $88 million for preparedness and mitigation. The Federal Register governing the $124 million portion for unmet disaster recovery needs was issued on August 20, 2018.
Action Plan: the $124 million portion for unmet disaster recovery needs, California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), as Grantee and receiver of the funds, has drafted an Action Plan that has been submitted to HUD. The Action Plan details the proposed use of all funds. HCD’s proposed Action Plan includes a budget of $47.6 million for an owner-occupied housing program, $66.7 million for a multifamily housing program, $3.5 million for a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) match program, and $6.2 million for administration.
The owner-occupied program is proposed to be a Statewide program by HCD. HCD will release a Survey to help finalize the owner-occupied program prior to opening up the application process.
The multi-family program will have funds allocated directly to the local jurisdiction. This allocation is proportionate to the number of Low and Moderate Income renters within the disaster areas of each jurisdiction. As proposed, Sonoma County would receive $4,698,809 and the City of Santa Rosa would receive $38,469,772.
Status of $88 Million for Preparedness and Mitigation Funding: HUD to develop and finalize the rules and publish in the Federal Register in order to begin the funding cycle. The date the Federal Register will be published has not been announced.
B. State Funding Awarded: California State Parks
The County Administrator’s Office has received and signed the grant award for the California State Parks’ Local Assistance Specified Grant in the amount of $5,000,000. The purpose of this funding is to replace the Camp Newman Community Center. Design work for the Community Center is underway.
C. Federal Funding In Process: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is one of many public funding sources the County is pursuing to implement projects designed to reduce the potential risk to life and/or property in Sonoma County. To date, the County Departments and Agencies have submitted 26 grant applications to the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) in response to the October 2017 Wildfire Presidential Declaration of Disaster. The projects proposed for funding directly implement activities identified in the Sonoma County Recovery and Resiliency Framework drafted by the Office of Recovery and Resiliency (ORR), subsequently approved by your Board in December 2018.
All proposals were submitted on to CalOES on September 4, 2018. The total funding request by the County to FEMA is $34,515,992.
In early January 2019, CalOES distributed a Request for Information (RFI) to each County Department. RFI’s from the Departments were completed and submitted to CalOES on February 8, 2019. The next step is for Cal OES to complete its review of the applications and determine which to submit to FEMA for review and final approval.
A typical grant life cycle is four years, with the first year focused on proposal development, funding agency review and grant award. All projects receiving HMGP funding must be completed within three years from the date of award. The Office of Recovery and Resiliency facilitates monthly Grant Steering Committee meetings with the Departments to coordinate all grant activities.
A typical grant life cycle is four years, with the first year focused on proposal development, funding agency review and grant award. All projects receiving HMGP funding must be completed within three years from the date of award. The Office of Recovery and Resiliency facilitates monthly Grant Steering Committee meetings with the Departments to coordinate all grant activities.
4. Other Items of Interest
A. California Natural Resources Agency’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program Block Grant
The Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program seeks to increase regional capacity to prioritize, develop, and implement projects that improve forest health and fire resiliency, facilitate greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and increase carbon sequestration in forests throughout California. It is awarding $20 million dollars across the state via eight block grants to facilitate regional planning and implementation of landscape-level projects consistent with the California Forest Carbon Plan and Executive Order B-52-18. The intent is to achieve significant increases in the pace and scale of forest and watershed improvements to restore the health and resilience of California's forests by reducing conditions that lead to catastrophic wildfire and ensuring that California's forests remain net carbon sinks that provide a range of ecosystem and social benefits to the state. The program is administered by the Department of Conservation on behalf of the California Natural Resources Agency and funded by California Climate Investments.
The funds are expected to be made available to the block grant recipients in spring 2019. The funds would be distributed by those recipients as fiscal administrators through sub-grants and/or contracts for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2020, with full liquidation by June 30, 2022. Additional information about the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program is available at: <https://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/grant-programs/Pages/Regional-Forest-and-Fire-Capacity-Program.aspx>
The North Coast Resource Partnership (NCRP), whose region includes much of Sonoma County, is receiving a $4,250,000 block grant via this program for the preparation of a Regional Priority Plan; project development and permitting; demonstration projects; and outreach, education, and training within Modoc, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino and Sonoma Counties. The NCRP is a long term, innovative and successful collaboration among Northern California Tribes, counties, and diverse stakeholders that engages in multi-objective integrated planning to achieve its regional goals and to guide local project implementation. Sonoma County officials and staff have been active in the governance and review panels of the NCRP since its inception in 2005, and the Sonoma County Water Agency has helped support NCRP with matching funds and resources. Additional information about NCRP is available at: <https://northcoastresourcepartnership.org/>
Prior Board Actions:
Regular Recovery Updates have been provided to your Board since November 2017.
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Attachments:
Permit Report 3-5-19
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
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