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.
Discussion:
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 16, July 9, and November 5, 2019.
2017 Sonoma Complex Fires
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.
Additionally, the California Office of Emergency Services on December 14, 2018 concluded the program that addressed over-excavation and property damage issues that occurred during the Government-Sponsored Debris Removal Program. Owners of 722 properties in Sonoma County requested site assessments by the September 21, 2018 deadline; 381 properties were ruled eligible and remedied by CalOES; 341 properties were ruled ineligible for the program.
All properties in the Public Debris Removal Program have been cleared. CalOES has completed remediation work for properties it deemed eligible for the Over Excavation Program, except for one. This one project is incomplete due to weather, and will be completed at the end of the rain season. We have been advised that FEMA completed the cost reports, and both CalOES and the County expect to receive them in the near future.
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 940 building permits for homes as of March 25, 2019; 134 permits are in process; 53 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 1,235 building permits for homes as of March 25, 2019; 325 permits are in process; 215 homes have been finished. For latest numbers, go to <https://www.srcity.org/2675/Rebuilding>
See attachment: Permit Report 3-25-19 rem
C. FEMA Direct Housing Program Extension
This federally-implemented program was intended to run for 18 months (thru April 10, 2019) for qualified fire survivors in need of mid-term temporary housing while they searched for alternative long-term housing solutions. As of March 21, 2019, the FEMA Direct Housing program was supporting 68 households within Sonoma County who are displaced because of the October 2017 wildfires. Of these, 27 households were in direct lease apartments, 40 in RVs at the fairgrounds, 1 RV on a private lot.
FEMA has approved the request to extend the period of assistance for Direct Temporary Housing. The period of assistance for pre-disaster owners is extended to July 10, 2019, and the period of assistance for pre-disaster renters is extended through May 10, 2019. After April 10, 2019, participants will begin paying rent. This rent is based on the participants’ ability to pay and FEMA will be working with participants to determine the amount.
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: 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. HUD is still reviewing HCD's Implementation Plan, Capacity Assessment, and Financial Certifications to ensure sufficient capacity to manage the funds and associated risks. HUD also is encouraging 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.
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. HCD will develop and release program requirements that CDC and the City of Santa Rosa will have to follow.
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, although there have been discussions about it possibly being published in May 2019.
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.
B. 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 28 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) and subsequently approved by the Board of Supervisors in December 2018.
The total project funding data allows for an analysis of hazard mitigation proposals submitted across County Departments (Figure 1. FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Total Project Cost by Lead Department, in $ millions). Using the federal funding proposal information, the total cost for hazard mitigation projects is approximately $47.6 million. The grant requests, if awarded will provide 75% of the total cost to execute five of the ten priority projects identified by the Block Captains and Board members as being the highest priority for implementation. On March 29, ORR received verbal confirmation from the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) of their recommendation to FEMA to fully fund all County proposals submitted September 9, 2019, for a total of $42.7 million. If FEMA agrees with the CalOES recommendation, then federal contracts are anticipated to be in place by October 2019. The performance period will be three years from the date of contract. The remaining $4.9 million proposed is still in the CalOES Notice of Interest phase, and the outcome will not be known during this fiscal year.
The full $47.6 million program is broken out by department or agency as follows: the Community Development Commission has a total project cost of $1,807,044; the Department of Transportation and Public Works has a total project cost of $6,115,359; the Emergency Management Department has a total project cost of $894,000; General Services has a total project cost of $7,999,888; the Information Services Department has a total project cost of $1,209,680; Permit Sonoma has a total project cost of $18,488,887; Regional Parks has a total project cost of $310,813; and Sonoma Water has a total project cost of $10,814,190.
The total program cost of is $47,639,861 with a Federal grant request of $35,729,870 and at total cost share of $11,909,991. This $11,909,991 cost share is further broken into different categories of funding sources. Property Owner Contribution (Home Hardening): $2,401,761; General Fund (Recovery and Resiliency Set Aside): $4,349,112; State Grant Funding: $1,323,055; and Lead Department Revenue, Fees or Specified Funds: $3,996,073.
See two attachments:
1. HMGP Figure 1: 4-9-19_rem
2. HMGP Cost Share Breakdown Tables 1 and 2: 4-9-19_rem
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.
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.
Early damage assessments estimated over $150 million in countywide flood damages. Thirty-five structures have 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 roughly 600 structures have received yellow tags, which means inspectors determined that there is some risk from damage to the structure.
In addition to private property damage, there are at least $23.5 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. Damage estimates also include approximately $4 million in physical agriculture damage.
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.
Site locations and estimated costs of the temporary repairs are:
1. King Ridge Road - roadway slip (estimated repairs: $660,000).
2. Mays Canyon Road - bridge approach failure (estimated repairs: $200,000).
3. Geysers Road in Cloverdale - roadway slip (estimated repairs: $600,000).
Further, TPW is reviewing another site on Moscow Road that may have high temporary repair costs. Finally, Fort Ross Road had two culvert wash outs and a temporary portable, pre-fabricated truss bridge was installed and TPW is working with CalOES on options for permanent solutions.
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 1,711.62 tons of waste at the staffed debris drop off sites which were open from Saturday, March 2, 2019 through Saturday, March 9, 2019.
Curbside debris collection from the floods began on March 11, 2019 and is running three weeks. The total tonnage of curbside debris picked up through March 22, 2019 was 3,078.52 tons for the first two weeks of the program.
2019 Flood Debris Cleanup program includes the estimated costs for the work already performed and projected costs for work being performed at this time.
The estimated costs for debris removal from March 1, 2019 through March 22, 2019 are:
Recology w/subcontractors: $960,000
Disposal (3,078 tons): $424,764
Monitoring: $110,000
Total: $1,494,764
Total with 20% contingency: $1,793,717
The projected costs for debris removal from March 23, 2019 through March 29, 2019 are:
Recology w/subcontractors: $180,000
Disposal (900 tons projected): $124,200
Monitoring: $25,000
Total: $329,200
Total with 20% contingency: $395,040.00
The combined estimated and projected cost totals for debris removal are:
Grand Total: $1,823,964
Grand Total 20% contingency: $2,188,757
Note that a contingency of 20% has been included in these estimates to capture ancillary costs to the program including traffic control, county staff time (drivers, field supervisors, signage), accounting and record keeping, etc., all necessary to facilitate reimbursement for the performed work.
The Local Assistance Center (LAC) 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. The most visited County agencies were Permit Sonoma who served 264 individuals, Cal Fresh who served 145 and Community Development Corporation who served 114. The most visited State agencies were DVM who served 216 individuals and CDPH (Vital Records) who served 113. Of the Non-Profit agencies, Red Cross was the most visited, serving 404 individuals, while Catholic Charities served 173 individuals.
The Recovery Operations Center was demobilized on March 20, 2019 and the County transitioned to long-term flood recovery, led by the Office of Recovery and Resiliency but with significant participation from several County agencies.
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.
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. Funding for local cost share on permanent work will be identified as projects are identified and developed.
On March 19, 2019, your Board approved a $150,000 contract with West County Community Services for a Flood Survivor Rapid Re-Housing Program. West County Community Services, the established and capable provider of a range of safety net services in the area, will use the funds to provide housing navigation, short-term rent assistance (including deposits), and transportation services as needed for those without vehicles, for those individuals who have been directly displaced by the Flood Disaster. The ability to quickly invest these one-time funds will prevent affected flood survivors from becoming homeless.
B. Loan Assistance for Businesses Impacted by Flood
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. There are six different loan programs available.
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.
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/>
C. 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 Gov. 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.
Beginning Monday, March 25, SBA representatives will be 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.
The center will be open on the days and times listed below until further notice and no appointment is necessary:
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Former Bank of America Building
16390 Main St.
Guerneville, CA 95446
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesdays, 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.
The deadline to apply for property damage is May 20, 2019. The deadline to apply for economic injury is December 23, 2019.
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.
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.
Applicants may 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 or email 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.
Prior Board Actions:
Regular Recovery Updates have been provided to your Board since November 2017.
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Attachments:
1. Permit Report 3-25-19 rem
2. HMGP Figure 1: 4-9-19_rem
3. HMGP Cost Share Breakdown Tables 1 and 2: 4-9-19_rem
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board: