HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 06 - COUNCIL READING FILE_c_Annex G City of San Luis Obispo Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.1
G.1 Community Profile
G.1.1 Mitigation Planning History and 2019 Process
Annex G, City of San Luis Obispo (City), was created during the development of the 2019 Multi-Jurisdictional San
Luis Obispo Hazard Mitigation Plan update (HMP). This Jurisdictional Annex builds upon and supersedes the
2014 City of San Luis Obispo Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). The 2014 Plan was not integrated into the
City’s Land Use Element; that integration will be done after the approval of this updated Plan. The General Plan
Safety Element references the 2014 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan in Chapter 5:
• Additional information on hazards in the San Luis Obispo area can be found in the Technical Background
Report for the San Luis Obispo County and Cities Safety Element (June 1999). Additionally, the City of San
Luis Obispo Local Hazard Mitigation Plan presents a comprehensive risk assessment of natural hazards that
have the potential to affect the City of San Luis Obispo. The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan was developed by
the City in accordance with the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, adopted by the City Council and
approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan suggests
possible mitigation actions for reducing the effects of potential hazards. It is incorporated by reference into
the Safety Element and should be consulted when addressing known hazards to ensure the general health
and safety of people within the City of San Luis Obispo. The goals and policies within this Safety Element
support and are consistent with the recommended mitigation strategy within the Local Hazard Mitigation
Plan.
The City had representation on the County multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee and
utilized a Local Planning Team (LPT) subcommittee to develop input into the annex.
Table G.1 City of San Luis Obispo Local Planning Team
Department or Stakeholder Title
Fire Department Fire Chief
Fire Department Fire Marshall
Fire Department Administrative Analyst
Administration Natural Resources Manager
Administration Sustainability Manager
More details on the planning process and participating jurisdictions, service districts and stakeholders can be
found in Section 3 of the Base Plan, along with the public’s role during the 2019 update.
G.1.2 Geography and Climate
The City is located in California’s Central Coast region approximately 200 miles north of Los Angeles and 230
miles south of San Francisco. The City is situated to the west of the Santa Lucia Mountains and is located eight
miles east of the Pacific Ocean. The San Luis Obispo Creek originates from the mountains and flows westward in
confluence with the Pacific Ocean at Avila Beach. The mountain ranges form a natural barrier to development in
San Luis Obispo. The City is an estimated 10.7 square miles and is surround ed by protected open space and
productive agricultural lands. San Luis Obispo is regionally accessible via US Highway 1, US Highway 101, and
State Route 227 (Broad Street). The City terrain stands at an average elevation of 300 feet above sea level, with
prominent peaks such as Cerro San Luis and Bishop Peak at 1,292 and 1,559 feet, respectively, above sea level.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.2
The City’s Sphere of Influence includes approximately 5,930+/- acres outside of the City limits and includes nine
unincorporated areas: Cal Poly, Florita-Alrita, Orcutt, Broad Street, Airport, Chevron, Los Osos Valley Road/US
Highway 101, San Luis Ranch, and Cerro San Luis area. All lands outside of the City’s Sphere of Influence are
regulated by the San Luis Obispo County General Plan and zoning designations. State law requires that cities
maintain plans for areas outside of their immediate jurisdiction if the areas have a direct relationship to planning
needs.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.3
Figure G.1 The City of San Luis Obispo
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.4
San Luis Obispo is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with an average temperature of 70.2 degrees
Fahrenheit. While generally considered a mild climate, weather patterns and events have historically observed
both unseasonably warm periods and cold spells. The City receives an average precipitation of 19 inches per
year, with increased amounts of rainfall in the winter and spring months between November and April (US
Climate Data 2019). Due to its close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, San Luis Obispo is also subject to coastal
weather influences such as dense fog that typically rolls into the City through the Chorro Valley, steady on-shore
wind patterns, and coastal storms. For general details on climate characteristics of the region refer to the
Adverse Weather Section of the Risk Assessment in the HMP (Section 5.3.1).
G.1.3 History
The native Chumash Tribe was the first known settled human population in the City of San Luis Obispo area. The
Chumash established a network of villages along the San Luis Obispo Creek. Spanish Colonization of the area
began in 1769 with the founding of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in 1772 by Father Junipero Serra ,
resulting in devastating impacts to the Chumash culture. Diseases and significant alterations of culture due to
the establishment of the mission caused a significant decrease in the Native American population. Spanish and
Mexican ranchos were established in the area in the late 1700s. The development of the area of San Luis Obispo
has historically been connected to the San Luis Obispo Creek, where the first settlements could be found, and to
the emphasis on agricultural production by the Mission and later the adjacent ranchos.
The California Land Act of 1851 caused a shift to residential development in San Luis Obispo. By 1870, the
community had grown to a population of 1,579 and it became a charter city in 1876. Historic influences on the
growth and development of San Luis Obispo include the City’s beginnings as a center for agricultural
productivity, the extension of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1894, and the establishment of California
Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in 1901.
Agriculture, transportation, government, and education related activities continue to play a significant role in the
demographic, economic, land use, and development characteristics of the City. These characteristics and
proactive protection of the City’s natural and scenic resources contribute to the small-town charm and high
quality of life of the City’s residents.
G.1.4 Economy
As the civic, economic, and cultural hub of the Central Coast, the City serves as the seat of the County of San Luis
Obispo. With major regional employers such as Cal Poly, state agencies, PG&E, Tenet Health Care, and the
County of San Luis Obispo, the City has an estimated daytime population of more than 70,000 people. The San
Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Association are active collaborators and leaders in
supporting the retention and expansion of local businesses in the City. The City’s leading industries include
hospitality, food services, retail, professional services, health care, information and technology, public
administration, and educational sectors.
To support the high quality of life and economic vitality of the community, San Luis Obispo is considered a full-
service city, providing police, fire, water, sewer, streets, transit, parking, planning, building, engineering, and
parks and recreation services to the community.
Select estimates of economic characteristics for the City of San Luis Obispo are shown in Table G.2.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.5
Table G.2 City of San Luis Obispo Economic Characteristics, 2017
Characteristic City of San Luis Obispo
Families below Poverty Level 6.9%
All People below Poverty Level 32.4%
Median Family Income $87,635
Median Household Income $49,640
Per Capita Income $29,748
Population in Labor Force 25,363
Population Employed* 41,668
Unemployment 1,128
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2017, www.census.gov/
*Excludes armed forces
Table G.3 and Table G.4 show the occupational and industry breakdown of the City of San Luis Obispo’s labor
force based on estimates from the 2017 American Community Survey.
Table G.3 City of San Luis Obispo’s Employment by Occupation, 2017
Occupation # Employed % Employed
Sales and Office Occupations 5,630 21.6%
Management, Business, Science, and Arts Occupations 10,777 44.5%
Natural Resources, Construction, and Maintenance Occupations 934 3.9%
Production, Transportation, and Material Moving Occupations 1,632 6.7%
Service Occupations 5,240 21.6%
Total 24,213
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2017, www.census.gov/
*Excludes armed forces
Table G.4 City of San Luis Obispo’s Employment by Industry, 2017
Industry # Employed % Employed
Retail Trade 3,044 12.6%
Professional, Scientific, and Mgmt., and Administrative and Waste Mgmt. Services 2,879 11.9%
Manufacturing 1,585 6.5%
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, and Accommodation, and Food Services 4,292 17.7%
Construction 886 3.7%
Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 846 3.5%
Public Administration 948 3.9%
Other Services, Except Public Administration 1,281 5.3%
Wholesale Trade 509 2.1%
Transportation and Warehousing, and Utilities 731 3.0%
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, and Mining 269 1.1%
Information 457 1.9%
Educational Services, and Health Care, and Social Assistance 6,486 26.8%
Total 24,213
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2017, www.census.gov/
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.6
G.1.5 Population
In May 2019, the State Department of Finance released preliminary population data for the state to reflect
wildfire-driven changes to local populations. The City of San Luis Obispo has a population of 46,802 persons as
of January 2019, which accounts for approximately 16.7% of the County’s population. The City experienced a
growth of 0.1% from 46,741 residents from January 2018 (Department of Finance 2019). The U.S. Census
Bureau’s American Community Survey 2017 5-Year Estimates provide select demographic and social
characteristics and changes from 2012 to 2017 for the City of San Luis Obispo (Table G.5).
Table G.5 City of San Luis Obispo’s Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2012 to 2017
Characteristic 2012 2017
Population 270,121 280,119
Median Age 39.3 39.0
Total Housing Units 117,318 120,182
Housing Occupancy Rate 86.7% 87.4%
% of Housing Units with no Vehicles Available 4.5% 4.5%
Median Home Value $449,300 $499,800
Unemployment 8.7% 4.8%
Mean Travel Time to Work (minutes) 20.9 21.8
Median Household Income $59,628 $67,175
Per Capita Income $30,218 $33,972
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level 13.7% 13.8%
# of Households 101,708 105,044
Average Household Size 2.49 2.51
% of Population Over 25 with High School Diploma 89.5% 90.5%
% of Population Over 25 with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher 31.5% 34.0%
% with Disability 11.1% 11.1%
% Speak English less than "Very Well" 6.7% 6.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2017 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/
Between 1950 and 1990, the City grew from a population of 14,180 to just under 42,0 00. Since 1990, the City has
maintained an average growth rate of less than one percent per year. Owner -occupied housing units account for
39% of all households, while approximately 61% of households are renter -occupied. The City’s population is
growing steadily at a relatively slow rate at approximately 1% or less per year with an estimated of 5.3% growth
since the 2010 Census. The SLO 2035 Land Use and Circulation Elements update provides population estimates
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.7
Table G.6 City of San Luis Obispo Population Growth
Year Approximate Maximum
Number of Housing Units
Projected
Population
2013 20,697 45,541
2015 21,113 46,456
2020 22,190 48,826
2025 23,322 51,317
2030 24,512 53,934
2035 25,762 56,686
Source: SLO 2035 Land Use Element Update
G.1.6 Development Trends
The City has traditionally expanded through annexation of County lands and increased development of diverse
land uses; these include low to high density residential, general retail and commercial, services, and
manufacturing uses bordering the San Luis Obispo Regional Airport , and dispersed undeveloped open space.
With Mission Plaza and downtown at the heart of the City, development trends have included transition from the
historic neighborhoods immediately adjacent to Downtown, to post-World War II growth in areas along the
foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains, surrounding Laguna Lake, and in the northern areas of town near the
growing Cal Poly. Recent development efforts have focused on incorporating additional housing opportunities
in the historic downtown core, through the renovation of historic structures and infill development on
underutilized and vacant land. The Land Use Element of the City’s General Plan provides designated land use
and establishes development standards for new and existing structures and uses. The Safety Element further
identifies hazards that may influence the locations and types of proposed land uses and provides policies that
reduce exposure to hazards. These policies have also encouraged changes to development in San Luis Obispo’s
hazard prone/vulnerable areas, decreasing the City’s vulnerability. Any future development within the City will be
informed by the most up to date hazard maps as well as state and local development ordinances (e.g.
floodplain) that restrict development in hazard prone areas to minimize risk.
In recent years, more residents and visitors are staying and living in the downtown core. This change in
demographic could impact response capabilities if a hazard impacts the downtown core. The City also has a
greenbelt protection program and have acquired thousands of acres of land around the City to minimalize
development in areas around the City. Thus, the redevelopment of already developed areas or infill
development is likely to be the trend in the future.
Specific to hazards, continuing moderate population growth is increasing exposure to earthquake hazards,
though new or re-developed areas built to modern codes will be more resistant to collapse and damage.
G.2 Hazard Identification and Summary
San Luis Obispo’s planning team identified the hazards that affect the region and summarized their frequency of
occurrence, spatial extent, potential magnitude, and significance specific to the City (see Table G.7). There are no
hazards that are unique to the City. The overall hazard significance takes into account the geographic area,
probability and magnitude as a way to identify priority hazards for mitigation purposes. This is discussed further
in the Vulnerability Section (4.3).
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.8
Table G.7 City of San Luis Obispo – Hazard Summaries
Hazard Geographic
Area
Probability of
Future
Occurrence
Magnitude/
Severity (Extent)
Overall
Significance
Adverse Weather: Thunderstorm/
Heavy Rain/Hail/Lightning/Dense
Fog/Freeze
Extensive Likely Limited Medium
Adverse Weather: High Wind/
Tornado Extensive Occasional Limited Medium
Adverse Weather: Extreme Heat Extensive Occasional Negligible Low
Agricultural Pest Infestation and
Disease Limited Highly Likely Negligible Medium
Biological Agents Extensive Occasional Critical Medium
Drought and Water Shortage Extensive Likely Limited Medium
Earthquake Extensive Occasional Catastrophic High
Flood Limited Occasional Limited Medium
Landslides and Debris Flow Limited Occasional Limited Low
Subsidence Significant Occasional Negligible Low
Wildfire Significant Occasional Limited Medium
Human Caused: Hazardous Materials Significant Highly Likely Negligible Medium
Geographic Area
Limited: Less than 10% of planning area
Significant: 10-50% of planning area
Extensive: 50-100% of planning area
Probability of Future Occurrences
Highly Likely: Near 100% chance of occurrence in next
year or happens every year.
Likely: Between 10-100% chance of occurrence in next
year or has a recurrence interval of 10 years or less.
Occasional: Between 1 and 10% chance of occurrence
in the next year or has a recurrence interval of 11 to
100 years.
Unlikely: Less than 1% chance of occurrence in next
100 years or has a recurrence interval of greater than
every 100 years.
Magnitude/Severity (Extent)
Catastrophic—More than 50 percent of property severely
damaged; shutdown of facilities for more than 30 days; and/or
multiple deaths
Critical—25-50 percent of property severely damaged; shutdown
of facilities for at least two weeks; and/or injuries and/or illnesses
result in permanent disability
Limited—10-25 percent of property severely damaged; shutdown
of facilities for more than a week; and/or injuries/illnesses
treatable do not result in permanent disability
Negligible—Less than 10 percent of property severely damaged,
shutdown of facilities and services for less than 24 hours; and/or
injuries/illnesses treatable with first aid
Significance
Low: minimal potential impact
Medium: moderate potential impact
High: widespread potential impact
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.9
G.3 Vulnerability Assessment
The intent of this section is to assess the City’s vulnerability separately from that of the County as a whole, which
has already been assessed in Chapter 5 of the Base Plan. This vulnerability assessment analyzes the population,
property, and other assets at risk to hazards ranked of medium or high significance specific to the City.
The information to support the hazard identification and risk assessment was based on a combination of the
pervious previous LHMP for the City and jurisdiction specific information collected during the 2019 update. A
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Guide and associated worksheets were distributed to each participating
municipality or special district to complete during the 2019 update process. Information collected was analyzed
and summarized in order to identify and rank all the hazards within the County , as well as to rank the hazards
and identify the related vulnerabilities unique to each jurisdiction.
Each participating jurisdiction was in support of the main hazard summary identified in the Base Plan (See Table
5.2). However, the hazard summary rankings for each jurisdictional annex may vary slightly due to specific hazard
risk and vulnerabilities unique to each jurisdiction (See Table G.7).
Note: The hazard “Significance” reflects overall ranking for each hazard and is based on the City of San Luis
Obispo LPT member input from the Data Collection Guide and the risk assessment developed during the
planning process (see Chapter 5 of the Base Plan), which included a more detailed qualitative analysis with best
available data.
The hazard summaries in Table G.7 reflect the hazards that could potentially affect City. The discussion of
vulnerability for each of the following hazards is located in Section G.3.2 Estimating Potential Losses. Based on
this analysis, the highest priority hazard (High Significance) for mitigation is Earthquake. Those of Medium or
High significance for the City of San Luis Obispo are identified below.
• Adverse Weather: Thunderstorm/Heavy Rain/Hail/Lighting/Dense Fog/Freeze
• Adverse Weather: High Wind/Tornado
• Agricultural Pest Infestation and Disease
• Biological Agents
• Drought and Water Storage
• Earthquake
• Flood
• Human Caused: Hazardous Materials
• Wildfire
Other Hazards
Hazards assigned a significance rating of Low and which do not differ significantly from the County ranking (e.g.,
Low vs. High) are not addressed further in this plan. In the City of San Luis Obispo, those hazards are:
• Landslide and Debris Flow
• Adverse Weather: Extreme Heat
• Subsidence
Additionally, the City’s HMPC members decided to rate several hazards as Not Applicable (N/A) to the planning
area due to a lack of exposure, vulnerability, and no probability of occurrence. Dam Incidents, Coastal
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.10
Storm/Coastal Erosion/Sea Level Rise, and Tsunami and Seiche Hazards are considered Not Applicable (N/A) to
the City of San Luis Obispo.
G.3.1 Assets at Risk
This section considers San Luis Obispo’s assets at risk, including values at risk, critical facilities and infrastructure,
historic assets, economic assets, and growth and development trends. The HMPC used a variety of data to define
a baseline against which all disaster impacts could be compared. If a catastrophic disaster was to occur in the
Planning Area, this section describes significant assets exposed or at risk in the City of San Luis Obispo.
Values at Risk
Parcel data was provided by ParcelQuest, a third-party service working alongside the San L uis Obispo County
Assessor’s Office to compile property information. This data provided the baseline for an inventory of the total
exposure of developed properties within the county and helps to ensure that the updated HMP reflects changes
in development. This data should only be used as a guideline to overall values in the City as the information has
some limitations. The most significant limitation is created by Proposition 13; instead of adjusting property
values annually, the values are not adjusted or assessed at fair market value until a property transfer occurs. As a
result, overall value information is likely low and does not reflect current market value of properties. It is also
important to note that in the event of a disaster, it is generally the value of the infrastructure or improvements to
the land that is of concern or at risk. Generally, the land itself is not a loss. Table G.8 shows the exposure of
properties (e.g., the values at risk) broken down by property type for the City of San Luis Obispo.
Table G.8 2019 Property Exposure for the City of San Luis Obispo by Property Types
Property Type Property
Count
Improved
Value
Content Value Total
Value
Commercial 1,081 $1,023,078,842 $1,023,078,842 $2,046,157,684
Government/Utilities 168 $1,435,945 -- $1,435,945
Other/Exempt/Misc. 507 $189,186,968 -- $189,186,968
Residential 8,226 $1,896,071,588 $948,035,794 $2,844,107,382
Multi-Family Residential 2,885 $811,851,931 $405,925,966 $1,217,777,897
Mobile/Manufactured
Homes 156 $25,110,344 $12,555,172 $37,665,516
Residential: Other 963 $368,632,456 $184,316,228 $552,948,684
Industrial 42 $60,310,187 $90,465,281 $150,775,468
Vacant 55 $36,862,009 -- $36,862,009
Total 14,083 $4,412,540,270 $2,664,377,282 $7,076,917,552
Source: Wood analysis based on ParcelQuest and San Luis Obispo County Assessor’s Office data 2019.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Critical Facilities are essential in providing utility or direction either during the response to an emergency or
during the recovery operation. These facilities typically include hospitals, fire stations, and local law enforcement
stations, and according to FEMA should be given special consideration when formulating regulatory hazard
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.11
mitigation and floodplain management plans. See Section 5.2 of the Base Plan for more details on the definition
s and categories of critical facilities.
A portion of the critical facilities data was provided by the San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building and GIS
Departments. Supplemental data from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation -Level Data (HIFLD) was used to
capture additional facilities such as law enforcement facilities and centers, communications facilities, emergency
operations centers, schools, and urgent care facilities among others. In addition, participating jurisdictions
identified assets on a data collection guide worksheet or in previo us LHMPs which may capture additional
facilities and additional details not within the GIS database. An inventory of critical facilities in the City of San
Luis Obispo determined with San Luis Obispo County GIS data is provided in Table G.9 and illustrated in Figure
G.2.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.12
Figure G.2 Critical Facilities in the City of San Luis Obispo
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.13
Table G.9 City of San Luis Obispo’s Critical Facilities
Category Asset Name Asset IDs Address Replacement
Value Priority
Community and
Recreational
Facilities
City Hall 68 990 Palm St $9,287,080 Critical
Library 451 995 Palm St $1,604,146 Essential
Ludwick Community Center 452 864 Santa Rosa St $2,559,501 Critical
Meadow Park Recreational
Center 453 2333 Meadow St $1,448,126 Essential
Mitchell Park Senior Center 456 1445 Santa Rosa St $1,068,158 Essential
Sinsheimer Pool and Park 97-110 900 Southwood Dr $2,623,419 Essential
Infrastructure
Critical Bridges
10, 11, 19, 20,
23, 25, 27, 34,
35, 40, 41, 42,
44, 51, 56
Varies by bridge Varies by
bridge Critical
Essential Bridges
8, 9, 12-18, 21,
22, 24, 26, 28-
33, 36-39, 43,
45-50, 52-55,
58, 59-62
Varies by bridge Varies by
bridge Essential
Higuera Box Culvert 57 Higuera St $4,500,000 Critical
Evacuation Route Roads 50 miles $1 million/mile
= $50,000,000 Critical
Other Essential City-Owned
Roads 120 miles
$1 million/mile
=
$120,000,000
Essential
Communication Towers 614,616,617 N/A Essential
Other City-Owned
Facilities
City Corporation Yard 426 25 Prado Rd $4,884,929 Critical
Community Development and
Public Works Administration 437 919 Palm St $23,081,375 Essential
Parking Garage 477 Marsh and Chorro
St $22,873,449 Essential
Parking Garage 478 842 Palm St $8,795,686 Essential
Parks and Recreation Building 479 1341 Nipomo St $1,282,662 Essential
Prado Day Center 96 45 Prado Rd $699,393 Essential
Utilities Administration 541 879 Morro St $1,060,252 Essential
Police and Fire
Stations
Dispatch Center 78 1135 Roundhouse $6,701,098 Critical
Fire Station #1 69 2160 Santa Barbara $5,483,205 Critical
Fire Station #2 70 136 N Chorro St $511,872 Critical
Fire Station #3 71 1280 Laurel Ln $594,009 Critical
Fire Station #4 72 1395 Madonna Rd $507,087 Critical
Police Main Building, Garage,
Annex 73-77 1042 and 1016
Walnut St $4,854341 Critical
Potable Water
and Wastewater
Facilities
Fire Station #4 Well 619 1395 Madonna Rd N/A Essential
Pacific Beach Well 620 11950 LOVR N/A Essential
Reservoirs 63-67 N/A Essential
Sewer Lift Stations 555-564 N/A Essential
Sewer System Infrastructure
(pipes) N/A Essential
Storm Drain System N/A Essential
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.14
Category Asset Name Asset IDs Address Replacement
Value Priority
Waste Water Treatment Plant
(includes Water/Wastewater
Laboratory)
615 35 Prado Rd $77,296,765 Essential
Water Pump Stations 1-7 N/A Critical
Water System Infrastructure
(pipes) N/A Critical
Water Tanks 566-613 N/A Critical
Water Treatment Plant and
Stenner Hydro Plant 565 Stenner Creek Rd $51,486,423 Essential
Source: San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building, HIFLD
High Potential Loss Facilities
High potential loss facilities are considered critical facilities that present significant risks if damaged and include
nuclear power plants, dams, and military installations. The City has one classified high potential loss facility: The
San Luis Obispo Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The WWTP is located within a 100-year floodplain and
within a moderate liquefaction risk zone; however, other potential hazard impacts are low.
Transportation and Lifeline Facilities
The City contains a network of roadways and public transportation including the Pacific Coast Railway . US
Highway 101, Highway 1, and State Route 227 (Broad Street) provide regional access to the City. The San Luis
Obispo County Regional Airport serves the City and is located in the southern portion of the jurisdiction.
Lifeline Utility Systems are defin ed as those systems necessary to provide electric power, natural gas, water and
wastewater, and other facilities and services that are essential to the well -being of the City. Lifeline utility
systems within the City include:
• AM Transmission Towers (1)
• FM Transmission Towers (1)
• Microwave Service Towers (52)
• Wastewater Treatment Plants (1)
• Energy Commission Facilities (7)
Historic and Cultural Resources
The City of San Luis Obispo has a wealth of historic and culturally significant resources due to its rich and varied
history. Such resources represent the City’s diverse historical context from periods prior to Chumash settlement
and Spanish colonization, through early development and mid-century growth that established many of the
existing neighborhoods and set a precedent for community design. The City of San Luis Obispo Citywide Historic
Context Statement (2014) identifies various historical factors that shaped the development of the area, and
provides a framework for the continuing process of identifying historic, architectural, and cultural resources in
the City. The City has an active historic preservation program, and historic preservation is prioritized throughout
City policy. City Zoning Regulations also establish the Historical Preservation Overlay Zone, which describes the
allowed uses and property development standards within designated Historic Districts. Historic Districts within
the City include Downtown Commercial District, the Mill Street District, the Old Town Neighborhood, the Little
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
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City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.15
Italy District, the Monterey Heights District, the Mount Pleasanton/Anholm District, the C hinatown Historic
District, and the Railroad Districts.
Historical resources in the context of the City are also identified by the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP), the California Register of Historic Resources (CRHR), and the County of San Luis Obispo’s List of Historic
Resources in addition to local designation. Such resources are buildings, structures, objects, places, and areas
that have an association with important persons, events in history, or cultural heritage, or have distinctive
architecture, design or construction method. State and local registers of historic resources also identify Historical
Points of Interest that have primarily local significance and interest in preservation. The City of San Luis Obispo
has several registered national, state, and local sites of historic and cultural significance (Table G.10). County-
wide historic resources are further detailed in Chapter 5.2, Asset Summary, of the Base Plan.
Table G.10 Historic Places
Historic Site Register Date Listed Address
Ah Louis Store State/National 1965 800 Palm Street
Angel Myron House National 1982 714 Buchon St.
Corral de Piedra National 1978 S of San Luis Obispo on Price
Canyon Rd.
Dallidet Adobe State 1960 1185 Pacific Street
Jack Robert House National 1992 536 Marsh St.
Mission San Luis Obispo De
Tolosa State 1939 751 Palm Street
Monday Club of San Luis Obispo National 2016 1815 Monterey St.
Pacific Coast Railway Company
Grain Warehouse National 1988 65 Higuera St.
Pereira Octagon Barn National 2014 4400 Octagon Way
Port San Luis Site National 1978 Address Restricted
The Powerhouse National 1993 Junction of S/ Perimeter Rd. and
Cuesta Ave
Rancho Canada de los Osos y
Pecho y Islay National 1975 Address Restricted
San Luis Obispo Carnegie Library National 1995 696 Monterey St.
Tribune Republic Building National 1993 1763 Santa Barbara St.
William Shipsey House National 2010 1266 Mill St.
Camp San Luis Obispo State Point of
Interest 1990 NA
Hollister Adobe State Point of
Interest 1972 NA
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.16
Natural Resources
Natural resources are important to include in benefit-cost analyses for future projects and may be used to
leverage additional funding for projects that also contribute to community goals for protecting sensitive natural
resources. Awareness of natural assets can lead to opportunities for meeting multiple objectives. For instance,
protecting wetlands areas protects sensitive habitat as well as attenuates and stores floodwaters.
The City’s landscape is made up of creeks, hills, valleys, and rich farmland that supports a variety of plants and
animal species. The San Luis Obispo area contains a diverse array of naturally occurring biological communities
and extensive open space areas including the Irish Hills Natural Reserve, the Islay Hills Open Space, South Hills
Open Space, Charles A. and Mary R. Maino Open Space, Ferrini Ranch, and the Laguna Lake Park and Open
Space. The City’s many creeks provide sheltered corridors that allow wildlife to move between dispersed habitats
and open space areas.
Economic Assets
California Polytechnic State University is the largest employer in the City of San Luis Obispo with nearly 3,000
employees. San Luis Coastal Unified School District employs 384 regular classified employees. The industrial
sector including education services, healthcare, and social assistance are the largest employers in the City at
approximately 20.2% of the total employers. In 2007, approximately 5,127 individuals were employed in
educational services, health care, and social assistance jobs. The General Plan Land Use Element (LUE) for the
City includes policies to accommodate a maximum population of 57,200 persons. Assuming a 0.5% growth rate,
the City would reach the anticipated residential capacity by year 2057. Tourism is an increasing trend in the City
due to the diverse range of activities, small-town appeal and recent development of several hotels near and in
the downtown core. Loss of a major employer from a hazard impact would result in a significant rise in
unemployment and loss in sales tax revenue.
G.3.2 Estimating Potential Losses
Note: This section details vulnerability to specific hazards of high or medium significance, where quantifiable,
and/or where (according to HMPC member input) it differs from that of the ov erall County.
Table G.9 above shows San Luis Obispo’s exposure to hazards in terms of number and value of structures. San
Luis Obispo County parcel and assessor data were used to calculate the improved value of parcels. The most
vulnerable structures are those in the floodplain (especially those that have been flooded in the past),
unreinforced masonry buildings, and buildings built prior to the introduction of modern-day building codes.
Impacts of past events and vulnerability to specific hazards are further discussed below . (See Section 4.1 Hazard
Identification for more detailed information about these hazards and their impacts on the County as a whole.)
Adverse Weather: Thunderstorm/Heavy Rain/Hail/Lightning/Dense Fog/Freeze
Adverse weather in the City usually occurs as localized thunderstorms that bring heavy rains and strong winds,
most often during the winter and spring months. Heavy rain has historically produced extensive flooding in the
City. Dense fog can result in reduced visibility and slick road conditions that increase the likelihood for traffic
accidents. Freeze is rarely a threat to human life in the City, but has the potential to impact agricultural
operations where crop damage to high value products can be extensive. According to frost dates and
temperature data published by the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources, the lowest recorded
temperature is 20F, and average annual low temperatures of 42 to 43F typically occur in January and
December.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.17
Adverse Weather: High Wind/Tornado
The City is subject to strong southeasterly winds associated with strong cold fronts and coastal storms, which
generally occur during the winter months from November to February. Northwesterly winds that are typical of
the central coast of California also occur throughout San Luis Obispo during the spring and summer. Both
southeast and northwest wind events can reach sustained wind speeds of 35-45 mph with wind gusts of 65-75
mph within the City. Wind related events can have substantial destructive impacts, especially in urban areas
where falling trees and branches can result in considerable property damage. Tornadoes have historically
occurred in San Luis Obispo, with the first recorded tornado taking place in April 1926 due to a strong coastal
storm front from the Pacific. Recorded tornadoes since then have typically been low severity, and caused minor
damage such as broken tree branches and minor structural and roof damage to buildings. Refer to Section 5.3.1
Adverse Weather, in the Base Plan for analysis related to tree mortality in the County of San Luis Obispo.
Agricultural Pest Infestation and Disease
Agricultural pests and pathogens (insects, fungi, bacteria, viruses and invasive plants) cause injury or destruction
to crops or livestock. The prominent agricultural uses in San Luis Obispo County can be impacted by a wide
variety of invasive pests, which pose a significant threat to crops, economy, food su pply, and native habitat.
Biological Agents
Public health impacts due to biological agents are a recognized potential threat to the City. The City is largely
reliant on the County’s Emergency Preparedness Program, which supports the Public Health Departm ent in the
management and coordination of public health emergencies including natural disasters, technological disasters,
bioterrorism incidents, and pandemics. Food and waterborne illnesses are major health problems that present
significant health risks to the City as well as threats to regional food and water supply. The City supports and
participates in the County Public Health Department’s up-to-date Pandemic Influenza Plan and Strategic
National Stockpile Plan to facilitate prevention, early detection, and treatment to effectively respond to
pandemics.
Drought and Water Storage
Periods of drought can have significant environmental, agricultural, health, economic, and social consequences.
Prolonged drought has the potential to impact structures due to subsidence, and can reduce water quality due
to lower water flows and reduced pollutant dilution. The City recently experienced its third driest period on
record since 1870 when weather observations began at the San Luis Obispo Polytech Weather Station. Long -
term precipitation information from the station indicates the variability that can occur, which is summarized in
Figure 5-4 in Section 5.3.6 of the Base Plan. The City has invested in a multi-source water supply including
Nacimiento, Whale Rock, and Santa Margarita Reservoirs, groundwater, and recycled water for landscape
irrigation. Water demand modeling estimates that these sources provide a 7.5 year combine d water supply,
assuming an extended worst case historical drought.
Earthquake
Earthquake events have occurred in the City in the past, including a number of magnitude 5.0 to 7.0
earthquakes. Historically, most of the earthquakes that have occurred near the City have originated from
movement along the San Andreas Fault, which lies approximately 35 miles northeast of the City. The most recent
major earthquake to affect San Luis Obispo occurred at 11:15:56 am Pacific Standard Time on December 22,
2003. The epicenter of the magnitude 6.5 earthquake was approximately 7 miles northeast of San Simeon at a
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.18
depth of 4.7 miles (35.706N, 121.102W), 45 miles from San Luis Obispo. The City of San Luis Obispo experienced
some minor damage. The main strand of the Los Osos fault zone, also known as the Edna fault zone, traverses
the City near the intersection of Los Osos Valley Road and Foothill Boulevard. Field evaluations by the California
Geological Survey (CGS) for the main strand of the Los Osos fault found evi dence of movement in the last 11,000
years. This evidence of recent activity resulted in the establishment of an Earthquake Fault Zone by CGS in 1989
under the Alquist-Priolo Fault Zoning Act. The Los Osos fault specifically presents a high to very high fa ult
rupture hazard to developments near and southwest of the Los Osos Valley Road area.
Table G.11 Seismic Hazard Designation by Property Type
Seismic Designation Property Type Property Count Improved Value
Los Osos Alquist-Priolo Residential 28 $9,541,741
Residential: Other 2 $693,134
TOTAL 30 $10,234,875
Source: San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building, County Assessor’s Office, ParcelQuest, Wood Plc analysis
In addition to being at risk of groundshaking as a result of a fault rupture, the City of San Luis Obispo is also
susceptible to the effects of liquefaction. Most of the City is underlain by alluvium and other liquefiable
sediments that may present a risk of liquefaction during ground shaking; however, liquefaction risk is generally
classified as low to medium on a scale of very low to very high. Liquefaction risk is visually displayed across the
City under Figure G.4 below.
Table G.12 Parcels Susceptible to Moderate Liquefaction Risk
Parcel Type Parcel Count Improved Parcel Value
Commercial 992 $964,747,104
Government/Utilities 125 $1,435,945
Other/Exempt/Miscellaneous 418 $170,684,946
Residential 5,282 $1,076,982,642
Multi-Family Residential 2,387 $678,902,288
Mobile/Manufactured Homes 148 $16,744,811
Residential: Other 673 $272,473,739
Industrial 36 $55,659,992
Vacant 42 $31,483,257
TOTAL 10,103 $3,269,114,724
Source: San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building, County Assessor’s Office, ParcelQuest, Wood Plc analysis
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.19
Figure G.3 Seismic Hazard Designation in the City of San Luis Obispo
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.20
Figure G.4 Liquefaction Risk in the City of San Luis Obispo
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.21
Flood
In San Luis Obispo, the most common type of flooding event is riverine flooding, also known as overbank
flooding. Riverine floodplains range from narrow, confined channels in the steep valleys of mountainous and
hilly regions, to wide, flat areas in plains and coastal regions. The amount of water in the floodplain is a function
of the size and topography of the contributing watershed, the regional and local climate, and land use
characteristics. Flooding in steep, mountainous areas is usually confined, strikes with less warning time, and has a
short duration. Larger rivers typically have longer, more predictable flooding sequences and broad floodplains.
In addition to riverine flooding, San Luis Obispo is susceptible to flash flooding. Flash flood is a term widely used
by experts and the general population, but no single definition or clear means of distinguishing flash floods from
other riverine floods exists. Flash floods are generally understood to involve a rapi d rise in water level, high
velocity, and large amounts of debris, which can lead to significant damage that includes the tearing out of
trees, undermining of buildings and bridges, and scouring of new channels. The intensity of flash flooding is a
function of the intensity and duration of rainfall, steepness of the watershed, stream gradients, watershed
vegetation, natural and artificial flood storage areas, and configuration of the streambed and floodplain. Urban
areas are increasingly subject to flash flooding due to the removal of vegetation, installation of impermeable
surfaces over ground cover, and construction of drainage systems. Wildfires that strip hillsides of vegetation and
alter soil characteristics may also create conditions that lead to flash floods and debris flows. Debris flows are
particularly dangerous due to the fact that they generally strike without warning and are accompanied by
extreme velocity and momentum. Dam failure may also lead to flash flooding; however, the County’s dam
inundation as well as the California Office of Emergency Services dam inundation data confirms that there are no
dam inundation zones located within the City limits.
The most serious flood events on record resulting in property damage or loss of life in San Luis Obispo occurred
in 1868, 1884, 1897, 1911, 1948, 1952, 1962, 1969, 1973, 1993, 1995, 1998 , and 2001. Recent damaging floods
occurred during January and March of 1995, with a lesser flooding problem in 1998. Flow during these events
overtopped streambanks near the intersection of Marsh and Higuera Streets and remained out of the channel
for nearly three miles downstream, with damage estimated at nearly $2.3 million. The City and Zone 9 spent
approximately $1 million to repair bank erosion caused during the winter of 1995. Damage occurred near the
town of Avila during both the January and March 1995 events, where high flow and debris blockages caused
extensive damage to several bridges across the creek. Flooding during 1969 was significantly damaging ; two
floods occurred, one at the end of January and the second at the end of February. During this two-month
period, a local rain gage recorded an accumulated precipitation total of 39.79 inches. Historically, the 1969 and
1973 events were more damaging than the 1 995 floods in present day dollars. The 1969 flood caused
approximately $6.92 million in damage within the SLO Creek watershed. The 1973 storm caused $13.6 million
along Stenner Creek, Brizziolari Creek, Prefumo Creek, and See Canyon Creek.
See Figure G.5 below illustrating the parcels at risk of flooding during a 100- or 500-year event based on the
FEMA flood hazard areas.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.22
Table G.13 100-Year and 500-Year Flooding by Jurisdiction and Parcel Type
Parcel Type Parcel
Count
Improved
Value
Content
Value Total Value Loss
Estimate Population
100-YEAR FLOOD EVENT
Commercial 307 $310,143,384 $310,143,384 $620,286,768 $155,071,692 --
Government/Utilities 29 $10,050 -- $10,050 $2,513 --
Other/Exempt/Miscellaneous 75 $29,586,337 -- $29,586,337 $7,396,584 --
Residential 338 $71,676,715 $35,838,358 $107,515,073 $26,878,768 848
Multi-Family Residential 209 $66,889,696 $33,444,848 $100,334,544 $25,083,636 525
Mobile/Manufactured Homes 5 $591,404 $295,702 $887,106 $221,777 13
Residential: Other 25 $42,055,551 $21,027,776 $63,083,327 $15,770,832 63
Industrial 6 $2,632,168 $3,948,252 $6,580,420 $1,645,105 --
Vacant 11 $2,988,322 -- $2,988,322 $747,081 --
TOTAL 1,005 $526,573,627 $404,698,319 $931,271,946 $232,817,987 1,448
500-YEAR FLOOD EVENT
Commercial 111 $74,714,129 $74,714,129 $149,428,258 $37,357,065
Government/Utilities 8 -- -- $0 $0 --
Other/Exempt/Miscellaneous 35 $19,148,234 -- $19,148,234 $4,787,059 --
Residential 971 $190,774,098 $95,387,049 $286,161,147 $71,540,287 2,437
Multi-Family Residential 297 $66,546,672 $33,273,336 $99,820,008 $24,955,002 745
Mobile/Manufactured Homes 1 $245,631 $122,816 $368,447 $92,112 3
Residential: Other 51 $35,270,066 $17,635,033 $52,905,099 $13,226,275 128
Industrial 1 $312,120 $468,180 $780,300 $195,075 --
TOTAL 1,475 $387,010,950 $221,600,543 $608,611,493 $152,152,873 3,313
GRAND TOTAL 2,480 $913,584,777 $626,298,862 $1,539,883,439 $384,970,860 4,761
Source: San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building, County Assessor’s Office, ParcelQuest, Wood Plc analysis, FEMA NFHL
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.23
Figure G.5 Flood Hazard Areas and Flooded Parcels in the City of San Luis Obispo
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.24
Insurance Coverage, Claims Paid, and Repetitive Losses
The City of San Luis Obispo has been a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program since April 16, 1979,
and will continue to participate and remain in compliance with the National Flood Insu rance Program (NFIP).
Table G.14 City of San Luis Obispo NFIP Insurance Policy Information
Policies
Insurance in
Force
No. of Paid
Losses
Total Losses
Paid
736 $223,380,300 83 $456,370
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program Community Information System
FEMA Community Information System shows that as of April 2019 the City of San Luis Obispo has two Repetitive
Loss (RL) properties and no Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) properties.
Table G.15 City of San Luis Obispo Repetitive Loss
Repetitive Loss
Properties
Insured
Properties
Repetitive Loss
Payments (tota)
2 1 $54,204.80
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program Community Information System
The City of San Luis Obispo joined the Community Rating Systm (CRS) on October 1, 1991. Currenlty the City has
a Class 6 rating.
Critical Facilities at Risk
Critical facilities are those community components that are most needed to withstand the impacts o f disaster as
previously described. There are eight critical facilities found in the 100-year floodplain in San Luis Obispo, and
five critical facility located in the City’s 500-year floodplain. It is particularly important to note that the critical
facilities in the 500-year floodplain are all facilities that serve vulnerable populations and should be given special
attention. Table G.16 below summarizes the critical facilities in the City’s 100- and 500-year floodplains. The
impact to the community could be great if these facilities are damaged or destroyed during a flood eve nt.
Table G.16 Critical Facilites in FEMA Flood Hazard Areas, City of San Luis Obispo
Floodplain Critical Facility Type Facility Count
100-year
Colleges / Universities 1
Day Care Facilities 1
Microwave Service Towers 3
Nursing Homes 1
VA Medical Facilities 1
Wastewater Treatment Plant 1
500-year
Colleges / Universities 1
Day Care Facilities 1
Microwave Service Towers 1
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.25
Floodplain Critical Facility Type Facility Count
Nursing Homes 1
Private Schools 1
TOTAL 13
Source: San Luis Obispo County Planning and Building Dept., LAFCO, HIFLD, Wood Plc Parcel Analysis, FEMA NFHL
Wildfire
The risk of wildland fires is greatest near the City limits where development meets rural areas of combustible
vegetation. Most of the community is within one mile of a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which
indicates significant risk to wildland fire. The City of San Luis Obispo is confronted with one of the more
hazardous wildfire risks in the County due to its location near the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains and the
Irish Hills, with increased wildfire risk in these foothills as well as on Chumash Peak, Bishop Peak, Cerro San Luis,
and Islay Hill. Figure G.6 illustrates, in map form, the wildfire hazard severity zones that cross over into the City
and hence pose risk to the community and its people.
Table G.17 Properties Within Moderate and Very High Wildfire Hazard Severity Zones
Parcel Type Parcel
Count
Improved
Value
Content
Value
Total
Value
Loss
Estimate Population
MODERATE WILDFIRE HAZARD SEVERITY
Commercial 1 $2,392,765 $2,392,765 $4,785,530 $4,785,530 --
Government/Utilities 1 -- -- $0 $0 --
Other/Exempt/Miscellaneous 1 -- -- $0 $0 --
Residential 3 $218,358 $109,179 $327,537 $327,537 8
TOTAL 6 $2,611,123 $2,501,944 $5,113,067 $5,113,067 8
VERY HIGH WILDFIRE HAZARD SEVERITY
Other/Exempt/Miscellaneous 2 -- $2 $2 --
Residential 14 $7,928,870 $3,964,435 $11,893,319 $11,893,319 35
Vacant 1 $40,500 -- $40,501 $40,501 --
TOTAL 17 $7,969,370 $3,964,435 $11,933,822 $11,933,822 35
GRAND TOTAL 23 $10,580,493 $6,466,379 $17,046,889 $17,046,889 43
Source: San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building, County Assessor’s Office, ParcelQuest, Wood Plc analysis, CalFire
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.26
Figure G.6 Wildfire Hazard Severity Zones
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.27
Human Caused: Hazardous Materials
The Cal OES Warning Center reports 419 hazardous materials incidents in the City of San Luis Obispo from 1994
through October 24, 2018; as noted in Section 5.3.13 of the county plan, this likely excludes a large number of
unreported minor spills. This constitutes 23% of the hazardous materials incidents reported countywide during
the same time frame, and averages out to roughly 16.8 incidents per year. As noted in Section 5.3.13, only
around 6% of reported hazardous materials incidents result in injuries, fatalities, or evacuations.
There is one CalARP regulated facilities and no EPA Risk Management Plan (RMP) facilities located in the City.
Additionally, the City sits within the Emergency Planning Zone for the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant .
G.4 Capability Assessment
Capabilities are the programs and policies currently in use to reduce hazard impacts or that could be used to
implement hazard mitigation activities. This capability assessment is divided into six sections: regulatory
mitigation capabilities, administrative and technical mitigation capabilities, fiscal mitigation capabilities,
mitigation outreach and partnerships, other mitigation efforts, and opportunities for enhancement.
To develop this capability assessment, the jurisdictional planning representatives used a matrix of common
mitigation activities to inventory policies or programs in place. The team then supplemented this inventory by
reviewing additional existing policies, regulations, plans, and programs to determine if they contributed to
reducing hazard-related losses.
During the plan update process, this inventory was reviewed by the jurisdictional planning representatives and
Wood consultant team staff to update information where applicable and note ways in which these capabilities
have improved or expanded. In summarizing current capabilities and identifying gaps, the jurisdictional planning
representatives also considered their ability to expand or improve upon existing policies and programs as
potential new mitigation strategies. The City of San Luis Obispo’s updated capabilities are summarized below.
G.4.1 Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities
Table G.18 City of San Luis Obispo Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities
Regulatory Tool
(ordinances, codes, plans) Yes/No Comments
General Plan Yes
Land Use Element, Circulation Element, Housing Element, Noise
Element, Safety Element, Conservation and Open Space Element,
Parks and Recreation Element, and Water and Wastewater Element
Zoning ordinance Yes Title 17: Zoning Regulations of the City of San Luis Obispo
Municipal Code
Subdivision ordinance Yes Title 16: Subdivisions, Subdivision Regulations
Growth management ordinance Yes Chapter 17.144: Residential Growth Management Regulations
Floodplain ordinance Yes Chapter 17.78: Flood Damage Prevention
Other special purpose ordinance
(stormwater, steep slope, wildfire) Yes
Ordinance 1543: Chapter 12.08 Urban Storm Water Quality
Management and Discharge Control
Ordinance 1490: Chapter 16.20 Physical Improvement Standards
and Procedures - 16.20.040 Grading plan
Ordinance 1490: Chapter 16.18 General Subdivision Design
Standards
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.28
Regulatory Tool
(ordinances, codes, plans) Yes/No Comments
Chapter 17.70.090: Hillside Development Standards
Ordinances 1630 (part) and 1595 (part), Chapter 15.04 Construction
and Fire Prevention Regulations
A Stormwater Control Plan is required to be submitted for all
projects to demonstrate exemption or level of compliance required.
Post Construction Regulation outlines Stormwater Control Plan
content in Performance Requirement 2 - Sections B.3.c,
Performance Requirement 3 - Section B.4.g, and Performance
Requirement 4 – Section B.5.b. Through the Stormwater Control
Plan submittal, applicants demonstrate compliance with Post
Construction Requirements or exemption status.
Drainage Design Manual (Design Manual) has been developed to
provide criteria and planning procedures for floodplains,
waterways, channels, and closed conduits in the San Luis Obispo
Creek watershed. This Drainage Manual will be used by the City of
San Luis Obispo and San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and
Water Conservation District Zone 9 (SLO/Zone 9) staff in their
internal design of stormwater drainage, flood management and
bank stabilization and restoration projects.
Building code Yes
Title 15, Buildings and Construction of the City of San Luis Obispo
Municipal Code. California Building Codes:
CA Residential Code (2016); CA Plumbing Code (2015 UPC); CA
Mechanical Code (2015 UMC); CA Electrical Code (2014 NEC); CA
Energy Code (2016); CA Green Building Code (2016); CA Fire Code
(2015 IFC); CA Reference Standards Code (2016)
Fire department ISO rating Yes 2
Erosion or sediment control program Yes
Chapter 17.78 Flood Damage Prevention
Chapter 12.08 Urban Storm Water Quality Management and
Discharge Control
Chapter 16.20 Physical Improvement Standards and Procedures
Ordinance 1543, Code Section 12.08.150 Requirement to prevent,
control, and reduce storm water and pollutants
City of SLO Waterway Management Plan and Drainage Design
Manual
Annual silt removal to maintain hydraulic capacity in San Luis
Obispo creek beds to reduce flooding. City has 14 total sites in the
management plan and complete silt removal on a rotating basis.
Stormwater management program Yes Chapter 12.08: Stormwater Regulations & Requirements
Site plan review requirements Yes Title 22 Article 3
Capital improvements plan Yes Department of Public Works 5-Year Strategic Plan
Economic development plan Yes 5-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan Updated in 2015
Local emergency operations plan Yes City of San Luis Obispo Emergency Operations Plan (2011)
Other special plans Yes
Open Space Conservation Plans, Climate Action Plan, Urban Water
Management and Water Shortage Contingency Plans, Waterway
Management Plan, Utilities Department Emergency Plan,
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.29
Regulatory Tool
(ordinances, codes, plans) Yes/No Comments
Unreinforced Masonry Hazard Mitigation Program, Disaster
Preparedness Program, Community Wildfire Preparedness Plan,
Greenbelt Protection Program
Flood insurance study or other
engineering study for streams Yes 2012
Elevation certificates (for floodplain
development) Yes Chapter 17.78: Flood Damage Prevention
Other Yes
Water System Vulnerability Assessment, Floodplain Management
Educational Program
G.4.2 Administrative/Technical Mitigation Capabilities
There are several key departments and staff within the City organization that serve a specific role in developing
and implementing hazard mitigation activities. City government consists of approximately 399 full-time
equivilent employees and 10 departments: Police, Fire, Public Works, Public Utilities, Community Development,
Parks and Recreation, Human Resources, Finance and Information Technology, City Administration, and the City
Attorney’s Office. With a clear set of policies in place and a diverse range of staff available to mitigate identified
hazards within the City, the City has many staff with specific training on the use of specialized equipment or
particular areas of expertise that are essential in implementing mitigation actions. Technical resources are
considered to be physical infrastructure or equipment available to the City to aid in implementing hazard
mitigation or disaster response activities. Table G.19 identifies the personnel resources and technical resources
that increase capabilities related to mitigation and loss prevention in the City.
Table G.19 City of San Luis Obispo Administrative/Technical Mitigation Capabilities
Personnel Resources Yes/No Department/Position
Planner/engineer with knowledge of
land development/land management
practices
Yes Staff with knowledge of land development practices and local land
development patterns.
Engineer/professional trained in
construction practices related to
buildings and/or infrastructure
Yes Professionals trained in construction practices associated with
buildings and infrastructure and in storm water compliance during
construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Planner/engineer/scientist with an
understanding of natural hazards
Yes
Personnel skilled in GIS
Yes Provide accurate and comprehensive Geographic Information
System for managing resources, make informed decisions, and
expedite work processes.
Full time building official Yes Community Development Department, Chief Building Official
Floodplain manager Yes Community Development Department, Supervising Civil Engineer
Emergency manager
Yes Accomplished through contract services. City maintains funding for
the 2019-21 Financial Plan to maintain an Emergency Manager
position equivalent to 0.5 FTE.
Grant writer
Yes Accomplished through Contract Services. The City maintains two-
year contracts with both a local grant writing firm and grant
advocate firm based out of Irvine, CA.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.30
Personnel Resources Yes/No Department/Position
Mutual Aid Agreements
Yes Establishes agreements among local jurisdictions to assist in
emergency response efforts in neighboring jurisdictions during
times of need. San Luis Obispo currently participates in the
following mutual aid agreements: 1. California Master Mutual Aid
Agreement, 2. SLO County Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid Agreement,
3. California Fire Assistance Agreement, 4. Region 1A Law
Enforcement Mutual Aid Agreement, 5. Public Works Mutual Aid
Agreement, 6. California Emergency Managers Mutual Aid
Agreement, 7. Regional Disaster Medical/Health Coordination.
Code Enforcement and Neighborhood
Services
Yes Staff with training and expertise in identifying hazards to health,
safety, and welfare, and assisting property owners with achieving
code and policy compliance.
Fire Marshal
Yes Measure G funded position, manages and directs the activities of
the Fire Prevention Bureau. Oversees fire safety inspections for all
facilities in the City. Ensures that development in the City meets fire
safety standards. Obtains funding and implements wildland fuel
reduction projects. Directs and oversees fire investigations.
Fire Inspectors
Yes Professionals trained in fire prevention techniques and construction
practices associated with buildings and infrastructure. Inspect all
multi-family residential buildings and public assembly buildings.
Review building plans and inspect construction projects for fire and
life safety and proper installation of fire protection systems.
Investigate fire for cause and origin.
Hazardous Materials Coordinator
Staff designated to inspect facilities and containers storing
hazardous materials. There are approximately 244 facilities located
within the City that are permitted for the use of hazardous
materials.
Network Administrators Yes Provide technical support for wired/wireless network and radios.
Park Rangers Yes Staff familiar with brush clearance requirements and conditions of
City-owned open space.
Police Officers
Yes Emergency response to provide protection of life, property and
address community safety/security needs. Work cooperatively with
other first responders for an organized response to disaster
mitigation plans.
Dispatchers Yes Provide communication links to responding personnel to transfer
emergency information and direct resources as needed.
Construction Inspection Yes Ensures storm water compliance during construction of City
projects, and private grading and encroachment projects.
Public Works Department – Department
Operations Centers (DOC)
Yes The Public Works DOC coordinates responses to road flooding and
related problems during a storm with road crews, the County,
Caltrans, and the California Highway Patrol. They also support other
emergency response operations coordinated through the City’s
EOC.
Storm Water Compliance
Yes Staff responsibility assigned to ensure storm water compliance
during construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure
projects.
Other personnel Yes Operations: Field staff provide assistance to Public Works DOC for
flood response, and City EOC for general emergency response.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.31
Personnel Resources Yes/No Department/Position
GIS Data Resources
(Hazard areas, critical facilities, land use,
building footprints, etc.)
Yes
Warning systems/services
(Reverse 9-11, outdoor warning signals)
Yes
Voluntary Organizations Active in
Disaster
Yes Provides disaster preparedness courses to residents and
community members and provides care and shelter to those
threatened or impacted by natural hazards. Volunteer and private
agencies are essential to the area’s mutual aid system by providing
for the care and shelter needs of disaster victims. Organizations
active in San Luis Obispo include the American Red Cross and
Salvation Army.
G.4.3 Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities
There are multiple financial and funding opportunities for the City to mitigate or respond to natural hazards.
These capabilities include local revenues from the general fund, or the receipt of grant funds from state or
federal agencies. The City’s financial planning process includes a two-year goal setting and budget development
based on community and council priorities. The City’s five-year fiscal forecast identifies the City’s forecast of
revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balance. The general fund receives revenues from a variety of
sources including taxes (sales, property, transient occupancy, business, utility users), subventions and grants
(vehicle license fees, gas tax, and other subventions), service charges (development review fees, recreation fees),
and other revenues (fines, interest earnings, and rents). The City has and will continue to utilize the two -year
goal setting and budget process to prioritize expenditures needed to mitigate future hazards. In th e event of a
natural disaster and a need for immediate City response, the City has the financial capacity to utilize reserve
funds, when authorized by the City Council. The City has previously utilized the following financial resources to
implement hazard mitigation activities. The added revenues to the General Fund from Measure “G” have allowed
the City to financially support major improvements in the areas of public safety, flood protection, and open
space preservation. Financial resources to mitigate hazards: Table G.20 identifies financial tools or resources that
the City could potentially use to help fund mitigation activities.
Table G.20 City of San Luis Obispo Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities
Financial
Resources
Accessible/Eligible
to Use (Yes/No)
Comments
Community
Development
Block Grants
Yes
The City continues to seek grant opportunities through the CDBG
program and identify potential eligible projects that would fund
mitigation activities to benefit the health and welfare of the community.
Capital
improvements
project funding
Yes
The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) enables the City to plan, schedule,
and finance capital projects to ensure cost effectiveness and conformance
with established plans and policies. The City’s budget process guides the
capital priorities through community input, Council goal setting, Local
Revenue Measure priorities, and the biennially adopted Major City Goal
work programs. The City’s CIP includes all planned infrastructure projects
over a five-year period. The first two years identify those projects that are
planned to be funded and/or completed during the adopted two-year
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.32
Financial
Resources
Accessible/Eligible
to Use (Yes/No)
Comments
financial plan. The latter three years serve as the framework for future
Financial Plans’ capital budgets. The plan represents a phased approach to
funding the projects needed to maintain the City’s infrastructure and
major facilities over the entire five-year period.
Authority to levy
taxes for specific
purposes
Yes
Taxes for specific purposes can be levied with authorization from the City
Council and further approval through a local ballot measure.
Fees for water,
sewer, gas, or
electric services
Yes
The City's utilities department provides water and wastewater services to
the residents and businesses of San Luis Obispo. Water and sewer
revenues are collected to support operations and capital improvements,
with rates reviewed on an annual basis and approved by the City Council.
These revenues from customer water and sewer use are utilized by the
utilities department to maintain, improve, expand and replace
components of the City's water and wastewater infrastructure system,
including improvements made to protect from natural hazards.
Impact fees for
new development Yes
New development projects proposed in the City affect the City's ability to
provide adequate essential services (e.g. transportation, water and
wastewater, and open space). To ensure these essential services can
adequately serve the City's existing and future community needs, a series
of development impact fees are levied on new development projects.
Incur debt
through general
obligation bonds
Yes
Debt can be incurred through general obligation bonds with authorization
from the City Council and further approval through a local ballot measure.
Incur debt
through special
tax bonds
Yes
Debt can be incurred through special tax bonds with authorization from
the City Council and further approval through a local ballot measure.
Incur debt
through private
activities
Yes
City Financial Policy allows debt to be incurred through private activities
with approval from City Council
Withhold
spending in
hazard prone
areas
Yes
Policy is accessible with authorization from City Council.
General Fund
(including
Measure G
Funding)
Yes
In 2006, City voters approved measure Y to preserve and enhance
essential City services by establishing a 1/2 –cent City sales tax. In the
2011/12 fiscal year, measure Y generated approximately $6.2 million in
revenue. This funding has been used in recent years for public safety,
infrastructure maintenance, traffic congestion relief, neighborhood code
enforcement and open space acquisition project. Many of the projects
funded through measure Y revenues are considered to help mitigate
hazard throughout the community. In 2014 Measure Y was approved to
be extended through ballot measure G, which will sunset in 2022 unless a
new measure is passed to continue the collection of additional sales tax.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.33
Financial
Resources
Accessible/Eligible
to Use (Yes/No)
Comments
Reserve Funds Yes
The City’s budget and fiscal policies includes a requirement to maintain
adequate fund reserves for both general and enterprise funds. The
minimum reserve level is 20% of annual operating expenditures.
Building Permit
Inspection and
Review Fees
Yes
Fees are collected by the planning and building divisions of the
community development department to inspect and review construction
documents on proposed projects within the City. The collection of these
fees ensures buildings are designed and constructed in a manner
consistent with applicable components of the municipal code and helps
the department to recover staff costs associated with review and
inspection.
G.4.4 Mitigation Outreach and Partnerships
Throughout the planning process of the Multi-jurisdictional HMP, the City participated in local outreach by
promoting public meetings and circulating the Public Draft of the HMP for public comment and review . Public
comments have been addressed and have been incorporated into the final HMP, where applicable. To further
support implementation of hazard mitigation activities, the City has established strong partnerships with its
neighboring jurisdictions, San Luis Obispo County, and multiple state organizations such as the California
Highway Patrol, Cal Poly, CalFire, and Caltrans to collectively address local hazards. These partnerships have
been formalized through the following:
• Mutual Aid Agreements
• Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
• San Luis Obispo County Community Fire Sage Council
• Department Operations Centers (DOC)
The City of San Luis Obispo also coordinates with many external (local, state, federal, and private sector)
agencies which have capabilities to support hazard mitigation activities. Many of these agencies participated in
the hazard mitigation planning process to update this plan, including the following:
• County of San Luis Obispo – Airports
• County of San Luis Obispo – Office of Emergency Services
• County of San Luis Obispo – Public Health Department
• Cal Poly – City & Regional Planning Department
• Cal Poly – Administration and Finance
• French Hospital Medical Center
• American Red Cross
• Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center
• San Luis Coastal Unified School District
• California Highway Patrol
• Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.34
G.4.5 Other Mitigation Efforts
In addition to the plan and policy resources available to the City to mitigate hazards, the City has developed or
participated in several hazard mitigation programs including:
• Unreinforced Masonry Hazard Mitigation Program
• Disaster Preparedness Program
• Floodplain Management Educational Program
• San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Business Continuity Planning
• County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and FEMA Repetitive Loss Pr operties
• Community Wildfire Protection Program
• Greenbelt Protection Program
G.4.6 Opportunities for Enhancement
Based on the capability assessment, the City has several existing mechanisms in place that help to mitigate
hazards. There are also opportunities for the City to expand or improve on these policies and programs to
further protect the community. Future improvements may include providing training for staff members related
to hazards or hazard mitigation grant funding in partnership with the County and Cal OES. Additional training
opportunities will help to inform City staff members on how best to integrate hazard information and mitigation
projects into their departments. Continuing to train City staff on mitigation and the hazards that p ose a risk to
the City will lead to more informed staff members who can better communicate this information to the public.
The following themes or opportunities were identified during the planning process of the 2014 LHMP:
• Actions to Prepare – While many members of the community have taken small actions to prevent damage to
their home in the event of a natural hazard, only a small portion have completed larger structural items to
prevent damage. The City may consider developing and implementing programs to support risk reduction
activities by property owners. Using the data available as a result of the risk assessment in this HMP, the City
is able to identify areas and structures with a higher risk or exposure to the identified hazards. Sharing this
information with community members and evaluating opportunities to help property owners in funding risk
reduction activities will increase the resiliency of San Luis Obispo.
• Awareness of Neighbor Needs – Given the high student population and regular turnover of neighbors in
some neighborhoods, it can be challenging for community members to be fully aware of neighbors and
their needs. Neighborhood events such as the annual community block parties are an opportunity for the
City to support greater community interaction which can increase awareness of neighbors needs in the
event of an emergency.
• Community or Workplace Awareness – In many cases, respondents were unaware or unsure of the hazards
that may affect the community or their workplace and policies that may be i n place to help respond to a
natural disaster. The City can help to increase community awareness through wider promotion or
participation in workshops or resources available to the community that have already been prepared by the
City or volunteer organizations. The City may increase business owners’ awareness of risk by providing
emergency planning support, continuity of operations planning support, and potentially hosting seminars
for the business community to learn about the hazard risks.
• Understanding the Extent of Damages – To better understand the extent of damages to homeowners from a
natural disaster, the City could coordinate with homeowner insurance providers to track damages beyond
those reported through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.35
G.5 Mitigation Strategy
G.5.1 Mitigation Goals and Objectives
The City of San Luis Obispo Planning Team determined the two goals from the 2014 LHMP continue to be
appropriate for this plan update, with the addition of a third goal to address hazards exacerbated by the impacts
of climate change. The following are the City of San Luis Obispo’s 2019 mitigation goals:
• Goal 1: Cultivate a disaster-resistant and resilient community through implementation of risk reduction
measures and increased public awareness to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and human -
caused hazard events.
- Objective 1.A Ensure that local plans, policies, and programs are consistent with the hazard information
identified in the LHMP.
- Objective 1.B Increase City employee capacity through SIMS and NIMS compliant training and EOC
drills to identify hazards, and assist in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.
- Objective 1.C Pursue available grant funding to implement hazard mitigation efforts.
- Objective 1.D Maintain critical and essential key assets to increase resiliency and minimize future
damage from hazard events.
- Objective 1.E Increase public awareness of hazards, emergency response, and recovery.
- Objective 1.F Promote public/private partnerships to increase community resiliency.
• Goal 2: Reduce the severity of damage and losses due to natural and human-caused hazards.
- Objective 2.A Protect and enhance, as practical, existing assets, as well as any future development, from
the effects of natural and human-caused hazards.
• Goal 3: Prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
- Objective 3.A Use, and update as needed, the best available science to estimate exposure, vulnerability,
and risk of hazards as the result of climate change.
- Objective 3.B Use the climate change exposure, vulnerability, and risk assessments to ensure mitigation
investments, capital projects, and programs actively mitigate climate impacts.
Continued Compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
The City has been an NFIP participating community since 1973 and will continue to comply with the NFIP. This
includes ongoing activities such as enforcing local floodplain development regulations, including issuing permits
for appropriate development in Special Flood Hazard Areas and ensuring that this development is mitigated in
accordance with the regulations. This will also include periodic reviews of the floodplain ordinance to ensure that
it is clear and up to date and reflects new or revised flood hazard mapping. The goals of the NFIP are to reduce
future flood damage through floodplain management and to provide people in participating communities with
flood insurance. Community participation is voluntary. The City is also part of the Community Rating System
(CRS), currently rated at Class 7. The goals of the CRS are to reduce flood damages to insurable property,
strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and encourage a comprehensive appr oach to
floodplain management. The City of San Luis Obispo maintains full compliance with the NFIP through Sections
17.84.010- 17.84.170 within Chapter 17.84 Flood Damage Prevention Regulations of the San Luis Obispo
Municipal Code, which sets forth means to reduce losses from floods. These standards focus on areas located
within or near the 100-year floodplain. Section 8.12.010-8.12.010 of the Municipal Code provides a mechanism
for the City to require the removal of dangerous obstructions in streambeds th at have the potential to obstruct
water flow.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.36
FEMA insures properties against flooding losses through the NFIP. As part of the process to reduce or eliminate
repetitive flooding to structures across the United States, FEMA has developed an official Repetit ive Loss
Strategy. The purpose behind the national strategy is to identify, catalog, and propose mitigation measures to
reduce flood losses due to the relatively few structures that represent the majority of claims from the National
Flood Insurance Fund. A Repetitive Loss property is defined by FEMA as a “property for which two or more NFIP
losses of at least $1,000 each have been paid within any 10-year period since 1978.” The City of San Luis Obispo
has two Repetitive Loss properties. As a CRS requirement, the City Public Works Department sends community
outreach notifications and letters to property owners in repetitive loss areas, including the City’s Mid Higuera
Area, to inform residents of flooding and to offer ways in which property owners can prepare for and reduce the
damage from repetitive flooding. In addition, the Public Works Department conducted storm drain
improvements as part of a Capital Improvements Project that helped with flood control in the Mid Higuera Area,
an area of repetitive flooding. FEMA also defines Severe Repetitive Loss properties; however, the City does not
have any Severe Repetitive Loss properties.
G.5.2 Completed 2014 Mitigation Actions
During the 2019 planning process the City of San Luis Obispo Local Planning Team reviewed all the mitigation
actions from the 2014 LHMP. The review indicated the City has completed one mitigation action since 2014 and
made continued progress in implementing mitigation projects and building the community’s resilience to
disasters. Of the 29 mitigation actions identified in the 2014 LHMP, the Planning Team has completed the
following action, which the Planning Team notes as being completed in January of 2017:
2.A.12 Add gas pipeline mapping to the City’s GIS resources.
G.5.3 Mitigation Actions
The City of San Luis Obispo Local Planning Team identified and prioritized one new mitigation action based on
the 2019 risk assessment. New and existing actions were prioritized using the process described in Section 7.2.1
of the Base Plan. The new mitigation action identifies implementation strategies, the responsible agency,
potential funding, estimated cost, and implementation schedule.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.36
Table G.21 City of San Luis Obispo’s Mitigation Action Plan
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency
and Partners
Cost
Estimate
Potential
Funding Priority Timeline Status/
Implementation Notes
SL.1*
Adverse
Weather,
Biological,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Wildfire,
Hazardous
Materials
Regularly review and continue to maintain
consistency between the Safety Element,
Municipal Code, zoning regulations, hazard
area maps, and LHMP implementation
strategies. Added 10/2016: Review the
implementation and impacts of SB1069 Land
use zoning
Community
Development
/Public Works
/Fire
Little to
no cost
Staff Time/
Dept.
Budget
Medium 1-3 years
In progress. Safety
Element to be updated
in 2021
SL.2
Adverse
Weather,
Biological,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Wildfire,
Hazardous
Materials
Train all City employees including fire
fighters, police officers, building inspectors,
and public works and utilities staff to levels
appropriate for their hazard mitigation tasks
and responsibilities.
Fire Little to
no cost
Staff Time/
Dept.
Budget
Medium 1-3 years
In progress. Currently
updating a City-wide
training matrix to
ensure employees have
the valid training based
on their position. Once
the matrix is complete
the City will hold
training to ensure all
City employees receive
appropriate training and
certifications. Utilize
new Human Capital
Management software
to ensure new
employees receive
training during
onboarding.
SL.3
Adverse
Weather,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Wildfire,
Provide training for City staff who apply its
building regulations and planning standards,
emphasizing the lessons learned in locations
that have experienced disasters
Fire /
Community
Development
/Public Works
Little to
no cost
Staff Time/
Dept.
Budget
Medium 1 yr.
In progress. Additional
modeling has been
completed. The results
of this modeling
indicated that a more
expansive model should
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.37
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency
and Partners
Cost
Estimate
Potential
Funding Priority Timeline Status/
Implementation Notes
Hazardous
Materials
be created which is
underway.
SL.4
Adverse
Weather,
Biological,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Wildfire,
Hazardous
Materials
Conduct disaster-preparedness exercises for
the types of hazards discussed in this LHMP. Fire Little to
no cost
Staff Time/
Dept.
Budget
Medium 1 yr.
In progress. Latest
Public Point of
Distribution drill held at
the City of San Luis
Obispo was on
10/18/2017. October
2018 Distribution took
place on 10/21/18 in
Arroyo Grande and
Atascadero (the two
locations exercised were
intended to cover the
whole county, including
SLO). City plans to
continue participating in
exercises as allowed.
SL.5
Adverse
Weather,
Biological,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Wildfire,
Hazardous
Materials
Establish ongoing Disaster Service Worker
training program to include training for City
staff to deal with emergencies as well as
contribute to risk reduction measures.
Fire Little to
no cost
Staff Time/
Dept.
Budget
Medium 1 yr. In progress
SL.6
Adverse
Weather,
Biological,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Wildfire,
Review funding opportunities and establish
centralized internal procedures to coordinate
efforts for securing funds that support risk
reduction measures.
Admin. -
Finance
Little to
no cost
General
Funds/
FEMA HMA
High 1 yr.
In progress. Spring of
2019. The City released
an RFP to hire a grant
writing firm to seek
funding opportunities
to leverage community
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.38
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency
and Partners
Cost
Estimate
Potential
Funding Priority Timeline Status/
Implementation Notes
Hazardous
Materials
improvement. This
includes risk reduction
measures.
SL.7
Adverse
Weather,
Biological,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Wildfire,
Hazardous
Materials
Identify hazard mitigation projects eligible for
grants as part of the Capital Improvement
Program planning process.
Public Works/
Utilities
Little to
no cost
Cal OES
/FEMA: Up
to $2
Million at
WRRF
Medium 3-5 years
In progress. The Mid-
Higuera Bypass project
is currently being
designed. Once design
is complete, grant
application work will
begin. Utilities (new) - A
$2 million grant
application has been
submitted with CalOES
for flood proofing
mission critical facilities
related the Water
Resource Recovery
Facility.
SL.8
Adverse
Weather,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Hazardous
Materials
Assess structural capacity of key assets
(including bridges) and pursue infrastructure
improvements as necessary.
Public Works/
Community
Development
Less than
$10,000
General
Fund Medium 3-5 years
In progress. As part of
2019-21 financial plan
process the City has
reviewed and prioritized
assets maintenance and
replacement. This
prioritized asset list will
be presented to the City
Council for funding
consideration.
SL.9
Adverse
Weather,
Biological,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Establish a funded program or mechanism to
distribute public information regarding risk
reduction activities and projects at City-
sponsored events. Identify materials available
for use at public education workshops.
Fire Little to
no cost
General
Fund Medium 1-2 years
In progress. Fire
Prevention Open House
occurred on and
10/14/17 and 10/13/18.
Presentations at Cal
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.39
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency
and Partners
Cost
Estimate
Potential
Funding Priority Timeline Status/
Implementation Notes
Wildfire,
Hazardous
Materials
Coordinate messaging with external agencies
such as the American Red Cross and
Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters.
Poly orientations for
students and their
parents. Department is
developing new disaster
preparedness
neighborhood
presentation program
and employee disaster
worker preparedness
beginning FY2020.
SL.10
Adverse
Weather,
Biological,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Wildfire,
Hazardous
Materials
Support the efforts and education of people
with access and functional needs to prepare
for disasters.
Fire Little to
no cost
Staff Time/
Dept.
Budget
Medium 1 yr. In progress
SL.11
Adverse
Weather,
Biological,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Wildfire,
Hazardous
Materials
Educate the community on individual
preparedness and response to deal with
emergencies at times when professional
responders would be overwhelmed.
Fire Little to
no cost
General
Fund Medium 1-2 years In progress. See SL.9
comments
SL.12
Adverse
Weather,
Biological,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Wildfire,
Offer seminars and/or resources to assist
local / small businesses in planning for
continuity of operations and emergency
preparedness.
Fire Little to
no cost
General
Fund Medium 1-2 years
In progress. Fire
department staff attend
the weekly meetings at
the Downtown
Association and has
updated a fire safety
checklist for festival
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.40
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency
and Partners
Cost
Estimate
Potential
Funding Priority Timeline Status/
Implementation Notes
Hazardous
Materials
vendors in the
downtown, provided
education to DTA staff.
SL.13*
Adverse
Weather,
Biological,
Earthquake,
Flood,
Wildfire,
Hazardous
Materials
Continue to enforce local codes, ordinances,
and standards pertaining to safe
development and resiliency to natural and
human-caused hazards.
Community
Development
/Fire
Little to
no cost
General
Funds/
FEMA HMA
High 1-2 years
In progress. As of April
of 2019, permits have
been issued on all URM
structures. All have been
finalized/closed out
except for four
properties, one of which
is currently being
retrofitted and
remodeled (SLO Brew at
736 Higuera). Permits
have been issued on
two others (1029 and
1035 Chorro) but have
not been
finalized/closed out in
permitting
system. Current status
on these is currently
being researched.
Records indicate the last
of the four has
completed Level A
strengthening, but still
has an outstanding
permit - permit records
and status is currently
being researched.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.41
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency
and Partners
Cost
Estimate
Potential
Funding Priority Timeline Status/
Implementation Notes
SL.14 Earthquake
Develop and provide managers of mobile
home parks with information on how to
improve the seismic performance of mobile
homes and awareness of flood risk.
Community
Development
Less than
$10,000
Staff Time/
Dept.
Budget
Medium 2-3 yrs.
In progress.
Still in planning process;
will be incorporated into
Safety Element)
SL.15
Earthquake,
Wildfire,
Adverse
Weather
The Secure and Resilient Electricity action
would plan for energy independence and
security at critical facilities throughout the
City. By providing grid independent onsite
renewable energy, storage, and energy
management systems, and by providing a
planning and financing framework for future
investments, the City will be able maintain
uninterrupted operations during times of
electricity or natural gas grid instability.
Fire; police;
public works;
utilities;
administratio
n; parks and
recreation
$200k to
$500k;
California
Energy
Commissio
n;
Monterey
Bay
Community
Power
High 3-5 yrs.
New
Benefits: A resilient
electricity system (solar
and storage) at critical
facilities ensure ongoing
operations during
significant disaster
events and ensures
viability of electric
evacuation vehicles, City
fleet, and transit
vehicles.
SL.16 Earthquake
Continue to implement the Unreinforced
Masonry Hazard Mitigation Plan and
strengthen buildings identified in Levels A
and B.
Community
Development
/ Fire
$10,000
to
$50,000
General
Funds/FEM
A HMA
Medium 2-3 yrs. In progress. See SL.13
comments
SL.17 Flood Develop and carry out environmentally
sensitive flood reduction programs.
Administratio
n - Natural
Resources
$10,000
to
$50,000
FEMA HMA Medium 2-3 yrs.
In progress. The City
continues to assess high
priority erosion and
sedimentation sites
identified in the
Waterway Management
Plan and provide
maintenance or
restoration as
appropriate; review City
owned property and
property with drainage
easements covering
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.42
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency
and Partners
Cost
Estimate
Potential
Funding Priority Timeline Status/
Implementation Notes
private properties and
conduct vegetation
management/removal
as needed; and,
complete silt removal
projects at key drainage
locations on a rotating
basis. Assess and
remove as necessary
undesirable trees from
creek system with
tree/landscape
contractors. Natural
Resources Program staff
manages vegetation
trimming or removal to
maintain the riparian
corridors. The EIR for
the Mid-Higuera Bypass
project was adopted
and the 95% plans are
nearing completion.
SL.18 Haz Mat
Continue requiring businesses that use, store,
or transport hazardous materials to ensure
that adequate measures are taken to protect
public health and safety.
Fire Little to
no cost
Certified
Unified
Program
Agency
(CUPA)
High
Annual
impleme
ntation
Fire Department CUPA
Participating Agency
completes 100% of
permitted facility
inspections annually to
assure compliance with
the fire code and state
regulations. The fire
department is subject to
audit by the County
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.43
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency
and Partners
Cost
Estimate
Potential
Funding Priority Timeline Status/
Implementation Notes
CUPA and has passed
all recent audits.
SL.19 Haz Mat
Coordinate with allied agencies to prepare for
hazardous materials incidents. Reference City
EOP and Training and Exercise Plan; Maintain
participation in County hazardous materials
team
Fire Less than
$10,000
Certified
Unified
Program
Agency
(CUPA)
Medium 1 yr.
In progress. City
Emergency Operations
Plan is currently set to
be updated. City issued
RFP to hire consultant
to update plan in Spring
of 2019 and is expected
to have a completed
plan with associated
training in Winter of
2020.
SL.20 Haz Mat
Maintain City’s web site and other outlets
with information regarding the safe handling
and disposal of household chemicals.
Fire Little to
no cost
Staff
Time/Dept.
Budget
Medium 1 yr. In progress/ongoing
SL.21 Wildfire
Enhance partnerships with CalFire and the
local Fire Safe Council for fuel reduction
efforts.
Fire Little to
no cost
Cal Fire /
FireSafe
Grants
Medium 1 yr.
In progress. As of March
of 2019, The City of San
Luis Obispo is now a
recognized focus group
and voting board
member on the Fire
Safe Council
SL.22 Wildfire,
Drought
Support ongoing urban forest maintenance
and tree trimming programs, to include
planting drought-resistant trees and plants.
Public Works
- Urban
Forestry / Fire
/ Parks &
Recreation /
Natural
Resources
Less than
$10,000
General
Fund Medium 1-2 yrs.
In progress. Urban
Forest Services
continues regular
maintenance which
includes pruning and
dead tree removal in
City Streets, Parks and
other City owned
properties.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.44
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency
and Partners
Cost
Estimate
Potential
Funding Priority Timeline Status/
Implementation Notes
SL.23 Wildfire
Continue to conduct current fuel
management programs and investigate and
apply new and emerging fuel management
techniques.
Fire/Natural
Resources
Director/Parks
and
Recreation
$10,000
to
$50,000
FEMA and
Fire Safe
Council
grants
High 1 yr.
In progress. The Natural
Resource Manager has
taken lead on all fuel
management funds and
projects in the City
Open Space. Additional
grant funding has been
obtained to augment
allocated fuel
management budget.
SL.24 Wildfire Require an enhanced fire protection plan in
Local Very High Fire Severity Zones. Fire Less than
$10,000
Staff
Time/Dept.
Budget
Medium 1 yr. In progress.
SL.25 Biological Continue offering free flu vaccines to City
employees.
Human
Resources
Less than
$10,000
County
Program Medium
Annual
impleme
ntation
In progress. Continued
participation in the
County Public Health
Point of Distribution
program.
SL.26 Biological
Educate and encourage City employees to
maintain a healthy work environment by
utilizing sick and other leave benefits to avoid
coming to work when sick or contagious and
encouraging employees to develop plans for
caring for sick family members taking care of
ill family members.
Human
Resources
Little to
no cost
General
Fund Medium
Annual
impleme
ntation
In progress. Include in
ongoing wellness,
benefits, and leave of
absence training,
education, and general
communications.
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.45
G.6 Implementation and Maintenance
Moving forward, the City will use the mitigation action table in the previous section to track progress on
implementation of each project. As illustrated in the completed actions table (Table G.21) much progress has
been made since the plan was originally developed. Implementation of the plan overall is discussed in Chapter 8
in the Base Plan.
G.6.1 Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms
The information contained within this plan, including results from the Vulnerability Assessment and the
Mitigation Strategy, will be used by the City to help inform updates and the development of local plans,
programs and policies. The Engineering Division may utilize the hazard information when implementing the
City’s Community Investment Program and the Planning and Building Divisions may utilize the hazard
information when reviewing a site plan or other type of development applications. The City will also incorporate
this LHMP into the Safety Element of their General Plan, as recommended by Assembly Bill (AB) 2140. This
enables the City of San Luis Obispo to qualify for additional funding through the California Disaster Assistance
Act should the State determine there to be a need and/or additional funding to be available.
California State Assembly Bill 162 requires the General Plan Land Use Element to identify existing and proposed
uses and flood mitigation strategies within the 100 -year floodplain. The HMP should be referenced and used to
inform the Land Use Element in order to meet this requirement. California State Senate Bill 1241 requires the
Safety Element to incorporate wildfire hazard considerations for State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) and lands
within very high fire severity zones. These areas are already depicted within the Safety Element and this Annex.
They will be reviewed and updated as appropriate during the future updates to both of these documents.
Whenever there are substantive changes to the County HMP or this Annex, those involved in other relevant
planning mechanisms in the City will be included in the review process.
As stated in Chapter 8 of the Base Plan, the HMPC representatives from the City of San Luis Obispo will report
on efforts to integrate the hazard mitigation plan into local plans, programs and policies and will report on these
efforts at the annual HMPC plan review meeting.
G.6.2 Monitoring, Evaluation and Updating the Plan
The City will follow the procedures to Monitor, review, and update this plan in accordance with San Luis Obispo
County as outlined in Chapter 8 of the Base Plan. The City will continue to involve the public in mitigation, as
described in Section 8.3 of the Base Plan. The Administrative Analyst in the City Fire Department will be
responsible for representing the City in the County HMPC, and for coordination with the City LPT, including
relevant staff and departments during plan updates. The City realizes it is important to review the plan regularly
and update it every five years in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act Requir ements as well as other State
of California requirements. In order to ensure that regular review and update of the HMP occurs, the LPT will
convene annually to review and discuss mitigation progress and any new concerns that may benefit from
mitigation activities. During each annual review, the LPT will review each goal and objective to evaluate its:
• Relevance to the evolving setting and needs of the City of San Luis Obispo
• Consistency with changes in State and Federal policy
• Relevance to current and expected conditions
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of San Luis Obispo | February 2020 Annex G.46
The LPT will review the Risk Assessment portion of the plan to determine if the information should be updated
or modified. The parties responsible for various implementation should be updated or modified. The parties
responsible for various implantation actions will report on:
• Status of their projects
• Implementation processes that have worked well
• Any difficulties encountered
• How coordination efforts are proceeding
• Which strategies should be revised