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Home My WebLink AboutStaff Report 3663City of Palo Alto (ID # 3663) City Council Staff Report Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 4/1/2013 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Council Priority: Emergency Preparedness Summary Title: Resolution Authorizing Grant Application for a Flood Warning System Title: Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit a Grant Application to the California Department of Water Resources for an Enhanced Regional Flood Warning System for the San Francisquito Creek Watershed From: City Manager Lead Department: Public Works Recommendation and Draft Motion Draft Motion: I move that the Council approve the attached resolution (Attachment A) authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application to the California Department of Water Resources for an enhanced regional flood warning system for the San Francisquito Creek watershed. Background San Francisquito Creek poses the largest flooding threat to residents and businesses in Palo Alto. The City monitors a network of rainfall and stream flow gauges in the San Francisquito Creek watershed during winter storms in an effort to identify potential flood events and provide advance warning to the public. Some of the gauges are maintained by the City, while others are the responsibility of other agencies. Information from these gauges is posted to the City’s Creek Monitor web page to inform the public of current conditions and is used by emergency managers to assess the likelihood of stream flooding. City of Palo Alto Page 2 On December 23, 2012, a large storm dropped 2.75 inches of rainfall on the saturated upper slopes of the San Francisquito Creek watershed. The combination of the intense rainfall and the saturated ground conditions resulted in a peak flow of 5,400 cubic feet per second in the creek, the third highest recorded stream flow rate since 1930 (Attachment B). The high flows caused stream overbanking at multiple locations into East Palo Alto and onto Highway 101 and near-overtopping at the Pope/Chaucer Street bridge. During post-event internal and inter-agency reviews of the storm emergency response, it was noted that the ability to effectively predict creek flooding is significantly hindered by the scarcity of rainfall and stream flow data from the upper watershed. Current problems include the ability to remotely monitor only one real-time rain gauge in the watershed (in addition, the rainfall gauge is at the edge of the watershed, in a sub-watershed that contributes only 14% of the flow to San Francisquito Creek) and a stream flow gauge that transmits data only once every 15 minutes. There was general agreement that a more robust, coordinated network of rainfall and stream gauges would improve flood prediction capabilities. Discussion Staff at the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority (JPA) has identified a grant program sponsored by the California Department of Water Resources that could provide financial resources to help improve the rain and stream flow instrumentation in the San Francisquito Creek watershed. The grant program, funded with monies from State Proposition 84, is designed to assist local agencies with implementation of flood emergency planning, preparedness, and response activities. One of the activities specifically listed as being eligible for grant funding is the “collecting and exchanging of flood information (static as well as real-time information) and integrating information into a common operational picture”. JPA staff have agreed to prepare a grant application and manage the coordinated effort to implement an enhanced regional flood warning system for the San Francisquito Creek watershed. The JPA would coordinate with staff from other JPA member agencies, including the City of Palo Alto, during the development of the system in order to ensure maximum functionality and accessibility of the data for emergency response agencies throughout the watershed. If the grant application is approved, the funds will be used to 1)purchase and install new rainfall and stream flow gauges at strategic locations in the upper watershed;and City of Palo Alto Page 3 2)pay for a consultant to assist with the selection of and installation of rainfall/stream flow monitoring equipment, integration of existing and new equipment into a unified monitoring system, and design of a robust communications system that will optimize the availability of the rainfall and stream flow data to emergency responders and the general public. The attached map shows the potential new monitoring points along with the existing rainfall and stream gauge locations (Attachment C). Although the JPA will take a lead role in developing the grant application and managing the implementation of the enhanced flood warning system, they have asked the City to serve as the official applicant because the grant program requires that the applicant be a public agency with primary responsibility for flood emergency response. Approval of the attached resolution will authorize the City Manager to sign and submit the grant application prepared by the JPA. If the grant is approved, the City would be expected to provide upfront project funding, with subsequent reimbursement from the State. The grant program does not require the commitment of any local matching funds. Public Works staff will work cooperatively with JPA staff and other JPA member agency staff to implement the enhanced flood warning system if the grant is awarded. Timeline The grant application will be submitted to the California Department of Water Resources prior to the grant program’s deadline of April 5, 2013. The JPA will endeavor to have the enhanced flood warning system in place prior to the 2013- 14 winter storm season. Resource Impact If the grant is approved, the City would be expected to provide upfront project funding, with subsequent reimbursement from the State. Staff would return to Council for authorization of the upfront funding following approval of the grant. Staff will contribute staff time towards the review and implementation of the planned improvements. City of Palo Alto Page 4 Policy Implications Submittal of a grant application for an enhanced regional flood warning system is consistent with Comprehensive Plan Policy N-55: “Minimize exposure to all hazards through emergency management planning”. Environmental Review Submittal of a grant application is not a project under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Attachments: ·A -Resolution (PDF) ·B -Historic San Francisquito Creek Stream Flow Rates (PDF) ·C -Map of Existing and Proposed Rainfall and Stream Flow Gages in San Francisquito Creek Watershed (PDF) NOT YET APPROVED 1 130322 jb 0131059 Resolution No. ______ Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Authorizing a Grant Application to the State of California Department of Water Resources For an Enhanced Regional Flood Warning System for the San Francisquito Creek Watershed R E C I T A L S A. The City of Palo Alto, in cooperation with the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and it member agencies, proposes to design and implement an enhanced flood warning system for the San Francisquito Creek Watershed; and B. The City of Palo Alto intends to apply for grant funding from the California Department of Water Resources for the project costs. The Council of the City of Palo Alto RESOLVES as follows: SECTION 1: That pursuant and subject to all of the terms and provisions of the California Proposition 84 “Water Quality, Safety and Supply, Flood Control, Natural Resource Protection, Park Improvements” Bond Law, and SB XX 1, application by this Agency be made to the California Department of Water Resources to obtain a grant for the Enhanced Regional Flood Warning System for the San Francisquito Creek Watershed. SECTION 2: The City Manager or his designee is hereby authorized and directed to prepare the necessary data, make investigations, sign, and file such // // // // // // // // NOT YET APPROVED 2 130322 jb 0131059 application with the California Department of Water Resources, and take such other actions as necessary or appropriate to obtain the grant funding. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: __________________________ _____________________________ City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED: ___________________________ _____________________________ Senior Asst. City Attorney City Manager _____________________________ Director of Public Works _____________________________ Director of Administrative Services HISTORIC PEAK STREAMFLOW RATES SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK AT USGS GAGE (LOCATED NEAR JUNIPERO SERRA BLVD) 1930 - 1941; 1950 - 2012 DATE PEAK FLOW RATE (CFS) 1. FEBRUARY 3, 1998 7200 2. DECEMBER 22, 1955 5560 3. DECEMBER 23, 2012 5400 4. JANUARY 4, 1982 5220 5. DECEMBER 31, 2005 4840 6. APRIL 2, 1958 4460 7. JANUARY 21, 1967 4000 8. FEBRUARY 13, 2000 3930 9. FEBRUARY 16, 1982 3760 10. DECEMBER 16, 2002 3660 11. NOVEMBER 18, 1950 3650 12. FEBRUARY 17, 1986 3480 13. JANUARY 26, 1983 3420 14. APRIL 1, 1974 3410 15. JANUARY 16, 1973 3390 16. JANUARY 24, 1983 3340 17. JANUARY 9, 1995 3320 18. JANUARY 13, 1980 3300 19. JANUARY 31, 1963 3270 20. JANUARY 2, 1997 3250 SOURCE: USGS WEBSITE R R R R USGS flow gauge Existing City of Palo Alto rain gauge R Existing SFCJPA rain gauge Stanford flow gauge Stanford flow gauge Proposed new rain gauges