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:
Title
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 and the 2019 Winter Storm Events.
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Executive Summary:
Office of Recovery and Resiliency staff provides the Board regular updates on disaster recovery efforts, including building permits; external funding and grant efforts; and relevant legislation. Starting in July 2019, these updates occur on a monthly basis on the Board’s agenda.
Discussion:
In an effort to keep the Board and community informed about the County’s recovery efforts, the Office prepares a standing agenda item, typically included on the consent calendar. This now monthly 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 16, July 9 (each already held), and November 5, 2019.
2017 Sonoma Complex Fires
1. 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. Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) Financing Expansion: Fire Hardening and Seismic
Currently, the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) finances improvements that can make a home more fire hardened as long as those improvements meet the Program’s energy requirements (e.g. roofing, siding, windows and air sealing). In addition, SCEIP is authorized for water conservation improvements.
On July 23, 2019, your Board approved expanding the Program to include seismic and wildfire safety improvements throughout the County. The remaining process is expected to take another three to four months to complete and allow the County to begin offering wildfire and seismic financing through SCEIP.
Staff from General Services - Energy and Sustainability, ORR, and Permit Sonoma are working together to plan a coordinated multi-channel marketing effort to ensure residents are aware of the grant opportunity and financing option available to them to make these improvements.
C. Rebuilding Permits
1. As of August 1, 2019, the County had 1,019 building permits for homes issued, 108 applications in the permit review process, and 182 homes constructed. There are 1,309 rebuild homes currently submitted, issued, or finished in the County. The figures indicate housing unit counts.
For the latest numbers, go to <http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/PRMD/Performance-Data/Rebuilding-Permits-Data/>
2. As of August 1, 2019, the City of Santa Rosa had 1,281 building permits for homes issued, 224 applications in the permit review process; and 568 homes constructed. There are 2,073 rebuild homes currently submitted, issued, or finished in the City. The figures indicate housing unit counts.
For latest numbers, go to <https://www.srcity.org/2675/Rebuilding>
3. As of August 1, 2019, the combined County and City permit departments had 2,300 building permits issued; 332 permits were in the combined permit review process; and a combined 750 homes have finished construction. In total, there have been 3,382 rebuild homes, or 65% of the homes lost in the fires, that are somewhere in the rebuilding process either by submitting for a permit, having had a permit issued, or have already finished construction. 15% of the homes have finished. The figures indicate housing unit counts.
See attachment: Permit Report 8-1-19
D. Defensible Space/Hazardous Fuels Reduction Report
1. Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention Division, in coordination with Cal Fire and several local Fire Districts, are in the midst of conducting seasonal outreach, education, and inspections for compliance with defensible space/hazardous fuels reduction regulations, and performing abatement as necessary. Additional details about the County’s program are accessible online at <https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/PRMD/Fire-Prevention/Vegetation-Management-Services/Hazardous-Vegetation/>
2. As of July 31, 2019, Sonoma County staff and contracted inspectors from several local Fire Districts have conducted a total of 1,781 first inspections (1,441 on improved parcels and 340 on parcels without improvements). The compliance rate relative to County Ordinance for first inspections was 43.9% for improved parcels and 44.1% for unimproved parcels. As follow-up, 887 re-inspections have been completed (704 on improved parcels and 183 on parcels without improvements).
3. In addition to the outreach, inspections, and enforcement program, the countywide free chipper service is also ongoing. Additional details about the program, including guidelines and application forms, are accessible online at <https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/PRMD/Fire-Prevention/Vegetation-Management-Services/Curbside-Chipper-Program/> There have been 167 cumulative chipper jobs to-date. Demand has grown well beyond prior years, and the number of jobs completed by crews will continue to accelerate as a result of recent hiring success and improved equipment availability.
E. Sonoma Ready Day
1. Sonoma Ready Day will be held on Sunday, September 8th, 2019 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
2. The event will offer emergency resources, demonstrations, short lectures, emergency vehicle displays and tools to educate and empower community members to withstand and recover from emergencies.
3. The Office of Recovery & Resiliency is in the early stages of planning an Emergency Preparedness Day, Sonoma Ready Day at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Saralee & Richard's Barn. While planning is in the initial stages, updated information will be posted on the event page as available: <https://socoemergency.org/home/prepare/sonoma-ready-day/>
2. Recovery-Related External Funding Opportunities: Federal Funding In Process
A. FEMA PA Appeal
The October 2017 wildfires caused damage to curbs, gutters, sidewalks, asphalt roads, a storm drain, and a timber retaining wall. Sonoma County requested funding for repairs to these facilities, as well as to 51 damaged asphalt sites in the Mark West/Larkfield area on county roads. FEMA initially denied funding for the repairs relating to the sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm drain and retaining wall totaling $126,525. Sonoma County appealed FEMA's denial of the repairs. On May 24, 2019, Cal-OES informed the County, via letter, FEMA approved the appeal for $126,525 which means the County will be receiving the funds to make the repairs.
Additionally, Sonoma County has identified damage to county roads resulting from the Private Property Debris Removal operations that were conducted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers at FEMA 's request. FEMA has not yet made a determination on the remaining $18,512,123 in requested funding for the 32 roads damaged by debris removal trucks.
After Transportation and Public Works (TPW) staff inquired about reimbursement for Private Property Debris Removal damaged roads, FEMA and CalOES project managers requested documentation to support the damages. TPW subsequently provided engineering estimates that included type of treatment needed and materials. Site visits were conducted with FEMA representatives, and before and after photos of each site were provided for reference. To date, TPW has not received an official determination for this project, though FEMA and CalOES representatives have since indicated these types of damages do not typically qualify for public assistance. FEMA has advised a determination regarding the 32 roads will be issued separately.
B. FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program: HMPG Spotlight
Through ongoing coordination of the Grant Steering Committee, 28 applications for federal funding were approved by the Board of Supervisors for submittal with a total estimated project cost of $47.7 million. The 28 applications were combined into 25 proposals to create efficiency and reduce overhead by bundling like projects together where possible. These applications have co-equal goals of implementing activities in the Recovery and Resiliency Framework and meeting County leadership priorities.
Of the 25 applications submitted, 16 have been recommended by CalOES for full FEMA funding, six are still in the CalOES review process, one has been waitlisted, which is akin to being put on hold until additional funds become available, and two have been approved by FEMA.
On June 24, 2019, FEMA approved and issued Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds for the Sonoma County Water Agency Ely Booster Station Structural Retrofit. The total eligible costs are $3,075,823 with a 75 percent federal share or $2,306,867.
On September 27, 2018, FEMA approved and issued Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds for the Sonoma County Water Agency Russian River County Sanitation District Secondary Treatment Clarifiers Seismic Rehabilitation and Retrofit. The total eligible costs are $2,984,536 with a 75 percent federal share or $2,238,402.
For the remaining applications, the next steps are for FEMA to conclude its review of the CalOES recommendation and to provide notification to the County of their decisions. Federal Award notifications are anticipated no later than October 2019, but could happen sooner based upon the timeliness of federal review.
The FEMA review process happens in three steps:
1. FEMA reviews CalOES recommendations;
2. FEMA conducts its Environmental and Historic Preservation review to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and
3. FEMA makes the final funding recommendation to CalOES.
Clearance documents for NEPA compliance will take a minimum of 60-days for FEMA to complete.
On July 5, 2019, three departments submitted new HMGP proposals for CalOES to review. These projects had previously been in the Notice of Intent (NOI) phase. The three new projects are (1) Critical Facility Power Retrofit through ISD (total project: $100,000, (2) Fuels Reduction through Permit Sonoma (total project: $6 million), and (3) Radio Disaster Alert Devices for Vulnerable Populations through Emergency Management (total project: $44,000).
This month’s spotlight covers two wastewater treatment plant seismic rehabilitation and retrofit projects.
Russian River County Sanitation District Seismic Rehabilitation and Retrofit of Secondary Treatment Clarifiers: Russian River County Sanitation District (District) completed a Natural Hazard Reliability Assessment of its wastewater treatment plant (Plant) in June of 2015 and identified vulnerabilities associated with existing infrastructure and facilities, including seismic risk to the Plant’s secondary clarifiers, which are critical to treatment of wastewater flows. This project will mitigate the potential failure of the secondary clarifiers at the Plant due to earthquakes by upgrading and replacing mechanical components within the existing concrete clarifier tanks to be able to meet current seismic loading requirements and design guidance.
The project would allow the District to continue to provide wastewater collection and treatment, and recycled water distribution and disposal services to the equivalent of roughly 3,200 single-family dwellings, including commercial and residential uses in the District’s service area in the event of an earthquake. The District is the sole entity providing public wastewater collection and treatment for the Russian River communities. The public relies on the domestic and industrial sanitation services supplied by the District to be functional in both emergency and non-emergency circumstances. Though the facility does not contain hazardous materials, tank or component failure may endanger residential areas and the loss of operation to one, two, or all three tanks would be detrimental to the overall operation of the facility.
Total project costs are estimated to be $2,984,536, with grant funds covering $2,238,402 (75% of costs) and District contributing the balance of $746,134 (25% of costs). The grant period of performance is 36 months, at which time both design and construction activities are expected to be completed. Completion date is estimated to be in August 2021.
Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District Seismic Rehabilitation and Retrofit of Secondary Treatment Clarifiers: Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District (District) completed a Natural Hazard Reliability Assessment of its wastewater treatment plant (Plant) in June of 2015 and identified vulnerabilities associated with existing infrastructure and facilities, including seismic risk to the Plant’s secondary clarifiers, which are critical to treatment of wastewater flows. This project will mitigate the potential failure of the secondary clarifiers at the Plant due to earthquakes by upgrading and replacing mechanical components within the existing concrete clarifier tanks to be able to meet current seismic loading requirements and design guidance.
The project would allow the District to continue to provide wastewater collection and treatment, and recycled water distribution and disposal services to a population of approximately 42,000 people in the Sonoma Valley portion of the North Bay Area in the event of an earthquake. There are the equivalent of roughly 17,000 single family dwelling units in the District’s service area, which spans over 4,500 acres. The District is the sole entity providing public wastewater collection and treatment for the City of Sonoma and numerous unincorporated communities within Sonoma Valley. The public relies on the domestic and industrial sanitation services supplied by the District to be functional in both emergency and non-emergency circumstances. The facility has two circular clarifier tanks with the capacity to process three million gallons of wastewater per day. Though the facility does not contain hazardous materials, tank or component failure may endanger residential areas and the loss of operation to one or both tanks would be detrimental to the overall operation of the facility.
Total project costs are estimated to be $3,632,341, with grant funds covering $2,724,255 (75% of costs) and District contributing the balance of $908,086 (25% of costs). The grant period of performance is 36 months, at which time both design and construction activities are expected to be completed. Actual completion date will depend upon the date of the grant award by FEMA, if the proposal is successful. The grant has been recommended by CalOES and is under review by FEMA.
C. 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. On July 11, 2019, HCD received word from HUD that California's final approval for the $124 million portion for unmet disaster recovery has been granted by HUD.
Action Plan: on March 15, 2019, HUD approved the Action Plan for the $124 million portion for unmet disaster recovery needs as submitted by California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), who is the Grantee and receiver of the funds. Based on the July 11, 2019 notice, HCD is anticipating HUD sending the State’s grant agreement in the near future. HUD has also encouraged HCD to revisit the unmet needs assessment in the Action Plan as new data becomes available and recovery progresses throughout the life cycle of the grant.
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. HCD anticipates having the homeowner survey for the Homeowner Rehab/Reconstruction program to be sent out and available online in October, with full grant applications being accepted in December or January. The webpage and program interface, once developed, will be available at www.ReCoverCA.org <http://www.ReCoverCA.org>.
The multi-family program awards sub-grant funds to the impacted local jurisdictions. Multi-family program funds are allocated proportionate to the number of Low and Moderate Income renters (those with incomes below 80% of the Area Median Income) within the disaster-affected areas of each jurisdiction. In HCD’s Action Plan, Sonoma County received an allocation of $4,698,809 and the City of Santa Rosa received $38,469,772. Once HCD publishes program guidelines, the Community Development Commission will use these to inform a proposed process for selecting projects - likely via a Notice of Funding Availability. The Board of Supervisors will make the final determination of what local requirements will be, and for making the final selection of developments to be submitted to HCD for eligibility and compliance review. Community Development staff will be responsible for ensuring compliance with HCD and HUD requirements for use of these funds.
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.
The County Administrator’s Office has worked with Congressman Mike Thompson’s Office to advocate to the United States Senate through U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein to include an additional $11.1 million in CDBG-DR monies for the State of California.
D. Economic Development Administration Investment Award
Notice of Investment Award for the Economic Development Board: the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has notified the Sonoma County Economic Development Board (EDB) Foundation of a Notice of Investment Award for 2018 Disaster Supplemental Funding - Disaster Revolving Loan Fund.
This EDA investment funds a revolving loan fund in Sonoma County to assist disaster recovery and resiliency efforts for local businesses in the wake of the 2017 wildfires and the 2018 severe winter storms and flooding. The investment from EDA will be $800,000 and the EDB has secured an additional $200,000 required matching grant commitment from Tipping Point to make this a total investment of $1 million.
The investment will provide access to affordable capital for business start-up or expansion in the state to encourage job creation, retention, high paying jobs, economic diversification and economic stability. It is anticipated that 120 jobs will be created with these funds as well as 55 jobs saved and will allow $2 million in private investment to be leveraged.
EDA finalized the Revolving Loan Fund in May 2019. Since then, the Tipping Point grant has funded their matching grant. The EDB is developing an RFP for loan underwriting, processing and collection services, as well as finalizing additional EDA administrative requirements associated with pre-disbursement processes.
2019 Winter Storms and Flooding Update Summary
A. Flood Overview
On February 26, 2019, Sonoma County Supervisors declared a Local Emergency as powerful winter storms battered the county. On February 28, 2019, Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency for Sonoma County. On April 13, 2019, Governor Newsom requested a Federal Major Disaster Declaration for the two atmospheric river storm systems that struck California in February 2019, including the County of Sonoma.
On May 17, 2019, the President declared a Federal Disaster for the severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides for 16 counties in California, including Sonoma County, for the incident period of February 24 to March 1, 2019. This Federal Declaration is for FEMA Public Assistance (PA) and FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).
Sonoma County’s Health Officer declared a local health emergency on March 5, 2019 due to the scale of household hazardous waste scattered along waterways, roadsides, and on public and private properties after flooding.
At the March 7, 2019 Special Meeting, your Board ratified the County Health Officer’s proclamation of local health emergency due to the presence of significant household hazardous waste in the flood zone that requires proper disposal.
1. Damages
Damage assessments estimated over $150 million in countywide flood damages. Thirty-one structures received red tags, which means that the structure is damaged and poses an imminent threat to life or safety under expected loads or other unsafe conditions, while 527 structures received yellow tags, which means inspectors determined that there is some risk from damage to the structure. Damage estimates also include approximately $4 million in physical agriculture damage.
Permit Sonoma does not change the Rapid Evaluation Safety Assessment tag status when the safety issue is addressed via permitted work or otherwise. The Rapid Evaluation Safety Assessment tag represents the safety of that structure the moment it was evaluated and posted per CAL OES Rapid Evaluation Safety Assessment guidelines.
As of August 7, 2019, Permit Sonoma reported 232 permits have been pulled on parcels identified as impacted by the 2019 Winter Storm and Flooding event to make needed repairs. The permits cover a range of repairs, with the most common being electrical, sheetrock, insulation, and plumbing repairs common with such events.
In addition to private property damage, there are at least $30.4 million in damages to public property including debris removal, emergency protective measures, non-federal road and bridge systems, water control facilities, public buildings, public utilities, and park and recreational facilities.
The County experienced significant road damage on several sites that require exigent work to open or maintain the road as passable due to the importance of the routes. Transportation and Public Works (TPW) has estimated that the temporary repair work is of significant cost.
A sample of site locations of the temporary repairs are:
1. King Ridge Road - multiple locations, roadway slip (cost estimates are still being developed).
2. Mays Canyon Road - bridge approach failure (estimated repairs: $200,000).
3. Geysers Road in Cloverdale - multiple locations roadway slip (cost estimates are still being developed).
Further, TPW is reviewing sites that will require temporary repairs, including on King Ridge Road, Bohemian Highway, Moscow Road, Old Cazadero Road, and Coleman Valley Road. We are working with FEMA to accelerate this process in order to perform temporary repairs by next winter. In addition, there are related FHWA projects, including Eastside Road, Main Street in Monte Rio, Stewarts Point / Skaggs Springs Road, and Clark’s Crossing bridge on Annapolis Road.
Team members met on July 12 and 15, 2019 with representatives of FEMA and the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for a scoping meeting to review all aspects of project planning. Some of the 110 original sites were combined in an effort to categorize them, for a revised total of 56 sites. State and Federal agency partners will perform site visits to assist the scoping efforts in August.
2. Debris Collection
At the March 7, 2019 Special Meeting, your Board voted to direct staff to offer curbside debris collection to assist Russian River communities with the significant amount of waste created by the flood disaster at no cost to residents. This was in response to the health and environmental risk posed by flood debris accumulating in streets, parking lots and in other public areas.
The County collected roughly 4,000 tons of debris from March 1, 2019 through March 29, 2019.
As of July 31, 2019, the Recology bill is $1,952,529, subject to minor line item revisions. The estimated monitoring bill from 4Leaf is $71,940 for a total of $2,024,469 before contingency (up to a 20% contingency has been presumed). Contingency includes items such as traffic control, county staff time (drivers, field supervisors), signs, and accounting and record keeping. Transportation and Public Works (TPW) contingency costs are currently estimated at $76,423, while non-TPW contingency costs are currently estimated at $158,208. Total contingency costs are currently estimated at $234,630, an amount that is within the 20% contingency estimate.
Following the debris program, Permit Sonoma sent out four teams of Code Enforcement Officers and only three properties received warnings for minor infractions. Code Enforcement sent a team out less than a week later and all three properties had fully addressed the violations.
On March 6, 2019, Sonoma County requested California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) funds for private property debris removal because of damages sustained during the event. Governor Newsom has authorized CDAA (CDAA-2019-01-06) for Sonoma County who will perform the debris removal from the public rights-of-way and request reimbursement from Cal OES for the eligible activities at a 75% State/25% County percent cost share.
The May 17, 2019 Federal Declaration provides for both FEMA Public Assistance (PA) and FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). FEMA Public Assistance provides assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
On June 6, 2019, FEMA provided a FEMA PA Applicant’s Briefing. FEMA held a Scoping Meeting on July 12, 2019 where the County officially gave FEMA the County’s preliminary List of Projects. The County will work with FEMA to build and finalize the List of Projects over a 60-day period. As of July 12, 2019, the preliminary estimates of the overall claim are $30.4 million.
With FEMA PA, the target cost reimbursement/contribution percentages are 75% Federal, 18.75% State, and 6.25% County. Based on these percentages and the preliminary estimate of $30.4 million, the cost reimbursement/contribution would be $22,800,000 Federal, $5,700,000 State, and $1,900,000 County.
Immediate response costs totaling $2.5 million were programmed on March 12, 2019. This includes a $625,000 match and $1,875,000 of State disaster aid. Funding for the match includes $125,000 of contingencies, $250,000 from the Reinvestment and Revitalization Fund, and $250,000 from the Transportation and Public Works Special Concessions Fund.
Transportation and Public Works identified available funds which included $2.5 million from the Former Rural Landfill fund for the solid waste cleanup and $1.3 million from the Roads fund for costs associated with emergency road opening. The final funding request was based on project finalization and development and programmed as part of the FY 2018-19 3rd Quarter Consolidated Adjustments budget.
As of July 16, 2019, the County has received no Federal or State funds. Best estimates are that it may be the end of 2019 or beginning of 2020 before the County receives the funds. Further, the initial match requirements were calculated based on initial costs estimates and the assumption that a federal disaster would not be declared, which affects match levels. Any unneeded or excess local match components will be returned proportionally to the funds from which the match was provided when reimbursements are received.
Additionally, Notices of Intent (NOI) for the DR-4434 2019 Winter Storms and Floods Hazard Mitigation Grant Program have been requested by CalOES by August 9, 2019. Submission of an NOI is the first step in the HMGP application approval process. Six departments submitted new HMGP proposals for CalOES to review. The current list of NOI projects being submitted includes:
1. Structural Vulnerability Assessment of Structures at Risk from Seismic Hazard through Permit Sonoma;
2. Non-Structural Mitigation of High Risk Flood Areas through Permit Sonoma;
3. Westside Avenue (Forestville) Landslide Repairs through Transportation and Public Works;
4. Generators for the Forestville and Annapolis Yards through Transportation and Public Works;
5. Mobile Emergency Power Program through Department of Emergency Management;
6. Russian River County Sanitation District Enhanced Vulnerability Assessment for Flood-related Vulnerabilities through Sonoma Water;
7. Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District Update to the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan through Sonoma Water;
8. Russian River County Sanitation District Power System Vulnerabilities Project through Sonoma Water;
9. Flood elevation of residential structures through the Community Development Commission;
10. Install a redundant internet feed to ensure that network requirements for the Data Center through the Information Systems Department;
11. Install wireless communication amplifiers and repeaters on the County Campus through the Information Systems Department; and
12. Install a redundant power feed for the Data Center through the Information Systems Department.
B. Assistance for Residents and Businesses Impacted by Flood
1. Local Assistance Center/Recovery Center
The Local Assistance Center/Recovery Center was opened in Guerneville by the Office of Recovery and Resiliency on Sunday, March 3, 2019 and closed on Saturday, March 9, 2019. The LAC served a total of 886 individuals with 1,995 total services provide by all agencies.
2. Loans
The Economic Development Board is helping local businesses impacted by the 2019 winter storms and floods to recover by providing support to access a number of loan programs and resources.
Nor-Cal Financial Development Corporation (FDC)
Nor-Cal Financial Development Corporation (FDC) is offering three loan opportunities for small businesses who incurred damages from the floods. Opportunities include:
• Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program, which offers up to $1.25 million in loans to repair or replace property, inventory, supplies, and equipment, or to relocate the businesses. Interest rates for these loans are less than 9% and are negotiated with lender for up to 7-year terms. This is offered through a partnership with IBank.
• Jump Start Loan Program, which offers up to $10,000 in quick microloans for small businesses to meet their obligations and pay their necessary operating expenses, as well as general start-up expenses. Interest rates are less than 9% with 5-year terms.
• Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, which offers up to $20 million in loans with a maximum loan guarantee of $2.5 million or up to 80% of the loan with 0- to 7-year terms.
California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank)
The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) is providing two loans. Opportunities include:
• Industrial Development Bond Financing Program is available for all manufacturing or processing businesses and offers up to $1 million to $10 million in low-cost, low-interest loans for manufacturing companies to be used for land acquisition, building construction, building renovation, or equipment purchasing.
• Farm Loan Program is available for owners or operators of family farms and vineyards who are otherwise unable to secure a loan without a guarantee. This program provides up to $1.4 million in low-interest loans for operation and production expenses, including repair or construction of buildings and storage facilities; purchase of equipment, livestock, seed, or fertilizer; soil and water conservation; or refinancing debt.
In addition, Working Solutions offers the North Bay Emergency Relief Loan Program, providing up to $50,000 in loans to pay for obligations and operating expenses, as well as replacement/repair of equipment, inventory, or property. Working Solutions is a certified nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that supports San Francisco Bay Area entrepreneurs to start and grow local businesses.
Since the floods, Nor-Cal FDC has helped connect four businesses with possible financing to be guaranteed by the state Disaster Loan Guarantee Program. Working Solutions is also assisting five businesses for possible direct loan assistance as well as giving existing loan clients a forbearance on their payments.
For additional information about loans and other resources for local businesses, go to <http://sonomaedb.org/Business-Assistance/Flood-Recovery-Business-Resources/>
SBA Flood Loan Program For Businesses and Residents
Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to businesses and residents affected by winter storms and flooding that began on Feb. 25, 2019. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request SBA received from Governor Gavin Newsom on March 14, 2019. The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties.
According to SBA, low-interest federal disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster.
From March 25, 2019 to April 12, 2019, SBA operated a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) at the former Bank of America building in Guerneville. Representatives were on hand at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their application.
Individuals and businesses were able to apply for property damage loans until May 20, 2019. The deadline to apply for economic injury is December 23, 2019. Applicants may still apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at <https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela>. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, as well as by e-mail at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov <mailto:disastercustomerservice@sba.gov> for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339.
As of April 11, 2019, SBA Disaster loans received and approved for CA 15894 were 40 Home loan applications received and 4 approved for a total of $383,000 and 13 Business loan applications received and none yet approved.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.75 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.063 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
3. HOPE Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program Grant
The Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program, known locally as California HOPE, is administered in Sonoma County through the County Department of Health Services, Behavioral Health Division. California HOPE counselors continue to see a need for counseling services and emotional support. From January through March, 2019, California HOPE counselors provided 11,158 services and counseling sessions to community members (this data contains duplicate individuals).
The California HOPE program helps individuals and communities recover from natural and human-caused disasters through community outreach, counseling, and access to mental health services for survivors of these disasters. Counselors are available to meet people wherever they are to provide crisis counseling, resource navigation, and disaster recovery education. Counselors specialize in helping survivors understand their current reactions, reduce stress, receive emotional support, prioritize their needs and solve problems, choose coping strategies, and connect with people and agencies who can help. Bilingual counselors are available.
Following the winter floods, California HOPE counselors with West County Community Services have been focusing on serving individuals impacted. Including holding Mind-Body wellness groups in Guerneville and reaching out to assist individuals in North County through listening sessions as well. Other California HOPE counselors with these counselors also held family workshops in Spanish and created and distributed emergency preparedness “go-bags” for seniors. California HOPE counselors with Goodwill Industries of the Redwood Empire continue to work collaboratively with the Santa Rosa City Schools to support students and teachers. Counselors with Petaluma People Services have established support groups at Sonoma Valley High School and have started a bilingual Mind-Body support group for the Sonoma area. These counselors are also running support groups in Petaluma’s elementary schools.
This program is funded from a variety of sources. The initial recovery work was supported by short-term disaster relief grants from FEMA for $4.3M. The California HOPE funding from FEMA, as well as a supplemental $1 million from Kaiser Permanente, will end on June 30, 2019.
Sonoma County Department of Health Services has been planning for this transition since January. There are three main groups who are providing on-going support in the community, specific to the Wildfires. They are the Sonoma Community Resilience Collaborative, the Wildfire Mental Health Collaborative, and Rebuild Our Community: Sonoma County Resource Center. The Sonoma Community Resilience Collaborative has been working for almost a year now training providers and starting treatment groups to support fire survivors. Many County staff have cross-trained in this program. The Wildfire Mental Health Collaborative has set up a network of therapists to assist in longer-term treatment and recovery. ROC Sonoma County has an active resource center providing services and connection to Disaster Case Management.
Prior Board Actions:
Regular Recovery Updates have been provided to your Board since November 2017.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Attachments:
1. Permit Report 8-1-19
2. Winter Storms and Flooding FEMA PA Overall Project Map TPW 7-17-19
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board: