To: Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator
Staff Name and Phone Number: Michael Gossman, 565-7056
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
2019 Recovery and Resiliency Framework Implementation Report Annual Report
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Receive the 2019 Recovery and Resiliency Framework Implementation Annual Report and an Update on 2019 Recovery-Focused State and Federal Legislation.
B) Receive an Update from the Economic Development Board on Economic Impacts of the Kincade Fire and PG&E De-energization Events.
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Executive Summary:
In December 2018, the Board approved the Recovery and Resiliency Framework (Framework) and directed staff to provide quarterly updates on implementation progress on the Board’s Top 10 Priority Framework Projects and other activities for each of the five critical strategic areas:
• Community Preparedness and Infrastructure,
• Housing,
• Economy,
• Safety Net Services, and
• Natural Resources.
Throughout 2019, Staff provided the Board and community with regular updates on disaster recovery efforts, including the number of rebuilding permits issued and homes completed, external funding and grant efforts, and progress made on implementation of the Framework.
Updates have been provided monthly as a standing consent agenda item for Board meetings and quarterly for more extensive Framework implementation reporting.
It should be noted that the Quarter 3 Framework Implementation Report was not presented to the Board due to resources being diverted to assist with de-energization events and Kincade Fire recovery support. This report serves as a summary of Framework implementation activities for all of 2019.
This report also identifies recovery and resiliency accomplishments for 2019 and updates on recovery-related State and Federal legislation for 2019.
Although, not part of the Framework scope, information provided by the Economic Development Board (EDB) about economic impacts from de-energization and the Kincade Fire is also included.
The Office of Recovery & Resiliency will continue to provide implementation updates to the Board in 2020.
Discussion:
Recovery & Resiliency Framework Implementation
Your Board approved the Recovery & Resiliency Framework (Framework) on December 11, 2018 which included a comprehensive list of potential activities and actions that, if implemented, would help the County and community recover and become more resilient to future disasters. While County departments have been actively pursuing many recovery efforts, your Board directed staff to prioritize the following Top 10 Priority Projects for 2019:
1. Establish a comprehensive Alert and Warning System.
2. Work with the community to identify hazards, risks, mitigation strategies, including evacuation routes.
3. Facilitate construction hardening techniques appropriate for wildfire urban interfaces and seismic retrofits for rebuilding and for existing homes through education and grant programs.
4. Work with private utility providers on solutions related to hardening infrastructure and on coping with destroyed utilities in a disaster, including undergrounding where appropriate and necessary.
5. Help property owners navigate vegetation management opportunities through partnership with Fire Safe Sonoma and similar programs.
6. Continue to advocate for substantive changes to insurance regulations.
7. Engage the community to raise awareness about how to prepare and plan ahead for disasters.
8. Expedite permitting for homeowners who are rebuilding.
9. Enhance the 2-1-1 System.
10. Develop a One-Stop Shop Resource Center.
Updates for the Top 10 Priority Projects are provided in the Recovery & Resiliency Framework Implementation Annual Report (Attachment A). An update on Framework Actions is included in Attachment B.
The Recovery and Resiliency Framework Implementation Annual Report (Report) also includes recovery and resiliency activity highlights for the five strategic areas:
• Community Preparedness and Infrastructure,
• Housing,
• Economy,
• Safety Net Services, and
• Natural Resources
Recovery Ad Hoc Committee
At the December 11, 2018 Board meeting, your Board approved the creation of a Recovery Ad Hoc Committee (Ad Hoc) to provide input and guidance to staff on Framework implementation throughout 2019. The Recovery Ad Hoc Committee convened ten times to receive status updates from Project Leads for the Top 10 Priority Projects, receive input from fire survivors, and to discuss other important recovery topics with County staff, community partners, and fire survivors.
Rebuilding Permit Report
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 2,264 of the 5,143 residential structures destroyed or damaged by the Sonoma Complex Fire. The balance of homes were lost in Santa Rosa and a similar set of services is being provided by the City of Santa Rosa.
Services at the Resiliency Permit Center began February 13, 2018. The Resiliency Permit Center offers reduced permit fees, expedited processing times, electronic submittal of plans, and customer navigation services. Beginning in 2019, the Resiliency Permit Center additionally began offering a review of bid proposals to fire survivors to help them determine where scope and pricing are within a normal average.
The following demonstrates rebuild status data for both the City of Santa Rosa and County of Sonoma:
As of December 31, 2019, the combined County and City permit departments have had 3,839 homes, or 74.6% of the homes lost in the fires, start the permitting process. Of those homes in the process, 343 had not yet been permitted, 2,245 have been permitted and are rebuilding, and 1,251 had completed construction. The remaining 1,304, or 25.4%, of the homes lost in the fires, have not yet started the permitting process in order to rebuild.
Office of Recovery and Resiliency 2019 Accomplishments
In December 2017, the Board established the Office of Recovery & Resiliency (ORR) within the CAO; the immediate mission was to develop a long-term plan to guide recovery from the 2017 Sonoma Complex Fires. The Framework was finalized and approved in December 2018, and the ORR continues to prioritize a significant amount of resources to partner with departments and agencies for the implementation of the Framework.
In 2019, the ORR took on significant work outside of the Framework, but with the ongoing lens of community recovery and resiliency. Several ORR highlights for 2019 include:
• Solidified the role of the ORR during disasters - Since the ORR was formed to assist with recovery from the 2017 Sonoma Complex Fires, the team has been utilized for recovery from two major disasters (2019 Winter Storms and Flooding; Kincade Fire) as well as recovery from de-energization events in 2019. The ORR is now embedded in the Emergency Operations Center during a disaster so recovery planning can start on day one.
• Continuation of Emergency Proclamation for Disasters - Every 60 days after a disaster, an emergency proclamation must be re-authorized by the Board. The ORR has led this effort for multiple disasters.
• Winter Storms and Floods Recovery Leadership - Recovery efforts included coordination and leadership of a Local Assistance Center in Guerneville to serve 886 individuals and 1,995 total services provided by all agencies while open.
• Received NACo Achievement Award - In May 2019, the Recovery and Resiliency Framework was recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo) with a Best in Category Achievement Award. The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
• Co-Led Fuels Reduction and Resiliency Campaign enhancement efforts - In partnership with Permit Sonoma, developed program elements, budget, and four year schedule for the Fuels Reduction and Resiliency Campaign.
• Updated the Local Assistance Center (LAC) Handbook - Updated this handbook for the first time since 2006 to include increased accessibility to individuals with access and functional needs, including individuals with limited English proficiency.
• Coordinated Sonoma Ready Day - On September 8, the Office of Recovery coordinated Sonoma Ready Day which offered emergency resources, demonstrations, short lectures, emergency vehicle displays and tools to educate and empower community members to withstand and recover from emergencies. Over 5,000 people attended.
• Kincade Fire Recovery Leadership - Efforts include opening a Local Assistance Center in Healdsburg and serving over 1,000 families seeking assistance. Additionally, led coordination of the Watershed Taskforce and Debris Removal Taskforce. Developed online resources to assist community with recovery.
• Coordination of the Debris Removal Insurance Collection Program - On behalf of FEMA, ORR staff are working with approximately 3,500 property owners and insurers to collect insurance from participants of the Government-Sponsored Debris Removal Program (Program) after the October 2017 Fires.
2019 State and Federal Recovery Focused Legislation Update
In January 2019, your board approved the Sonoma County 2019-2020 State and Federal Legislative Platform which prioritized County advocacy efforts on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Recovery. The County continues to engage State and Federal associations and advocacy consultants to secure resources to continue recovery and preparedness efforts within the focus areas of the Recovery Framework.
Advocacy in 2019 prioritized recovery efforts related to the 2017 North Bay Wildfires in addition to the 2019 Winter Storm and flood that occurred in February and the Kincade Fire that started in October. The County had received $1 million dollars from the State for recovery related Behavioral Health Services related to the 2017 Northbay Wildfires in addition to $1.5 million received for flood relief in response to the 2019 Winter Storm and resulting floods. In response to the Kincade Fire, the County has requested property tax backfill in the amount of $1,900,000 for FY 2019-2020 and $2,556,620 for FY 2020-2021. The County continues to coordinate with Cal OES to advocate for price gouging protections recently resulting in a Governor’s Executive Order extending protections through December 31, 2020.
In response to Sonoma County requests, the California Insurance Commissioner met with Board Members and local fire survivors on multiple occasions to discuss the local impacts from large scale disasters and insurance reforms. The Commissioner has since issued a notice to insurers: 1.) to extend additional living expense (ALE) coverage to 2017 wildfire survivors and 2.) to not deduct the land value when survivors suffering a total loss choose to purchase a new home in another location. The Board has also contacted Insurers to directly request extensions of ALE coverage for 2017 Northbay Wildfire survivors which most insurers have responded to favorably. In December, the Commissioner also issued a Mandatory Moratorium on Non-Renewals, prohibiting insurers from not renewing the policies of policy holders living in wildfire impacted areas.
In coordination with the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), the County has tracked and advocated for improvements to the development of Investor Owned Utility (IOU) Public Safety Power Shutdown (PSPS) policy through multiple regulatory processes in addition to legislative advocacy and the state budget process. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services announced $26 million in available funding for counties to help ease the burden of being without power for extended periods of time. Sonoma County’s allocation was estimated at $479,159. The Department of Emergency Management will develop recommendations on how to spend this allocation and bring them before the Board for consideration at a later date in early 2020. The County has provided actual PSPS costs to CSAC and will continue to advocate for additional resources to support this new area of emergency management and preparedness.
2019 Fire Recovery Legislation is attached (Attachment C).
Economic Impacts of Kincade Fire and PG&E De-energization Events
During the Kincade fire, and in response to requests from the Board of Supervisors, media and others, the Economic Development Board began work to measure the short-term economic impact of the fire and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events that took place in fall 2019. The outcome is a comprehensive analysis conducted by Moody’s Analytics that provides background on pre-existing economic conditions and benchmarks, outlines the complex and proven methodology Moody’s uses to calculate the impacts of economic shocks, and provides an evaluation of potential long-term effects relevant to policymakers, business and residents alike. This report is provided summarized in Attachment D and summarized in Attachment E.
Moody’s report states that even in the wake of recent disasters, Sonoma County’s economy has fared comparatively well due to an educated workforce, continued tourism interest, and a hot Bay Area economy. Long term considerations include potential lingering impacts to the fall tourist season, and weakened demographics through out-migration of residents. Though best presented within the context of the methodology and assumptions that drive the estimates, Moody’s total estimated combined impact from cumulative PSPS events in October and November 2019, plus the Kincade fire and associated evacuations to be $725 million.
Prior Board Actions:
12/11/18 - Board approved the Recovery and Resiliency Framework
4/16/19 - Board received the Recovery & Resiliency Framework Implementation 2019 Quarter 1 Report and approved funding for United Way of the Wine Country’s 211 Transition Plan.
7/9/19 - Board received the Recovery & Resiliency Framework Implementation 2019 Quarter 2 Report and directed staff to expand the County Staff Development and Wellness Benefit to include emergency preparedness equipment as an allowable reimbursable purchase.
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
Attachment A: 2019 Recovery & Resiliency Framework Implementation Annual Report
Attachment B: 2019 Recovery & Resiliency Framework Action Item Updates
Attachment C: 2019 Fire Recovery Legislation
Attachment D: Moody’s Analytics Economic Impact of Power Shutoffs and Kincade Fire Report
Attachment E: Economic Impact of Power Shutoffs and Kincade Fire Summary
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
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