HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 7a - Adopt the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Item 7a
Department: Fire
Cost Center: 8599
For Agenda of: 6/16/2026
Placement: Business
Estimated Time: 60 Minutes
FROM: Randy Harris, Interim Fire Chief
Prepared By: Joe Little, Emergency Manager
SUBJECT: ADOPT THE MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a draft Resolution entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo, California, Approving the County of San Luis Obispo Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard
Mitigation Plan 2025 Update.” (Attachment A)
REPORT-IN-BRIEF
The proposed action adopts the San Luis Obispo County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard
Mitigation Plan (MJHMP), which updates and replaces the City’s 2019 Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (LHMP) with the 2025 LHMP which is incorporated in the MJHMP as
Annex G and ensures compliance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000).
Adoption is required to maintain eligibility for Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) hazard mitigation funding
and reflect updated risk assessments, public outreach, and City-specific mitigation
actions developed through a County-led, grant-funded, multi-jurisdictional effort. The
action has no additional fiscal impact beyond previously budgeted matching funds.
The 2025 update to the City’s LHMP, also known as “Annex G” of the San Luis Obispo
County MJHMP, builds upon the 2019 Plan by incorporating updated risk data, recent
disaster experience, and revised hazard assessments, while maintaining consistency
with the General Plan. Although the 2014 mitigation plan was not integrated into the City’s
General Plan, the updated 2019 version was successfully incorporated, and the 2025
version is also planned for inclusion. Key differences include an updated parcel-level and
critical facilities analysis that increased the estimated value of assets at risk from
approximately $7 billion to $11 billion, and refined hazard evaluations reflecting current
conditions. These refinements include upgrades to the assessed severity or probability of
extreme heat, landslides and debris flow, and wildfire, informed by updated modeling,
climate trends, changes to State Fire Severity Zone maps, and recent events such as the
January 2023 flooding that caused approximately $30 million in damage to City facilities
and infrastructure.
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POLICY CONTEXT
Adoption of the San Luis Obispo County MJHMP and its annexes (A-J & K-U) supports
the City of San Luis Obispo’s Major City Goals of Cultural Vitality, Economic Resilience,
and Fiscal Sustainability by reducing disaster-related risks to residents, businesses,
cultural assets, and public infrastructure, and by strengthening the City’s ability to
withstand, respond to, and recover from natural and human-caused hazards.
In consultation with the City Attorney’s Office, staff determined that replacement of
Appendix C of the Climate Adaptation and Safety Element (CASE) with Annex G (the
LHMP) as part of the MJHMP adoption does not in itself trigger a General Plan
amendment. Under the CASE’s existing framework, the City updates the LHMP every five
years. As a result, the LHMP may proceed through its own review and approval process
independently and does not need to be processed in conjunction with a General Plan
update. Adoption of a Hazard Mitigation Plan is a federal policy requirement, pursuant to
the DMA 2000, 44 CFR §201.644, and CFR §201.6, to maintain eligibility for FEMA and
CalOES disaster assistance and hazard mitigation funding. While the City is not
mandated to adopt specific mitigation actions, failure to adopt the plan would result in loss
of eligibility for key federal and state funding programs, including the Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program (HMGP), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), Flood
Mitigation Assistance (FMA), Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG), and certain
Public Assistance categories.
Agencies are required to review and revise their Hazard Mitigation Plan and resubmit it
for FEMA approval every five years Pursuant to Title 44 of the Code of Federal
Regulations §201.4 and § 201.5 to ensure the continued eligibility of Stafford Act funding.
This includes eligibility for FEMA's hazard mitigation assistance programs: HMGP, Pre-
Disaster Mitigation (PDM), and FMA program. This also includes eligibility for the FMAG
Program and Public Assistance (PA) grants Categories C-G. Additionally, with an
approved and adopted HMP, agencies remain eligible for the reduced cost share for
grants awarded under the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant programs.
DISCUSSION
Through the DMA 2000, the US Congress set a goal to encoura ge local governments and
states to develop plans and undertake projects to mitigate the impact of natural disasters
to a community before disasters occur. Federal requirements established by FEMA
because of this legislation, including a requirement that Hazard Mitigation Plans be
reviewed and updated a minimum of every five years, and following any major disaster
declaration, to maintain eligibility for funding and technical ass istance from State and
Federal hazard mitigation programs.
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As with other agencies in San Luis Obispo County, the City of San Luis Obispo had
historically completed its LHMPs independently. In 2018, the County of San Luis Obispo
Office of Emergency Services proposed the development of a countywide MJHMP for all
interested cities, community services districts, and special districts, and subsequently
received grant funding to support this effort. The multi-jurisdictional approach is intended
to meet federal and state planning requirements, create administrative efficiencies for
participating agencies, and generate cost savings through a coordinated planning
process.
The updated MJHMP complies with FEMA guidance and CalOES guidelines for LHMPs.
The update followed the requirements noted in the DMA 2000 and the requirements
outlined in the FEMA’s Local Mitigation Planning Handbook, released in May 20231 that
has become the official guide for local governments, including special districts, to develop,
update and implement local mitigation plans.
This MJHMP update involved a comprehensive review and update of each section of the
2019 plan, the integration of a detailed risk assessment (including a parcel-level analysis
and critical facility analysis), targeted outreach to stakeholder organizations that represent
socially vulnerable populations, including People Helping People, El Camino Homeless
Organization (ECHO), Community Action Partnership of SLO (CAPSLO), 5 Cities
Homeless Coalition, YTT Northern Chumash Tribe, Xolon Salinan Tribe, Atascadero
State Hospital, LOCAC-Los Osos, ROSENXT-SLO, and an assessment of the progress
in evaluating, monitoring, and implementing the mitigation strategy outlined in the
previous plan.
Both the previous 2019 plan and the 2025 update profiled and assessed 15 natural and
human-caused hazards. The planning process provided an opportunity to review
jurisdictional priorities related to hazard significance and mitigation action, and revisions
were made where applicable to the MJHMP Base Plan, consisting of sections 1 through
8, and the municipal and special district annexes A through U. Only the information and
data still valid from the 2019 plan was carried forward as applicable into this MJHMP
update.
1 The FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Handbook was updated on June 12, 2025, after the
MJHMP update process was already underway. The Handbook is a guidance document
intended to assist local jurisdictions in developing and updating hazard mitigation plans and
does not itself establish regulatory requirements. FEMA's mitigation planning requirements are
contained in the Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide and 44 CFR §201.6. The County's
MJHMP was developed and reviewed using FEMA-approved mitigation planning guidance and
was submitted through the standard CalOES and FEMA review process. FEMA's approval of
the plan confirms that it meets applicable federal mitigation planning requirements.
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The timeline proposed in 2018 aligned with the City of San Luis Obispo’s requirement to
update its existing 2014 LHMP and ensured the plan would be appropriately updated and
maintained in compliance with applicable requirements. Accordingly, the City agreed to
participate in the multi-jurisdictional plan alongside twenty (20) other agencies.
Participating jurisdictions include the County of San Luis Obispo, the seven (7) cities, ten
(10) community services districts, and four (4) special districts, all of which are identified
within the plan.
Lead Jurisdiction: County of San Luis Obispo
Participating Municipalities:
City of Arroyo Grande
City of Atascadero
City of Grover Beach
City of Morro Bay
City of Paso Robles
City of Pismo Beach
City of San Luis Obispo
Participating Community Services Districts:
Avila Beach Community Services District
Cambria Community Services District
Ground Squirrel Hollow Community Services District
Heritage Ranch Community Services District
Los Osos Community Services District
Nipomo Community Services District
Oceano Community Services District
San Miguel Community Services District
San Simeon Community Services District
Templeton Community Services District
Participating Special Districts:
San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District
Cayucos Sanitary District
Port San Luis Harbor District
South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District
The current MJHMP draft and annexes (A-J & K-U) was completed in September 2025
and submitted to CalOES and FEMA for review. All participating agencies identified above
have been incorporated into the revised draft and are reflected in the applicable annexes
of the MJHMP. Due to federal funding of FEMA being halted during a federal government
shutdown, the review process was delayed, and returned to San Luis Obispo County OES
on January 7, 2026, for approval from all participating agencies. Once the plan is adopted
by all participating agencies, the County of San Luis Obispo can adopt the MJHMP and
FEMA can formally approve the plan. FEMA has approved the MJHMP but awaits the
City’s adoption of the MJHMP including Annex G.
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The San Luis Obispo County MJHMP serves as the primary hazard mitigation guidance
document for the County and participating agencies. The plan provides an updated
analysis of each jurisdiction’s historical and current hazards, identifies hazard mitigation
goals and objectives, and outlines mitigation strategies and actions. Additionally, the plan
reflects the City of San Luis Obispo’s and the region’s shared commitment to a
comprehensive mitigation approach aimed at reducing or eliminating disaster -related
risks and impacts, supporting faster recovery following disasters, and fostering a more
resilient region overall.
Planning Process
A third-party planning contractor, WSP, established the planning process for the San Luis
Obispo County MJHMP using the DMA 2000 planning requirements and FEMA’s
associated guidance. The FEMA planning guidance is structured around a four -phase
process:
1. Organize Resources
2. Assess Risks
3. Develop the Mitigation Plan
4. Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress
FEMA’s Local Mitigation Planning Handbook recommends a nine-step process within the
original four phases. Into this four-phase process, WSP integrated a more detailed 10 -
step planning process used for FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) and Flood
Mitigation Assistance programs. Thus, the modified 10 -step process used for this plan
meets the funding eligibility requirements of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants
(including Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) , Pre-Disaster Mitigation program,
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), Flood Mitigation Assistance),
the Community Rating System, and the flood control projects authorized by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE).
FEMA’s Community Rating System 10 step process is as follows:
A. Organize Resources
1. Organize the planning effort
2. Involve the public
3. Coordinate with other departments and agencies
B. Assess Risks
4. Identify Hazards
5. Assess risks
C. C. Develop the Mitigation Plan
6. Establish mitigation goals
7. Review and evaluate potential mitigation actions
8. Develop the mitigation action plan
D. Implement and Maintain the Plan
9. Adopt the plan
10. Implement, evaluate, and revise the plan
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The City participates in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System
(CRS), a voluntary FEMA program that recognizes communities that exceed minimum
floodplain management requirements through activities such as public outreach, flood
mitigation planning, stormwater management, and preservation of flood -prone open
space. The City currently maintains a CRS Class 7 rating, which provides eligible property
owners within Special Flood Hazard Areas an approximate 15% reduction in National
Flood Insurance Program flood insurance premiums. Participation in the CRS program
supports the City’s broader hazard mitigation and resilience efforts while providing a direct
financial benefit to residents and businesses carrying flood insurance policies.
In May 2023, FEMA released the Local Mitigation Planning Handbook (updated June
2025) that has become the official guide for local governments, including special districts,
to develop, update and implement local mitigation plans. The Handbook guides local
governments on developing or updating hazard mitigation plans to meet the requirements
under the CFR Title 44 – Emergency Management and Assistance Section 201.6 , Local
Mitigation Plans for FEMA approval and eligibility to apply for FEMA HMA grant programs.
It offers practical approaches, tools, worksheets, and local mitigation planning examples
for how communities can engage in effective planning to reduce long-term risk from
natural hazards and disasters. The Handbook complements and liberally references the
Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide (October 1, 2011), which is the official guidance for
federal and state officials responsible for reviewing local mitigation plans in a fair and
consistent manner.
Plan Organization
The MJHMP consists of eight sections, jurisdictional specific annexes (A-J & K-U) and
appendices as described below. The eight sections are written at the County level;
however, the sections are repeated in each jurisdictional annex specific to each agency.
Pursuant to 44 CFR §201.6(c)(5), jurisdictions participating in a MJHMP must formally
adopt the FEMA approved plan document to maintain eligibility for FEMA and Cal OES
hazard mitigation and disaster assistance funding programs. Although Annex G contains
the City specific information and mitigation actions, it is part of and supported by the
broader countywide MJHMP framework.
1. Promulgation and Adoption
Includes history of previous adoptions.
2. Introduction and Executive Summary
Provides a plan description, purpose, and authority.
3. Planning Process
Describes and documents the planning process including coordination among
agencies and the key stakeholders. In addition, this section documents the public
participation process, a legally required component of the plan development.
4. County Profile
Provides County history, geography, demographics, population profile, economy,
climate, transportation, land use and development trends.
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5. Risk Assessment
Describes the process through which the HMP team identified and prioritized relevant
hazards including methodology and results. This section also provides disaster
declaration history, climate change consideration summary, asset summary and
detailed hazard analysis and risk assessment for each identified hazard.
6. Capability Assessment
Presents San Luis Obispo County’s mitigation capabilities: programs and policies
currently in use to reduce hazard impacts or that could be used to implement hazard
mitigation activities. It also identifies select state and federal departments/agencies
that can supplement the County’s mitigation capabilities.
7. Mitigation Strategy
Describes mitigation goals and objectives, identification and analysis of mitigation
actions and a mitigation action plan.
8. Implementation and Monitoring
Describes the role of the HMP planning committee in implementation and
maintenance and processes for incorporation into existing planning mechanisms. This
section also outlines maintenance monitoring and evaluation and continued public
involvement.
Jurisdictional Annexes (A-J & K-U)
Developed annexes for the participating agencies, including cities, community services
districts and special districts. The City of San Luis Obispo annex is “Annex G” and
provided as a separate attachment to this report for ease of reference.
The appendices to the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) provide the
technical documentation and supporting materials used in development of the plan.
Appendices:
Appendix A – Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee
Identifies the agencies, stakeholders, and partner organizations that participated in
development of the MJHMP.
Appendix B – Mitigation Categories and Alternatives
Describes the types of mitigation actions considered during plan development and the
range of strategies available to reduce hazard risk.
Appendix C – Planning Process Documentation
Documents the planning process used to develop the MJHMP, including meetings,
coordination efforts, and FEMA-required planning activities.
Appendix C.1 – Outreach Strategy
Summarizes public outreach and community engagement efforts conducted as part of the
MJHMP update process.
Appendix D – Jurisdictional Adoption Resolutions
Contains the formal resolutions adopted by participating jurisdictions approving the
MJHMP.
Appendix E – Critical Facilities
Provides an inventory of critical infrastructure and essential facilities evaluated as part of
the hazard mitigation planning process.
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Appendix F – Climate Change Adaptation Planning Guide Consistency
Summary
Summarizes how the MJHMP aligns with climate adaptation planning guidance and
incorporates climate-related hazard considerations.
Appendix G – References
Lists the technical studies, data sources, plans, regulations, and other reference materials
used in development of the MJHMP.
Appendix H – Drought Risk Assessment
Provides detailed analysis of drought vulnerability, impacts, and risk factors affecting the
county and participating jurisdictions.
City of San Luis Obispo Annex
This Jurisdictional Annex builds upon and supersedes the 2019 City of San Luis Obispo
LHMP. The annex matches the content identified in sections 1 through 8 of the MJHMP
but does so in a manner that is specific to the City of San Luis Obispo.
The City’s LMHP planning team (listed in Table 3-3 of the MJHMP) included the City
Manager, Fire Chief, Community Development Director, Chief Building Official, Public
Works Deputy Director, Public Works Maintenance Superintendent, Principal Planner,
Assistant Planner, Utilities Project Manager, City Biologist, Sustainability & Natural
Resources Official, and the Sustainability and Natural Resource Analyst. This team
reviewed the goals from the 2019 LHMP and recommended, during the development of
the MJHMP, that they continue to be appropriate for this plan update.
The City of San Luis Obispo’s 2025 mitigation goals are:
Goal 1: Public Safety
Minimize injury and loss of life, damage to public and private property, and social and
economic disruptions resulting from natural and human-caused hazards.
Goal 2: Community Resilience
Enable and empower all community members to prepare for, respond to, and recover
from disruptions while seizing opportunities to thrive under changing conditions.
Goal 3: City Government Resilience
Ensure City facilities, infrastructure, and operations remain resilient, innovative, and
capable of cost-effectively providing essential services during disasters and ongoing
disruptions.
Goal 4: Environmental Justice
Promote a diverse, equitable, and healthy community by ensuring populations
disproportionately affected by natural hazards and climate change have access to
resources and meaningful participation in preparedness and response efforts.
Goal 5: Natural Systems
Protect and enhance natural systems that support ecological and community health,
safety, and natural beauty, provide equitable access to nature, and adapt to a changing
climate.
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Goal 6: Built Environment
Strengthen buildings, public spaces, and transportation systems to withstand natural
hazards and climate impacts, provide safe refuge, foster social cohesion, and equitably
protect personal and community assets.
Annex G contains the City of San Luis Obispo's Mitigation Action Plan, which identifies
specific mitigation actions, responsible departments, potential funding sources, estimated
costs, and implementation timelines to achieve the goals outlined above. Implementation
and ongoing maintenance of the annex will be coordinated by City staff in collaboration
with the County's Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan team. Consistent with the
planning structure established during development of the MJHMP, the Emergency
Manager will represent the City on the County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee
(HMPC), which meets annually to review plan implementation and progress.
The City's hazard mitigation team will consist of the Fire Chief, Emergency Manager,
Natural Resource Manager, Sustainability Manager, Assistant Planner, and Principal
Planner, who will be responsible for monitoring mitigation actions and supporting future
plan updates.
LHMP Table G-1 City of San Luis Obispo Local Planning Team
The LHMP annex will be maintained through ongoing coordination between internal City
departments involved in emergency management, fire, police, utilities, public works,
community development, and other operational areas related to hazard mitigation and
resilience. City staff will periodically review mitigation actions, monitor implementation
progress, evaluate changes in hazard conditions and infrastructure, and incorporate
lessons learned from emergencies, disasters, and planning efforts.
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Section G.2 of the LHMP Annex G is the Hazard Identification and Summary:
Mitigation Actions
The City of San Luis Obispo Local Planning Team identified and prioritized 17 new
mitigation actions based on the updated 2025 risk assessment and continued 24
mitigation actions from the 2019 planning process. These actions address a range of
identified hazards and resilience priorities, including wildfire, flooding, drought,
infrastructure protection, emergency communications, evacuation planning, and public
preparedness. Mitigation actions were prioritized using the methodology described in
Section 7.2.1 of the Base Plan, with implementation timelines and project cost definitions
provided in Section 7.3.2. The mitigation action tables of G-29 identify implementation
strategies, responsible departments, potential funding sources, estimated costs, and
implementation schedules. For conciseness within the tables, references to “Adverse
Weather: Thunderstorm” include the related sub hazards of thunderstorm, heavy rain,
dense fog, and freeze events.
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LHMP Table G-29
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City staff continue to actively implement, and advance mitigation actions identified in the
LHMP through ongoing emergency management, infrastructure resilience, wildfire
mitigation, evacuation planning, public outreach, and interdepartmental coordination
efforts. Current work includes developing citywide evacuation modeling and planning,
Firewise community program development, vegetation management initiatives, critical
infrastructure assessments, public awareness programs, hazard mapping coordination,
and integration of hazard mitigation considerations into City planning and operational
activities. Many mitigation actions are ongoing programs or multi -year projects that are
regularly evaluated and updated as conditions, risks, funding opportunities, and
regulatory requirements evolve.
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NEXT STEPS
Following City Council adoption, the County of San Luis Obispo will compile all
participating jurisdiction adoption resolutions and submit the finalized MJHMP to FEMA
for final approval. Consistent with FEMA requirements for multi-jurisdictional plans
pursuant to 44 CFR § 201.6(c)(5), the City Council is being asked to adopt the complete
FEMA-reviewed MJHMP, including the City of San Luis Obispo’s Annex G (2025 LHMP),
which contains the City-specific hazard assessment, capabilities analysis, and mitigation
actions.
As discussed above, incorporation of the LHMP into the CASE to replace Appendix C
does not trigger an amendment to the General Plan at this time . Upon FEMA approval,
the City’s LHMP annex will continue to be incorporated by reference into the CASE,
consistent with California Government Code Section 65302(g). To remain eligible for
certain state funding under AB 2140 and to comply with the CASE’s own timelines for re-
adoption, the LHMP will be re-adopted into the CASE every five years.
Following adoption and FEMA approval, City staff will continue implementation,
monitoring, and periodic maintenance of the mitigation actions identified in the MJHMP.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
2006, the San Luis Obispo City Council adopted the City’s first LHMP.
2014, the San Luis Obispo City Council adopted the City’s first updated Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan.
2020, the San Luis Obispo City Council adopted the City’s second updated Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan.
Public Engagement
Public involvement is a critical component of the hazard mitigation planning process and
is required under the DMA 2000. Public outreach for the MJHMP update was led by the
County of San Luis Obispo in coordination with participating jurisdictions, including the
City of San Luis Obispo. Outreach efforts included use of the City’s public web platform,
public meetings, and promotion through traditional media and social media channels to
encourage community participation and input throughout the planning process.
Opportunities to provide input on the plan included:
Public Workshop – January 9, 2025, 1055 Monterey St. San Luis Obispo
Online Public Survey – January 2025 to February 21, 2025 (See Figure 3 -2)
Public Workshop – January 14, 2025. Held at 1055 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
Draft Review – May 29, 2025. Online Meeting.
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CONCURRENCE
All City departments were involved in the updating of the City’s Annex G in the MJHMP.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to the recommended
action in this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA
Guidelines Sec. 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2024-2025
Funding Identified: Yes
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $4,500 $4,500 $0 $0
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $4,500 $4,500 $0 $0
No additional fiscal impact is associated with the recommendation of adopting the LHMP.
The County of San Luis Obispo secured a grant to develop the MJHMP. Each
participating agency was required to provide a matching contribution based on the
proportional population. The City of San Luis Obispo’ s portion was estimated at $4,500
and was paid in 2025.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Council could direct staff to further modify the City’s Annex and return for
approval at a later date. An alternative to adoption of the LHMP as presented would
be to direct staff to make additional revisions to the City Annex prior to adoption. Minor
edits, clarifications, and formatting updates can still be incorporated at this stage
provided the mitigation actions themselves are not removed from the document, as
removal of mitigation actions could affect FEMA compliance and plan approval
timelines. If directed by the Council, staff can coordinate additional revisions with the
County prior to final FEMA submittal.
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2. Do not adopt the proposed update to the LHMP. Non-adoption would restrict the
City’s ability to apply for certain federal grants and state cost share on Public
Assistance projects per AB 2140 in the future and jeopardize current grants to
implement hazard mitigation projects prior to a disaster event.
ATTACHMENTS
A - Draft Resolution Adopting the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Plan 2025 Update
B - Annex G of the San Luis Obispo County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2026 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE DISASTER MITIGATION ACT
OF 2000 (DMA 2000) COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO MULTI-
JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2025 UPDATE
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo has the potential to experience natural
and human caused disasters that may damage commercial, residential, and public
properties, disrupt essential services, displace residents and businesses, close streets,
and damage infrastructure, and present public health and safety concerns; and
WHEREAS, similarly, the County of San Luis Obispo and surrounding agencies
equally face potential to experience disasters that can damage commercial, residential,
and public properties, displace citizens and businesses, close streets and bridges, and
present public health and safety concerns; and
WHEREAS, the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) and Title 44
of the Code of Federal Regulations §201.6 require local jurisdictions to adopt a Hazard
Mitigation Plan to remain eligible for federal and state disaster assistance and hazard
mitigation funding; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo asserts that regionalism and cooperation
improve the preparedness and resiliency of the Region through effective and cooperative
mitigation efforts; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 San Luis Obispo County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard
Mitigation Plan including all annexes and appendices will serve as the City of San Luis
Obispo’ s required update of the 2019 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan; and
WHEREAS, “Annex G” of the San Luis Obispo County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard
Mitigation Plan specifically identifies the planning process, hazard identification, assets
at risk, and proposed mitigation actions for the City of San Luis Obispo; and
WHEREAS, City departments, participating partner agencies, community partner
organizations and the public have contributed to the development of the Multi-
Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan to meet the requirements of the DMA 2000; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo is committed to implementing the actions
contained within this plan; and
WHEREAS, the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan will be reviewed
annually and revised as necessary to meet changing conditions; and
WHEREAS, on June 16, 2026, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo held
a public hearing at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, in San Luis Obispo, for the purpose of
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Resolution No. _____ (202X Series) Page 2
R ______
considering and adopting the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025 Update.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo that:
SECTION 1: The plan entitled “San Luis Obispo County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard
Mitigation Plan 2025 Update” is hereby adopted, a copy of which will be kept on file by
the City Clerk in the form adopted herein.
Upon motion of Council Member ___________, seconded by Council Member
___________, and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _______________ 2026.
___________________________
Mayor Erica A. Stewart
ATTEST:
______________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the
City of San Luis Obispo, California, on ______________________.
___________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
County of San Luis Obispo Local Hazard Mitigation Plan | City of San Luis Obispo | 2025-2030 Annex G-1
Annex G City of San Luis Obispo
G.1 Community Profile
G.1.1 Mitigation Planning History and 2025 Process
This annex was updated in 2025 to build upon the previous version created for the 2019 San
Luis Obispo Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) update. This 2025 Jurisdictional Annex also includes
input from the previous versions of the 2014 and the 2019 City of San Luis Obispo Local HMP.
Although the 2014 mitigation plan was not integrated into the City’s General Plan, the updated
2019 version was successfully incorporated, and the upcoming 2025 update is also planned for
inclusion. A review of jurisdictional priorities found no significant changes in priorities since the
last update.
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 TITLE
Fire Department Fire Chief
Fire Department Emergency Manager
Administration Natural Resource Manager
Administration Sustainability Manager
Community Development Assistant Planner
Community Development Principal Planner
Additionally, the plan must document opportunities for neighboring communities, local and
regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities, agencies with the authority to
regulate development, as well as businesses, academia, and other private and non-profit
interests, to actively participate in the planning process. Stakeholder groups are listed below in
Table G-2.
More details on the planning process and how the jurisdictions, services districts and
stakeholders participated can be found in Chapter 3 of the Base Plan, along with how the
public was involved during the 2025 update.
Table G-2 City of San Luis Obispo Stakeholder Groups, Neighboring Communities, and
Local Agencies
STAKEHOLDER CATEGORY ORGANIZATION
Agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities: City of San Luis Obispo
Agencies that have the authority to regulate
development:
City Community Development
Neighboring Communities: San Luis Obispo County OES
Representatives of business academia, and other
private orgs:
California Polytechnic State University SLO; San
Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce: Downtown
Representatives supporting underserved
communities:
Housing Authority of the City of San Luis Obispo;
People’s Self-Help Housing; Community Action
Partnership of San Luis Obispo County
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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 from a natural barrier to development in San Luis Obispo.
The City is an estimated 10.7 square miles and is surrounded 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.
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.
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
onshore 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).
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Figure G-1 The City of San Luis Obispo
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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-3.
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 2023 American Community Survey.
Table G-3 City of San Luis Obispo’s Employment by Industry, 2023
OCCUPATION # EMPLOYED % EMPLOYED
Sales and Office Occupations 4,395 17%
Management, Business, Science, and Arts Occupations 12,723 49.3%
Natural Resources, Construction, and Maintenance Occupations 1,137 4.4%
Production, Transportation, and Material Moving Occupations 1,871 7.3%
Service Occupations 5.674 22%
Total 27,661
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2023, www.census.gov/
*Excludes armed forces’
Table G-4 City of San Luis Obispo’s Employment by Industry, 2023
INDUSTRY #
EMPLOYED
%
EMPLOYED
Population (2023) 12,687
In Labor Force 6,892 63.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 280 1.1%
Construction 1,062 4.1%
Manufacturing 1,883 7.3%
Wholesale trade 199 .8%
Retail trade 2,828 11%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 855 3.3%
Information 297 1.2%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 740 2.9%
Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste mgmt.
services
4,229 16.4%
Educational services, health care, and social assistance 6,719 266%
Arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services 4,408 17.1%
Other services, except public administration 1,047 4.1%
Public administration 1,253 4.9%
Unemployed 1,838 4.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2023, www.census.gov/
G.1.5 Population
The City of San Luis Obispo has a population of 48,039 persons as of January 2023, which
accounts for approximately 17% of the County’s population. The City experienced a growth of
4% from 47,160 residents from January 2018. The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community
Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates provide select demographic and social characteristics and
changes from 2018 to 2023 for the City of San Luis Obispo (Table G-5).
Table G-5 City of San Luis Obispo’s Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2018 to 2023
CHARACTERISTIC 2018 2023 % CHANGE
Population 47,160 48,039 +4%
Median Age 26.2 26.2 0
Total Housing Units 20,550 21,783 +6%
Housing Occupancy Rate 91% 92% +1%
% of Housing Units with no Vehicles Available 7.8% 7.4% +5%
Median Home Value $617,200 $896,500 +45%
Unemployment 2.3% 4.2% +82%
Mean Travel Time to Work (minutes) 15.8 15.6 -1.3%
Median Household Income $114,688 $158,444 +38%
Per Capita Income $31,917 $45.462 +42%
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level 31.8% 30% -5%
# of Households 18,708 20,005 +6%
Average Household Size 2.45 2.34 +5%
% of Population Over 25 with High School Diploma 92.7% 96% +3.5%
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CHARACTERISTIC 2018 2023 % CHANGE
% of Population Over 25 with Bachelor’s Degree or
Higher
52.6% 34.0% -35%
% with Disability 9% 9.4% +4.4%
% Speak English less than "Very Well" 5.7% 3% -47.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2018-2023 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/
Between 1950 and 1990, the City grew from a population of 14,180 to just under 42,000. 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 4% growth since the 2018
American Community Survey. The SLO 2035 Land Use and Circulation Elements projected
population of 48,826 in 2020, where the actual population was less at 47,402.
G.1.6 Development Trends
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
The City of San Luis Obispo 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 Climate Adaptation and
Safety Element (CASE) 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.
Specific to hazards, analysis of parcels developed between 2019-2024 (since the last update of
this HMP) indicated some growth in areas prone to flood (1% and 0.2% annual chance zone),
landslide, liquefaction, and wildfire (see Development Trends subsections in base plan Chapter
5 for specific counts). While these trends may indicate some increase in community
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vulnerability, they do not account for site specific investigations or compliance with local
regulations that may reduce risk during development.
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 minimize 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.
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. For all other hazards identified in Section G.2 (adverse weather-all subhazards,
agricultural pests, biological agents, drought, landslides, subsidence and hazardous materials)
the city’s net vulnerability has not increased or decreased due to changes in development
since the previous plan was approved.
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).
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/Dense Fog/Freeze
Extensive Likely Limited Medium
Adverse Weather: High Wind/
Tornado
Extensive Occasional Limited Medium
Adverse Weather: Extreme Heat Extensive Occasional Limited Medium
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 Significant Likely Critical Low
Subsidence Significant Occasional Negligible Low
Wildfire Significant Occasional Critical High
Human Caused: Hazardous
Materials
Limited Highly Likely Negligible Medium
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HAZARD GEOGRAPHIC
AREA
PROBABILITY OF
FUTURE
OCCURRENCE
MAGNITUDE/
SEVERITY
(EXTENT)
OVERALL
SIGNIFICANCE
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
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 previous LHMP for the City and jurisdiction specific information collected
during the 2025 update. A Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Guide and associated
worksheets were distributed to each participating municipality or special district to complete
during the 2025 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.
G.3.1 Other Hazards
The following hazards in the base plan HIRA are not identified within this jurisdictional annex
due to no risk or insignificant anticipated impacts and are not considered further for
vulnerability assessment or mitigation actions:
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•Adverse weather: the sub-hazards of lightning/hail are not profiled due to the lack of
documented major occurrences in the city
•Coastal Storm/ Coastal Erosion/ Sea Level Rise
•Dam Incidents
•Tsunami
G.3.2 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.
G.3.2.1 Values at Risk
The following data on property exposure is derived from the San Luis Obispo County 2024
Parcel and Assessor data. It is 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 and is not included in the values below. 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 City of San Luis Obispo Total Exposure by Property Type
PROPERTY TYPE STRUCTURE
COUNT
IMPROVED
VALUE
ESTIMATED
CONTENT VALUE
TOTAL VALUE
Commercial 1,266 $1,580,482,745 $1,580,482,745 $3,160,965,490
Exempt 77 $55,796,301 $55,796,301 $111,592,602
Industrial 190 $268,276,714 $402,415,071 $670,691,785
Mining 2 $844,659 $844,659 $1,689,318
Mixed Use 1,211 $387,479,969 $387,479,969 $774,959,938
Mobile/Manufactured Homes 171 $31,076,092 $15,538,046 $46,614,138
Multi-Family Residential 1,203 $861,685,345 $430,842,673 $1,292,528,018
Residential 11,179 $3,293,935,454 $1,646,967,727 $4,940,903,181
Vacant Improved 149 $75,764,493 - $75,764,493
Total 15,448 $6,555,341,772 $4,520,367,191 $11,075,708,963
Source: San Luis Obispo County Assessor Data November 15, 2024, WSP GIS Analysis
G.3.2.2 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 special consideration
when formulating regulatory hazard mitigation and floodplain management plans should be
given. See Section 5.2 of the Base Plan for more details on the definitions and categories of
critical facilities.
An inventory of critical facilities in the city is provided in Table G-9 as well as illustrated in
Figure G-1. Refer to Section 5.2 of the Base Plan for more information on the Assets used
throughout this annex, including the definitions and categories of critical facilities, and the
County-wide analyses.
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Table G-9 City of San Luis Obispo’s Critical Facilities Assets Summary by FEMA Lifeline
FEMA LIFELINE CATEGORY COUNTS
Communications 19
Energy -
Food, Hydration, Shelter 4
Hazardous Material 4
Health and Medical 18
Safety and Security 36
Transportation 54
Water Systems 1
Total 136
Source: San Luis Obispo County, CalARP, HIFLD, National Bridge Inventory, National Inventory of Dams, FCWCD, WSP Analysis
G.3.2.3 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.
G.3.2.4 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 defined 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)
G.3.2.5 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,
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the Little Italy District, the Monterey Heights District, the Mount Pleasanton/Anholm District,
the Chinatown 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
G.3.2.6 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
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creeks provide sheltered corridors that allow wildlife to move between dispersed habitats and
open space areas.
G.3.2.7 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.3.3 Estimating Potential Losses
Section G.3.1 above describes San Luis Obispo’s overall exposure 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 Base Plan Section 5
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for more detailed information about these hazards
and their impacts on the County as a whole.)
G.3.3.1 Adverse Weather: Thunderstorm/Heavy Rain/Dense Fog/Freeze
Adverse weather in the City of San Luis Obispo includes thunderstorms, heavy rain, dense fog,
and freeze. The City of San Luis Obispo’s overall significance rating for adverse weather is rated
as medium. The entire property and facility inventory, as well as the population of San Luis
Obispo, is exposed to the impacts of thunderstorm/heavy rain/dense fog/freeze due to the
widespread nature of these hazards. The typical impacts to people, structures, and critical
facilities/lifeline are discussed in Section 5.3.2.7 of the base plan. Specific to the City of San Luis
Obispo, adverse weather 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. Over the last decade, the City of San Luis Obispo has
experienced some of the warmest years on record, reflecting a broader trend of rising
temperatures in the region. The tables below show key climate variables such as extreme
temperatures, precipitation totals, and the frequency of specific weather events for the City.
Table G-11 San Luis Obispo Cal Poly Climate Summary Table – Weather (Period of Record:
10/01/1927 - 04/09/2025)
SUMMARY
PERIOD
MONTHLY
MEAN
MAXIMUM
TEMP.
MONTHLY
MEAN
MINIMUM
TEMP.
DAILY
EXTREME
HIGH TEMP
DAILY
EXTREME
HIGH DATE
DAILY
EXTREME
LOW TEMP
DAILY
EXTREME
LOW DATE
MAXIMUM
TEMP. ≥
90°F MEAN
# DAYS
MINIMUM
TEMP. ≤
32°F MEAN
# DAYS
Winter 64.2°F 43°F 92°F 12/4/1958 17°F 12/23/1990 0 3.2
Spring 68.4°F 46.2°F 104°F 4/8/1989 28°F 3/1/1962 1.4 0.2
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SUMMARY
PERIOD
MONTHLY
MEAN
MAXIMUM
TEMP.
MONTHLY
MEAN
MINIMUM
TEMP.
DAILY
EXTREME
HIGH TEMP
DAILY
EXTREME
HIGH DATE
DAILY
EXTREME
LOW TEMP
DAILY
EXTREME
LOW DATE
MAXIMUM
TEMP. ≥
90°F MEAN
# DAYS
MINIMUM
TEMP. ≤
32°F MEAN
# DAYS
Summer 77.3°F 52.3°F 111°F 7/7/1989 35°F 6/29/1988 5 0
Fall 75.5°F 49.9°F 113°F 9/6/2020 23°F 11/24/2004 7 0.3
Annual 71.3°F 47.9°F 113°F 9/6/2020 17°F 12/23/1990 13.6 3.8
Source: Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC) https://wrcc.dri.edu/
* Winter is defined as December, January, and February
** Summer is defined as June, July, and August
Table G-12 San Luis Obispo Cal Poly Climate Summary Table – Precipitation (10/01/1927 -
04/09/2025)
SUMMARY
PERIOD
PRECIP.
MEAN
PRECIP.
HIGH
PRECIP.
HIGH YEAR
PRECIP.
LOW
PRECIP.
LOW YEAR
PRECIP. 1
DAY
MAXIMUM
PRECIP. 1
DAY
MAXIMUM
DATE
PRECIP. ≥
1.00 IN.
MEAN #
DAYS
Winter 13.15 in. 43.71 in. 1969 0.43 in. 1907 6.05 in. 1/9/2023 4.3
Spring 5.42 in. 18.36 in. 1995 0.05 in. 1997 4.75 in. 3/7/1911 1.5
Summer 0.18 in. 1.88 in. 1933 0 in. 1893 1.7 in. 6/5/1933 0
Fall 3.1 in. 9.51 in. 1972 0.01 in. 1980 3.58 in. 11/20/1946 0.9
Annual 22.02 in. 48.76 in. 1969 4.56 in. 2013 6.05 in. 1/9/2023 6.9
Source: Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC) https://wrcc.dri.edu/
* Winter is defined as December, January, and February
** Summer is defined as June, July, and August
G.3.3.2 Adverse Weather: High Wind/Tornado
The overall significance rating of high wind and tornado in the City of San Luis Obispo is rated
medium. The entire property and facility inventory, as well as the population of San Luis
Obispo, is exposed to the impacts of high wind and tornado due to the widespread nature of
this hazard. The typical impacts to people, structures, and critical facilities/lifeline are discussed
in Section 5.3.3.7 of the base plan. The City has 171 mobile homes, which if unanchored, may be
more susceptible to damage from high wind/tornado; an estimated 400 persons live in these
homes based on an average household size of 2.34.. 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. While tornadoes are uncommon, past events demonstrate that the threat is
possible in the planning area. 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.
G.3.3.3 Adverse Weather: Extreme Heat
Extreme heat is a medium significance hazard for the City of San Luis Obispo. The entire
property and facility inventory, as well as the population of San Luis Obispo, is exposed to the
impacts of extreme heat due to the widespread nature of this hazard. The typical impacts to
people, structures, and critical facilities/lifeline are discussed in Section 5.3.4.7 of the base plan.
The average high summer temperature for the Cal Poly NOAA weather station is 77.3°F;
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however, temperatures up to 113°F have been recorded (see Table G-11). The city's 2024 Health
Hazard Vulnerability Analysis identifies extreme summer weather as a frequent hazard, noting
that high temperatures can exacerbate wildfire risks and necessitate Public Safety Power
Shutoffs (PSPS), which may disrupt access to air conditioning and critical medical devices,
particularly affecting rural and mobility-impaired residents. The HMPC noted that the majority
of residential properties in the city do not have air conditioning systems, and those that do are
often equipped with swamp cooler-like systems that are unable to provide adequate cooling
during extreme heat events. Additionally, the urban heat island effect, particularly in denser,
built-up areas like downtown, can intensify heat exposure by increasing surface and ambient
air temperatures, reducing nighttime cooling, and compounding the health risks of prolonged
heat waves. Rising temperatures and more frequent heat waves are increasing the likelihood
of more extreme heat events in the future.
These events pose a risk to public health, particularly for older adults, children, people with
chronic illnesses, and outdoor workers, and can overwhelm local healthcare services. Extreme
heat also strains infrastructure, increasing electricity demand and potentially triggering power
shutoffs that can impact cooling systems and medical equipment. Socially vulnerable
communities, including low-income households and non-English speakers, are at higher risk
due to limited access to resources like air conditioning and access to informational resources.
Sectors like agriculture and tourism may also suffer from reduced productivity and visitation.
G.3.3.4 Agricultural Pest Infestation and Disease
The City of San Luis Obispo was given a significance ranking of medium by the HMPC for
agricultural pest infestation, plant disease, and tree mortality. According to the United States
Forest Service over 100 million trees have died in California and more continue to die due to
many years of drought that have weakened trees and left millions of acres of forestland highly
susceptible to insect attacks. The County of San Luis Obispo Assessor data shows that 11
structures with a total value of $5,984,243 are in tree mortality hazard zones as shown in Table
G-13. The City of San Luis Obispo land use designation is a mix of agriculture, open space, rural
lands, and recreation. Having agricultural lands and open space throughout the county can
harbor certain pests that target trees and other plants. Diseases such as Sudden Oak Death can
spread if not contained, resulting in tree mortality and economic losses for the city as well as
making these areas more vulnerable to wildfires and landslides. There are no critical facilities
exposed to tree mortality hazard zones in the City of San Luis Obispo.
Table G-13 Properties Exposed to Tree Mortality Hazard Zones in the City of San Luis Obispo
PROPERTY TYPE
STRUCTUR
E COUNTY
IMPROVED VALUE ESTIMATED
CONTENT
VALUE
TOTAL VALUE POPULATIO
N
Commercial 5 $2,013,882 $2,013,882 $4,027,764
Mixed Use 1 $10,840 $10,840 $21,680
Residential 5 $1,289,866 $644,933 $1,934,799 12
Total 11 $3,314,588 $2,669,655 $5,984,243 12
Source: San Luis Obispo County, CAL FIRE, FRAP, TMTF October 2022, CalARP, HIFLD, NBI, NID, WSP Analysis
G.3.3.5 Biological Agents (Naturally Occurring)
The City of San Luis Obispo LPT gave biological agents a medium overall significance rating.
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 Department 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
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health risks to the city as well as threats to regional food and water supply. More information
on biological agents can be found in Section 5.3.6 of the base plan.
G.3.3.6 Drought and Water Storage
The City of San Luis Obispo LPT gave drought a medium overall significance rating. 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. Section
5.3.9.7 of the Base Plan includes an analysis of the vulnerability of people, property, facilities,
and other assets to this hazard countywide. However, the City of San Luis Obispo is less
vulnerable to the impacts of drought than the county as a whole. There is less exposure to
agricultural damage in the City, and the City has invested in a multi-source water supply
including the Nacimiento Reservoir, the Whale Rock Reservoir, Santa Margarita Lake, and
recycled water for landscape irrigation. Additionally, the City maintains historic groundwater
wells in operable, standby positions for emergency use. These measures have helped increase
the City’s resilience to drought.
The water distribution system in the City of San Luis Obispo consists of 190 miles of pipelines,
ten treated water storage tanks, seven pump stations, and over 2,000 fire hydrants. To
maintain consistent pressure across the City, the system is divided into 15 pressure zones with
18 pressure regulating valves. The recycled water system is centered around the Water
Resource Recovery Facility, which treats wastewater for irrigation and construction uses.
The City’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan identifies several areas for improvement,
including again infrastructure and leak reduction. According to the plan, many pipelines have
surpassed their expected lifespan, making replacements necessary to prevent leaks and service
disruptions. However, the City does not project a supply shortfall under single or multiple dry
year scenarios, as shown in Table G-14, due to conservative water planning.
Table G-14 Multiple Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison
DROUGHT
YEAR SUPPLY/DEMAND
2020
(ACTUAL) 2025 2030 2035 2040
First Year Supply Totals 10,143 10,337 10,537 10,587 10,637
Demand Totals 4,817 7,272 7,713 8,191 8,624
Difference 5,326 3,065 2,824 2,396 2,013
Second
Year
Supply Totals 10,143 10,337 10,537 10,587 10,637
Demand Totals 4,817 7,272 7,713 8,191 8,624
Difference 5,326 3,065 2,824 2,396 2,013
Third Year Supply Totals 10,143 10,337 10,537 10,587 10,637
Demand Totals 4,817 7,272 7,713 8,191 8,624
Difference 5,326 3,065 2,824 2,396 2,013
Fourth Year Supply Totals 10,143 10,337 10,537 10,587 10,637
Demand Totals 4,817 7,272 7,713 8,191 8,624
Difference 5,326 3,065 2,824 2,396 2,013
Fifth Year Supply Totals 10,143 10,337 10,537 10,587 10,637
Demand Totals 4,817 7,272 7,713 8,191 8,624
Difference 5,326 3,065 2,824 2,396 2,013
Source: City of San Luis Obispo 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
G.3.3.7 Earthquake
The City of San Luis Obispo LPT gave earthquake a high overall significance rating. Earthquake
events have occurred in the City of San Luis Obispo in the past, including a number of
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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 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 evidence 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 fault rupture hazard to developments near and southwest of the Los Osos Valley
Road area.
Table G-15 Seismic Hazard Designation by Property Type
SEISMIC DESIGNATION PROPERTY TYPE PROPERTY COUNT IMPROVED VALUE
Los Osos Alquist-Priolo Mixed Use 2 $913,701
Residential 34 $13,886,883
Total 36 $14,800,584
Source: San Luis Obispo Assessor Data November 15, 2024, Dept. of Conservation, WSP GIS Analysis
In addition to being at risk of ground shaking as a result of a fault rupture, the City of San Luis
Obispo is also susceptible to the effects of liquefaction. Significant swaths of the city are
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 moderate.
Liquefaction risk is visually displayed across the city in Figure G-2 below.
Based on the vulnerability analysis conducted, the city contains 15,448 improved parcels with a
total estimated value of over $11 billion exposed to liquefiable soils. 11, 190 of these parcels are
in moderate liquefaction susceptibility areas. There are also 136 critical facilities found in
liquefaction susceptible areas. These details are summarized in Table G-16 and Table G-17
below.
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Figure G-2 Liquefaction Risk in the City of San Luis Obispo
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Table G-16 City of San Luis Obispo Improved Properties Exposed to Liquefaction Potential by Property Type
PROPERTY
TYPE
STRUCTURE
COUNT
HIGH
STRUCTURE
COUNT
MODERATE
STRUCTURE
COUNT
LOW
TOTAL
STRUCTURE
COUNT
IMPROVED
VALUE
ESTIMATED
CONTENT
VALUE TOTAL VALUE POPULATION
Agricultural - - - 0 $0 $0 $0 -
Commercial - 1,165 101 1,266 $1,580,482,745 $1,580,482,745 $3,160,965,490 -
Exempt - 59 18 77 $55,796,301 $55,796,301 $111,592,602 -
Industrial - 171 19 190 $268,276,714 $402,415,071 $670,691,785 -
Mining - 2 - 2 $844,659 $1,266,989 $2,111,648 -
Mixed Use - 910 301 1,211 $387,479,969 $387,479,969 $774,959,938 -
Mobile/
Manufactured
Homes
- 162 9 171 $31,076,092 $15,538,046 $46,614,138 409
Multi-Family
Residential - 1,009 194 1,203 $861,685,345 $430,842,673 $1,292,528,018 2,875
Residential - 7,577 3,602 11,179 $3,293,935,454 $1,646,967,727 $4,940,903,181 26,718
Vacant
Improved - 135 14 149 $75,764,493 $0 $75,764,493 -
Total 0 11,190 4,258 15,448 $6,555,341,772 $4,520,789,520 $11,076,131,292 30,002
Source: San Luis Obispo Assessor Data November 15, 2024, WSP GIS Analysis
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Table G-17 Critical Facility Assets Exposed to Liquefaction Susceptibility by FEMA Lifeline
LIQUEFACTION
SUSCEPTIBILITY
CATEGORY COMMUNICATIONS ENERGY FOOD, HYDRATION, SHELTER HAZARDOUS MATERIAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY TRANSPORTATION WATER SYSTEMS TOTAL
COUNT
Moderate Liquefaction
Susceptibility 18 - 3 4 14 28 49 1 117
Low Liquefaction
Susceptibility 1 - 1 - 4 8 5 - 19
Source: San Luis Obispo County, CalARP, HIFLD, NBI, NID, FCWCD, WSP Analysis
G.3.3.8 Flood
The City of San Luis Obispo LPT gave flood a medium overall significance rating. The City
remains vulnerable to both riverine and flash flooding. Riverine flooding, also known as
overbank flooding, continues to be the most common type of flood hazard, typically resulting
from storms that exceed the capacity of local creeks and drainage systems. Riverine
floodplains in San Luis Obispo vary from narrow, confined channels in the hills to broader,
flatter flood-prone areas within the City. The extent and intensity of flooding is influenced by
watershed size, topography, local climate patterns, and urban development.
In addition to riverine flooding, San Luis Obispo is susceptible to flash flooding. Flash floods are
characterized by a rapid rise in water levels, high flow velocities, and significant debris
movement. These events can cause sudden, severe damage to trees, bridges, buildings, and
transportation infrastructure. Contributing factors include intense rainfall, steep terrain,
modified drainage networks, and post-wildfire conditions. Wildfire burn scars, which alter soil
permeability and vegetation cover, further increase the risk of flash flooding and debris flows.
Although dam failure is a potential flood risk in many areas, dam inundation mapping
confirms that there are no dam failure zones located within the City.
The City has experienced significant flood events historically, including major floods in 1868,
1884, 1897, 1911, 1948, 1952, 1962, 1969, 1973, 1993, 1995, 1998, and 2001. The January and March
1995 floods caused extensive damage across the City, overtopping SLO Creek near Marsh and
Higuera Streets, and resulting in nearly $2.3 million in damages. The 1969 flooding event
remains one of the most severe on record, with 39.79 inches of rain recorded over a two-month
period and approximately $6.92 million in damages within the SLO Creek watershed. The 1973
flood was even more damaging, with an estimated $13.6 million in losses concentrated along
Stenner Creek, Brizziolari Creek, Prefumo Creek, and See Canyon Creek.
Recent flooding events further highlight the City's ongoing exposure. In January 2023,
widespread flooding occurred across San Luis Obispo, causing approximately $30 million in
damages to City facilities and infrastructure. Significant impacts to local businesses,
transportation routes, and waterways were reported, with multiple road closures and long-
term infrastructure repair needs identified. FEMA reimbursement was submitted for the public
damages incurred during the 2023 storm.
San Luis Obispo continues to adapt its flood mitigation strategies, including updating its
Climate Action and Safety Element in 2023, restoring San Luis Creek corridors impacted by the
2023 floods, and pursuing projects that enhance flood resilience while protecting natural
floodplain functions.
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The figure below illustrates parcels within the City that remain at risk of flooding during a 1%
annual chance (100-year) or 0.2% annual chance (500-year) event based on the latest FEMA
flood hazard maps, below.
Table G-18 City of San Luis Obispo 1% Annual Chance (100-Year) and 0.2% Annual Chance
(500-Year) Flooding by Population and Parcel Type
PARCEL TYPE
PARCEL
COUNT
IMPROVED
VALUE
CONTENT
VALUE TOTAL VALUE LOSS ESTIMATE POP.
1% ANNUAL CHANCE
Commercial 321 $369,216,712 $369,216,712 $738,433,424 $184,608,356 -
Exempt 18 $7,326,945 $7,326,945 $14,653,890 $3,663,473 -
Industrial 21 $18,772,799 $28,159,199 $46,931,998 $11,732,999 -
Mixed Use 85 $41,335,514 $41,335,514 $82,671,028 $20,667,757 -
Mobile/Manufactured
Homes
6 $925,141 $462,571 $1,387,712 $346,928 14
Multi-Family
Residential
103 $67,536,190 $33,768,095 $101,304,285 $25,326,071 246
Residential 406 $107,862,728 $53,931,364 $161,794,092 $40,448,523 970
Vacant Improved 13 $30,430,549 $0 $30,430,549 $7,607,637 -
Total 973 $643,406,578 $534,200,399 $1,177,606,977 $294,401,744 1,231
0.2% ANNUAL CHANCE
Commercial 125 $140,603,693 $140,603,693 $281,207,386 $70,301,847 -
Exempt 4 $16,441,274 $16,441,274 $32,882,548 $8,220,637 -
Industrial 11 $20,280,470 $30,420,705 $50,701,175 $12,675,294 -
Mixed Use 64 $14,435,912 $14,435,912 $28,871,824 $7,217,956 -
Mobile/Manufactured
Homes
1 $274,003 $137,002 $411,005 $102,751 2
Multi-Family
Residential
168 $72,657,952 $36,328,976 $108,986,928 $27,246,732 402
Residential 1,122 $287,505,983 $143,752,992 $431,258,975 $107,814,744 2,682
Vacant Improved 14 $3,939,335 $0 $3,939,335 $984,834 -
TOTAL 1,509 $556,138,622 $382,120,553 $938,259,175 $234,564,794 3,085
Source: San Luis Obispo Assessor Data November 15, 2024, FEMA NFHL Effective Date 6/6/2024, WSP GIS Analysis
Values at Risk
Under the 1% annual chance (100-year) flood scenario, 973 parcels in the City of San Luis
Obispo are at risk, with a combined improved and content value of approximately $1.18 billion.
Estimated potential losses are approximately $294.4 million. The largest share of value at risk is
associated with commercial properties, representing over $738 million in total value, followed
by residential parcels with approximately $162 million. Multi-family residential and mixed-use
properties also contribute significantly to the overall exposure. Mobile and manufactured
homes, while representing a small portion of the total value, are also at risk.
Under the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood scenario, exposure increases to 1,509 parcels
with a total combined value of approximately $938.3 million. Estimated potential losses are
approximately $234.6 million. Residential parcels represent the largest exposure under this
scenario, accounting for approximately $431 million in combined value. Commercial
properties, multi-family residential, and industrial parcels also contribute significantly to overall
risk.
Population at Risk
Under the 1% annual chance (100-year) flood event, an estimated 1,231 residents are at risk. The
majority of the population exposure is associated with residential parcels, with approximately
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970 residents at risk, followed by multi-family residential units contributing an estimated 246
residents. Mobile and manufactured homes account for an additional 14 residents at risk.
Under the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood event, the estimated population at risk
increases to approximately 3,085 residents. Residential parcels again represent the largest
share, with approximately 2,682 residents at risk. Multi-family residential parcels account for
approximately 402 residents, and mobile/manufactured homes contribute 2 residents to the
total population at risk.
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Figure G-3 City of San Luis Obispo DWR & FEMA Flood Hazards with Flooded Structures
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Insurance Coverage, Claims Paid, and Repetitive Losses
The City joined the NFIP on April 16, 1979. The current adopted effective map is dated June 6,
2024. As of May 12, 2025, NFIP records show 430 active flood insurance policies in the City,
totaling $140,599,00 in coverage. Of these, 308 policies are in A zones, and the rest are in B, C,
or X zones.
Since joining the NFIP, the City has recorded 155 flood loss claims totaling $811,001. According
to the OpenFEMA dataset accessed in 2024, the City does not currently have any Repetitive
Loss (RL) or Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) properties. Two repetitive loss properties were noted in
the previous version of this plan.
The City of San Luis Obispo joined the Community Rating System (CRS) on October 1, 1991.
Currently the City has a Class 7 rating, providing a 15% discount.
Critical Facilities at Risk
Table G-19 and Table G-20 show critical facility assets exposed to 1% and 0.2% flood hazards by
FEMA lifeline.
Table G-19 City of San Luis Obispo Critical Facility Assets Exposed to FEMA Riverine 1%
Flood Hazards by FEMA Lifelines
JURISDICTION COMMUNICATIONS ENERGY FOOD, HYDRATION, SHELTER HAZARDOUS MATERIAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY TRANSPORTATION WATER SYSTEMS TOTAL COUNT City of San Luis Obispo 11 - - - 2 1 31 1 46
Total 11 - - - 2 1 31 1 46
Source: San Luis Obispo County, FEMA NFHL Effective Date 6/6/2024, CalARP, HIFLD, NBI, NID, FCWCD, WSP Analysis
Table G-20 City of San Luis Obispo Critical Facility Assets Exposed to FEMA Riverine 0.2% Flood
Hazards by FEMA Lifelines
JURISDICTION COMMUNICATIONS ENERGY FOOD, HYDRATION, SHELTER HAZARDOUS MATERIAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY TRANSPORTATION WATER SYSTEMS TOTAL COUNT City of San Luis Obispo 1 - 1 - 1 3 10 - 16
Total 1 - 1 - 1 3 10 - 16
Source: San Luis Obispo County, FEMA NFHL Effective Date 6/6/2024, CalARP, HIFLD, NBI, NID, FCWCD, WSP Analysis
Under the FEMA 1% annual chance (100-year) riverine flood hazard, a total of 46 critical
facilities in the City of San Luis Obispo are at risk. The largest exposure is within the
Transportation sector, with 31 facilities identified. Communications infrastructure accounts for
11 facilities at risk, while Health and Medical, Safety and Security, and Water Systems sectors
each have smaller numbers of exposed assets. No critical facilities in the Energy, Food,
Hydration, Shelter, or Hazardous Material sectors are identified within the 1% floodplain.
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Under the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood hazard, 16 critical facilities are exposed.
Transportation again represents the largest sector, with 10 facilities at risk. Additional exposure
includes three Safety and Security facilities, one Communications facility, one Health and
Medical facility, and one Food, Hydration, and Shelter facility. No critical facilities in the Energy,
Hazardous Material, or Water Systems sectors are identified under the 0.2% flood scenario. The
analysis shows that Transportation infrastructure is consistently the most vulnerable critical
facility sector under both flood scenarios, underscoring the importance of targeted mitigation
efforts for essential roadways and transit facilities.
G.3.3.9 Landslides and Debris Flow
The City of San Luis Obispo LPT gave a low overall significance rating for landslide risk. The City
of San Luis Obispo along with most of the other jurisdictions was greatly impacted by the
winter storms that happened in 2023 and 2024. Multiple parts of the county had flooded roads
and debris flow incidents as atmospheric rivers caused intense precipitation. The City of San
Luis Obispo is surrounded by areas with a high potential for a landslide incident as shown in
Figure G-4. There are 5,319 structures with a total value of over $3.9 billion exposed to landslide
potential as shown in Table G-21. There are 136 critical facilities in the City of San Luis Obispo,
with 19 structures in high landslide potential zones as shown in Table G-22.
Table G-21 Improved Properties Exposed to Landslide Potential
PROPERTY TYPE STRUCTURE
COUNT
IMPROVED
VALUE
ESTIMATED
CONTENT
VALUE
TOTAL VALUE POPULATION
Agricultural 0 $0 $0 $0 -
Commercial 122 $304,565,160 $304,565,160 $609,130,320 -
Exempt 18 $13,203,078 $13,203,078 $26,406,156 -
Industrial 20 $32,756,005 $49,134,008 $81,890,013 -
Mining 0 $0 $0 $0 -
Mixed Use 422 $174,269,209 $174,269,209 $348,538,418 -
Mobile/Manufactured
Homes
15 $10,831,722 $5,415,861 $16,247,583 36
Multi-Family
Residential
220 $244,077,438 $122,038,719 $366,116,157 526
Residential 4,489 $1,635,021,290 $817,510,645 $2,452,531,935 10,729
Vacant Improved 13 $8,321,239 $0 $8,321,239 -
Total 5,319 $2,423,045,141 $1,486,136,680 $3,909,181,821 11,290
Source: San Luis Obispo Assessor Data November 15, 2024, WSP GIS Analysis
Table G-22 Critical Facility Assets Exposed to Landslide Potential by FEMA Lifelines
LANDSLIDE POTENTIAL
COMMUNICATIONSENERGYFOOD, HYDRATION, SHELTERHAZARDOUS MATERIALHEALTH AND MEDICALSAFETY AND SECURITYTRANSPORTATIONWATER SYSTEMSTOTAL COUNTHigh 1 -1 -4 8 5 -19
Low 18 -3 4 14 28 49 1 117
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LANDSLIDE POTENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS ENERGY FOOD, HYDRATION, SHELTER HAZARDOUS MATERIAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY TRANSPORTATION WATER SYSTEMS TOTAL COUNT Total 19 0 4 4 18 36 54 1 136
Source: San Luis Obispo County, CalARP, HIFLD, NBI, NID, FCWCD, WSP Analysis
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Figure G-4 City of San Luis Obispo Landslide Potential
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G.3.3.10 Subsidence
The City of San Luis Obispo LPT gave subsidence a low overall significance rating. Section
5.3.13.7 of the Base Plan includes an analysis of the vulnerability of people, property, facilities,
and other assets to this hazard countywide and the typical impacts are similar in San Luis
Obispo. The City of San Luis Obispo is leading the Groundwater Cleanup Project, an initiative to
ensure responsible use of groundwater in the San Luis Obispo Valley Groundwater Basin
(Basin). Although subsidence is not a major concern for the City of San Luis Obispo and is rated
low, it will still be important to monitor groundwater extraction, as this is the main cause of
subsidence in California. This cleanup project will help to monitor extraction, as well as expand
local water use through the building of two new groundwater supply wells, with expected full
operation in 2026. This work is being funded by a $6.6 million grant from the California State
Water Resources Control Board. Additionally, land elevation should also be monitored to
prevent any subsidence-related hazards in the city.
G.3.3.11 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.
Following the methodology described in the wildfire hazard Section 5.3.15 Wildfire of the Base
Plan, along with the GIS parcel analysis discussed in more detail under Section 5.2 Asset
Summary, a wildfire vulnerability analysis for the City of San Luis Obispo was completed. The
assessment was performed using GIS, and results indicate that there were neither parcels nor
critical facilities in wildfire severity hazard zones within the boundaries of the City of San Luis
Obispo. However, wildfire hazards have been rated by the City’s planning team as holding High
Significance based on the community’s experience and historical evidence.
In the City of San Luis Obispo, 7,705 properties are situated within wildfire hazard severity
zones ranging from moderate to very high. Of these 2,443 are located in the Very High Fire
Severity Zone, while 1,502 properties fall within the High Fire Severity Zone. Collectively, these
properties represent a total assessed value of $5,578,627,912 and impact approximately 15,870
residents across all fire hazard severity zones. Table G-23 shows the properties in the City
Exposed to Fire Severity. Figure G-5 depicts the Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City of San
Luis Obispo.
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Table G-23 City of San Luis Obispo Improved Properties Exposed to Fire Hazard Severity Zone by Property Type
PROPERTY TYPE STRUCTURE COUNT VERY HIGH STRUCTURE COUNT HIGH STRUCTURE COUNT MODERATE TOTAL STRUCTURE COUNT IMPROVED
VALUE
ESTIMATED
CONTENT
VALUE TOTAL VALUE POPULATION
Commercial 179 82 216 477 $773,728,409 $773,728,409 $1,547,456,818 -
Exempt 18 9 12 39 $35,641,898 $35,641,898 $71,283,796 -
Industrial 12 5 36 53 $71,015,340 $106,523,010 $177,538,350 -
Mixed Use 49 45 310 404 $130,108,028 $130,108,028 $260,216,056 -
Mobile/Manufactured Homes 5 3 48 56 $14,350,406 $7,175,203 $21,525,609 134
Multi-Family Residential 108 130 177 415 $294,574,455 $147,287,228 $441,861,683 992
Residential 2,058 1,216 2,895 6,169 $2,006,784,285 $1,003,392,143 $3,010,176,428 14,744
Vacant Improved 14 12 66 92 $48,569,173 $0 $48,569,173 -
Total 2,443 1,502 3,760 7,705 $3,374,771,994 $2,203,855,918 $5,578,627,912 15,870
Source: San Luis Obispo Assessor Data November 15, 2024, CAL FIRE - FHSZ Phase 3 March 10, 2025, WSP GIS Analysis
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Figure G-5 City of San Luis Obispo Fire Hazard Severity Zones
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Table G-24 shows critical facilities in City of San Luis Obispo that are exposed to fire hazard
severity, categorizing them by severity level and facility type. The exposure of these critical
assets to wildfire hazards poses significant risks to transportation. The table below shows that
there is a total of seventy (70) critical facilities exposed to fire hazard severity zones, thirty-four
(34) of which fall in the very high fire severity zone rating.
Table G-24 Critical Facilities Assets Exposed to Fire Hazard Severity Zones
FIRE
HAZARD
SEVERITY
ZONE COMMUNICATIONS ENERGY FOOD, HYDRATION, SHELTER HAZARDOUS MATERIAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY TRANSPORTATION WATER SYSTEMS TOTAL COUNT Very High 4 - 1 - 5 8 15 1 34
High 1 - 1 - 4 6 4 - 16
Moderate 2 - - 1 2 3 12 - 20
Total 7 0 2 1 11 17 31 1 70
Source: San Luis Obispo County, CAL FIRE - FHSZ Phase 3 March 10, 2025, CalARP, HIFLD, NBI, NID, WSP Analysis
G.3.3.12 Human Caused: Hazardous Materials
The City of San Luis Obispo LPT rated hazardous materials incidents as having medium overall
significance. The Cal OES Spill Release Reporting Center reports 134 hazardous materials
incidents in the City of San Luis Obispo from January 1st, 2019 through December 20th, 2024.
This likely excludes a number of unreported minor spills. The 134 reported incidents constitute
29.5% of the hazardous materials incidents reported countywide during the same time frame
and average out to roughly 22.3 incidents per year.
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 WSP 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
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mitigation strategies. The City of San Luis Obispo’s updated capabilities are summarized
below.
G.4.1 Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities
Table G-25 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
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
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REGULATORY TOOL
(ORDINANCES, CODES, PLANS) YES/NO COMMENTS
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, Unreinforced
Masonry Hazard Mitigation Program, Disaster
Preparedness Program, Community Wildfire
Preparedness Plan, Greenbelt Protection Program
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REGULATORY TOOL
(ORDINANCES, CODES, PLANS) YES/NO COMMENTS
Flood insurance study or other
engineering study for streams
Yes 2012 updated in 2024
Elevation certificates (for
floodplain development)
Yes Chapter 17.78: Flood Damage Prevention
Other Yes Water System Vulnerability Assessment, Floodplain
Management Educational Program
Discussion on Existing Building Codes, Land Use and Development Regulations
The City of San Luis Obispo enforces a comprehensive set of building codes, policies, and
development regulations. Building construction is regulated under the 2023 San Luis Obispo
Building Construction and Fire Prevention Code, which incorporates the California Building
Standards Code (Title 24), as well as the 2021 International Building Codes. The City’s Building &
Safety Division manages plan reviews permits, and inspections to enforce compliance. Land
use is governed by Title 17 of the Municipal Code, which defines zoning districts such as
residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed use. Also, development projects are reviewed for
consistency with the General Plan and applicable zoning regulations and may require approval
from administrative staff, the Planning Commission, or the City Council. See also discussion in
Development Trends subsection.
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 equivalent 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.
The table below identifies the personnel resources and technical resources that increase
capabilities related to mitigation and loss prevention in the City.
Table G-26 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
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PERSONNEL RESOURCES YES/NO DEPARTMENT/POSITION
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.
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.
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PERSONNEL RESOURCES YES/NO DEPARTMENT/POSITION
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.
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 the event of a natural disaster and a need
for immediate City response, the City has the financial capacity to utilize reserve funds, when
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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: the following table identifies financial tools or resources that the City could potentially
use to help fund mitigation activities.
Table G-27 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 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
Yes Debt can be incurred through general obligation bonds
with authorization from the City Council and further
approval through a local ballot measure.
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FINANCIAL
RESOURCES
ACCESSIBLE/ELIGIBLE
TO USE (YES/NO)
COMMENTS
obligation
bonds
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
sunset in 2022 unless a new measure is passed to continue
the collection of additional sales tax.
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 National Flood Insurance Program
The City has been an NFIP participating community since 1973 and will continue to comply
with the NFIP. The current adopted effective map is dated June 6, 2024. This includes adoption
of the minimum NFIP floodplain management criteria, 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
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(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 approach 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 that have the
potential to obstruct water flow.
Following flood or other damage events, the City of San Luis Obispo enforces substantial
improvement/ substantial damage provisions by evaluating damaged properties to determine
if they meet thresholds requiring them to comply with updated floodplain management
standards. If substantial damage is determined, properties must undergo upgrades to meet
current floodplain standards before they can be repaired or rebuilt. This process helps to
reduce future risk by ensuring that post-event repairs and reconstructions contribute to long-
term flood resilience.
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 Repetitive 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.4.5 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:
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• 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)
G.4.6 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 Properties
• Community Wildfire Protection Program
• Greenbelt Protection Program
G.4.7 Opportunities for Enhancement
Based on 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 pose a risk
to the City will lead to more informed staff members who can better communicate this
information to the public. The City could also consider options to improve the CRS
classification to potentially further lower the cost of flood insurance for residents.
G.5 Mitigation Strategy
G.5.1 Mitigation Goals and Objectives
The City of San Luis Obispo Planning Team decided to use the goals provided in its Climate
Adaptation and Safety Element as its mitigation goals for this plan update. The following are
the City of San Luis Obispo’s 2025 mitigation goals:
Goal 1: Public Safety. Minimize injury and loss of life, damage to public and private property,
and social and economic disruptions resulting from injury, death, and property damage.
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Goal 2: Community Resilience. All community members are enabled and empowered to
prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions while seizing opportunities to thrive in
changing conditions.
Goal 3: City Government Resilience. The City’s facilities, infrastructure, and operations are
resilient, innovative, and continue to cost-effectively provide core functions and services for all
community members in times of acute disaster and ongoing disruptions.
Goal 4: Environmental Justice. To foster a diverse, equitable, and healthy community where
those who are disproportionately affected by natural hazards and climate change have the
resources and capacity to participate in public processes and have an active role in preparing
and responding to future impacts.
Goal 5: Natural Systems. The natural environment sustains and supports ecological and
community health, safety, and natural beauty, provides equitable access to nature, and can
adapt and keep pace with a dynamic, changing climate.
Goal 6: Built Environment. Community buildings, public spaces and transportation systems
can withstand the natural hazards and escalating impacts of climate change, provide places of
refuge, foster social cohesiveness, minimize injury and loss of life, and equitably protect
personal and community assets.
G.5.1.1 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.
G.5.2 Completed 2019 Mitigation Actions
During the 2025 planning process the City of San Luis Obispo Local Planning Team reviewed
all the mitigation actions from the 2019 LHMP. The review indicated the city has completed
two of the 26 mitigation actions from the 2019 LHMP and made continued progress in
implementing mitigation projects and building the community’s resilience to disasters.
Table G-28 City of San Luis Obispo Completed Mitigation Actions
2019
ACTION ID HAZARD(S) ADDRESSED
MITIGATION
ACTION TITLE LEAD AGENCY
ACTION
STATUS NOTES
SL.5 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High Wind, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Biological Agents,
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 Completed.
Training on this
subject will
continue
regularly.
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2019
ACTION ID HAZARD(S) ADDRESSED
MITIGATION
ACTION TITLE LEAD AGENCY
ACTION
STATUS NOTES
SL.14 Earthquake, Flood 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
Completed.
Included in the
City's Climate
Adaption and
Safety Element.
G.5.3 Mitigation Actions
The City of San Luis Obispo Local Planning Team identified and prioritized 17 new mitigation
actions based on the 2025 risk assessment and is continuing 24 actions from the 2019 planning
process. New and existing actions were prioritized using the process described in Section 7.2.1
of the Base Plan. Timeline and project cost definitions are noted in Section 7.3.2 of the Base
Plan. The mitigation actions are detailed in the table below and identify implementation
strategies, the responsible agency, potential funding, estimated cost, and implementation
schedule.
A special note regarding a column in the table: The ‘Primary Hazards Mitigated’ column uses
an abbreviated version of the Adverse Weather hazards in the interest of conciseness:
References to ‘Adverse Weather: Thunderstorm’ includes the subhazards Thunderstorm/Heavy
Rain/Dense Fog/Freeze.
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Table G-29 City of San Luis Obispo’s Mitigation Action Plan
MITIGATION
ACTION
NUMBER
PRIMARY HAZARD(S)
MITIGATED
DESCRIPTIONS/BACKGROUND/BENEFITS LEAD AGENCY &
PARTNERS
ESTIMATED COST &
POTENTIAL
FUNDING
SOURCES
2025
PRIORITY
TIMELINE STATUS/IMPLEMENTATION
NOTES
SL.1 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Biological Agents,
Earthquake, Flood,
Wildfire, Haz Mat
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/P
ublic Works /Fire
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
Medium 1-3 years Annual Implementation. Safety
Element (now the Climate
Adaptation and Safety Element)
was updated.
SL.2 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Biological Agents,
Earthquake, Flood,
Wildfire, Haz Mat
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, General
Fund
Low 1-3 years In Progress. This program will be
part of the Emergency Manager
job functions throughout the
next Financial Plan - FY 25/27
SL.3 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Earthquake, Flood,
Wildfire, Haz Mat
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, General
Fund
Low 1 yr. In Progress. No changes to
report.
SL.4 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Biological Agents,
Earthquake, Flood,
Wildfire, Haz Mat
Conduct disaster-preparedness exercises
for the types of hazards discussed in this
LHMP.
Fire Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
Medium 1 yr. Annual Implementation.FR-POD
have been completed each of
the last two years, leveraging
personnel from across the
organization.
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MITIGATION
ACTION
NUMBER
PRIMARY HAZARD(S)
MITIGATED
DESCRIPTIONS/BACKGROUND/BENEFITS LEAD AGENCY &
PARTNERS
ESTIMATED COST &
POTENTIAL
FUNDING
SOURCES
2025
PRIORITY
TIMELINE STATUS/IMPLEMENTATION
NOTES
SL.5 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High Wind,
Adverse Weather:
Extreme Heat, Biological
Agents, Earthquake,
Flood, Wildfire, Haz Mat
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.
Staff Time, General
Fund, FEMA HMA
High 1 yr. In Progress. No changes to
report.
SL.6 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Biological Agents,
Earthquake, Flood,
Wildfire, Haz Mat
Identify hazard mitigation projects
eligible for grants as part of the Capital
Improvement Program planning process.
Public Works/
Utilities
Little to no cost.
Capital
Improvement
Program: Up to $2
Million at Water
Resource Recovery
Facility; FEMA HMA
High 3-5 years In Progress. Multiple ongoing
projects underway including
Mid-Higuera bypass, flood risk
reduction in Perfumo Creek, San
Luis Creek fuels reduction, San
Luis Drive retaining wall
reconstruction, etc.
SL.7 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Earthquake, Flood, Haz
Mat
Assess structural capacity of key assets
(including bridges) and pursue
infrastructure improvements, as
necessary.
Public Works/
Community
Development
Less than $10,000.
General Fund;
FEMA HMA
Medium 3-5 years In Progress. The City continues to
prioritize asset maintenance and
replacement. Toward that end,
the City has begun work on the
Mid-Higuera Bypass project to
address flooding in the area.
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MITIGATION
ACTION
NUMBER
PRIMARY HAZARD(S)
MITIGATED
DESCRIPTIONS/BACKGROUND/BENEFITS LEAD AGENCY &
PARTNERS
ESTIMATED COST &
POTENTIAL
FUNDING
SOURCES
2025
PRIORITY
TIMELINE STATUS/IMPLEMENTATION
NOTES
SL.8 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Biological Agents,
Earthquake, Flood,
Wildfire, Haz Mat
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.
Coordinate messaging with external
agencies such as the American Red Cross
and Volunteer Organizations Active in
Disasters.
Fire Little to no cost.
General Fund
High 1-2 years In Progress. No changes to
report.
SL.9 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Biological Agents,
Earthquake, Flood,
Wildfire, Haz Mat
Support the efforts and education of
people with access and functional needs
to prepare for disasters.
Fire Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
High 1 yr. In Progress. No changes to
report.
SL.10 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Biological Agents,
Earthquake, Flood,
Wildfire, Haz Mat
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
High 1-2 years In Progress. No changes to
report.
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MITIGATION
ACTION
NUMBER
PRIMARY HAZARD(S)
MITIGATED
DESCRIPTIONS/BACKGROUND/BENEFITS LEAD AGENCY &
PARTNERS
ESTIMATED COST &
POTENTIAL
FUNDING
SOURCES
2025
PRIORITY
TIMELINE STATUS/IMPLEMENTATION
NOTES
SL.11 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat
Biological Agents,
Earthquake, Flood,
Wildfire, Haz Mat
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
High 1-2 years In Progress. Initiate involvement
of Emergency Manager along
with PD in DTA meetings.
SL.12 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Biological Agents,
Earthquake, Flood,
Wildfire, Haz Mat
Continue to enforce local codes,
ordinances, and standards pertaining to
safe development and resiliency to
natural and human-caused hazards.
Community
Development/Fir
e
Little to no cost.
General
Funds/FEMA HMA
High 1-2 years In Progress. Reviewing
Defensible Space and Home
Hardening ordinances as part of
the Fire Code adoption in FY
25/26.
SL.13 Earthquake, Wildfire,
Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat
Invest in redundant facility and
equipment energy security at critical
facilities throughout the City. By providing
grid independent onsite 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;
Administration;
Parks and
Recreation
$1,000,000;
California Energy
Commission
Central Coast
Community Energy
Funds,
Medium 3-5 yrs.In Progress. A number of the
City's critical infrastructure sites
are/have been equipped with
backup generators.
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MITIGATION
ACTION
NUMBER
PRIMARY HAZARD(S)
MITIGATED
DESCRIPTIONS/BACKGROUND/BENEFITS LEAD AGENCY &
PARTNERS
ESTIMATED COST &
POTENTIAL
FUNDING
SOURCES
2025
PRIORITY
TIMELINE STATUS/IMPLEMENTATION
NOTES
SL.14 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/FEMA HMA
Medium 2-3 yrs.In Progress. See SL. 13 response.
SL.15 Flood Develop and carry out environmentally
sensitive flood reduction programs.
Administration -
Natural
Resources
$10,000 to
$50,000. FEMA
HMA
Medium 2-3 yrs.In Progress. No changes to
report.
SL.16 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
implementa
tion
Annual Implementation. Fire
Dept. CUPA Participating
Agency completes 100% of
permitted facility inspections
annually to assure compliance
with the Fire Code and state
regulations. The Fire Dept. is
subject to audit by the County
CUPA and has passed all recent
audits.
SL.17 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. Annual Implementation. Fire
Dept. continues to remain a part
of the County Hazardous
Materials Response Team.
SL.18 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, General
Fund
Low 1 yr. In Progress. Utilities Division is
heading this effort.
SL.19 Wildfire Enhance partnerships with CalFire and
the local Fire Safe Council for fuel
reduction efforts.
Fire Little to no cost. Cal
Fire Wildfire
Prevention Grant /
FireSafe Grants
Medium 1 yr. In Progress. Multiple cultural
burns conducted as part of fuel
reduction efforts on City Open
Spaces.
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MITIGATION
ACTION
NUMBER
PRIMARY HAZARD(S)
MITIGATED
DESCRIPTIONS/BACKGROUND/BENEFITS LEAD AGENCY &
PARTNERS
ESTIMATED COST &
POTENTIAL
FUNDING
SOURCES
2025
PRIORITY
TIMELINE STATUS/IMPLEMENTATION
NOTES
SL.20 Wildfire, Drought and
Water Shortage
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, Cal
Fire Wildfire
Prevention Grant,
FP & S Grant
Medium 1-2 yrs.In Progress. No changes to
report.
SL.21 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
FMAG, FP&S Grant
and Fire Safe
Council grants, Cal
Fire Wildfire
Prevention Grant
High 1 yr. In Progress. Staff applied for a
grant through the Coastal
Conservancy for an updated to
the CWPP. Also applying for the
Federal Community Wildfire
Defense Grant.
SL.22 Wildfire Require an enhanced fire protection plan
in Local Very High Fire Severity Zones.
Fire Less than $10,000.
Staff Time, General
Fund
High 1 yr. In Progress. LRA maps have been
released - reevaluating fuel
management programs and
techniques.
SL.23 Biological Agents Continue offering free flu vaccines to City
employees.
Human
Resources
Less than $10,000.
County
Program/General
Fund
Low Annual
implementa
tion
Annual Implementation. No
changes to report.
SL.24 Biological Agents 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
Low Annual
implementa
tion
Annual Implementation. No
changes to report.
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MITIGATION
ACTION
NUMBER
PRIMARY HAZARD(S)
MITIGATED
DESCRIPTIONS/BACKGROUND/BENEFITS LEAD AGENCY &
PARTNERS
ESTIMATED COST &
POTENTIAL
FUNDING
SOURCES
2025
PRIORITY
TIMELINE STATUS/IMPLEMENTATION
NOTES
SL.25 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Landslides
and Debris Flow, Wildfire
Assess and Mitigate Post Wildfire Debris
Flow. Conduct an assessment to identify
key impacts areas in the city from a post-
wildfire debris flow scenario and
implications on stormwater runoff.
Assessment would be used to develop
pre-disaster mitigation measures, which
could include rapid reforestation and
stabilization of burned areas,
communication and coordination with
residents and businesses, and
development of analysis to predict debris
flow events.
CDD & Office of
Sustainability
$50,000 to
$100,000. FEMA
Hazard Mitigation
Assistance Grant
(HMA)
High 3-5 years New in 2025
SL.26 Adverse Weather:
Extreme Heat
Urban Heat Island Mitigation: Develop
and implement Urban Heat Island
Mitigation programs that provide
accessible cooling to the public.
Community
Development
and Fire
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
Medium 2-3 years New in 2025
SL.27 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Earthquake, Landslides
and Debris Flow, Wildfire
Climate Resilience Hubs: Collaborate
across organizations to create Resilience
Hubs that will help vulnerable
populations during extreme climate
events.
Office of
Sustainability
Over $1,000,000.
FEMA Hazard
Mitigation
Assistance Grant
(HMGP), General
Fund
Medium More than 5
years
New in 2025
SL.28 Agricultural Pest
Infestation and Disease
Climate Smart Pest Management:
Implement Climate-Smart Pest
Management practices in City Open
Space Properties.
Office of
Sustainability
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
High 1-2 years New in 2025
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MITIGATION
ACTION
NUMBER
PRIMARY HAZARD(S)
MITIGATED
DESCRIPTIONS/BACKGROUND/BENEFITS LEAD AGENCY &
PARTNERS
ESTIMATED COST &
POTENTIAL
FUNDING
SOURCES
2025
PRIORITY
TIMELINE STATUS/IMPLEMENTATION
NOTES
SL.29 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Biological Incidents,
Drought and Water
Shortage, Earthquake,
Flood, Landslides and
Debris Flow, Subsidence,
Wildfire, Hazardous
Materials Incident
Create a Community Resilience Fund to
provide grants for organizations and
individuals that aim to initiate
community efforts in public safety,
disaster recovery, and climate change.
Administration High; General Fund,
In-Kind (donated),
Private Non-Profit
Medium 3-5 Years New in 2025
SL.30 Wildfire Implement the Community Wildfire
Protection Program and Vegetation
Management Plan to protect residents
from future wildfires.
Fire Department
and Office of
Sustainability
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
High 1-2 years New in 2025
SL.31 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm
Prepare community members for large
storm events by developing an early
warning flood monitoring system and
neighborhood readiness plans.
Fire and
Community
Development
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
High 2-3 years New in 2025
SL.32 Earthquake, Hazardous
Materials Incident
Earthquake Design and Planning:
Incorporate climate models and hazard
impact assessments in the design and
planning of maintenance and upgrades
of public utility conveyance systems.
Utilities Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
High 3-5 years New in 2025
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MITIGATION
ACTION
NUMBER
PRIMARY HAZARD(S)
MITIGATED
DESCRIPTIONS/BACKGROUND/BENEFITS LEAD AGENCY &
PARTNERS
ESTIMATED COST &
POTENTIAL
FUNDING
SOURCES
2025
PRIORITY
TIMELINE STATUS/IMPLEMENTATION
NOTES
SL.33 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Flood,
Landslides and Debris
Flow
Flood and Runoff Management: Manage
flood risk and stormwater runoff through
vegetation management, riparian
restoration, and open space conservation.
CDD & Office of
Sustainability
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
Medium 1-2 years New in 2025
SL.34 Adverse Weather:
Extreme Heat
Expand the City's Green and Healthy
Buildings Program to create safe, cool,
and healthy buildings.
Office of
Sustainability
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
Low 2-3 years New in 2025
SL.35 Earthquake, Landslides
and Debris Flow
Update the City's Hillside Planning
Program to ensure orderly development
along with City's hillside areas, prioritizing
slope stability, safe access, circulation, and
evacuation routes.
Community
Development
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
High 2-3 years New in 2025
SL.36 Adverse Weather:
Extreme Heat
Implement a defensible space and home
hardening program
Fire Department Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
High 1 year New in 2025
SL.37 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Earthquake, Flood,
Wildfire
Evaluate and update critical public
infrastructure and City's engineering
standards to be better adapted to future
changes in climate such as extreme heat,
flooding, etc.
Community
Development
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
Medium 2-3 years New in 2025
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MITIGATION
ACTION
NUMBER
PRIMARY HAZARD(S)
MITIGATED
DESCRIPTIONS/BACKGROUND/BENEFITS LEAD AGENCY &
PARTNERS
ESTIMATED COST &
POTENTIAL
FUNDING
SOURCES
2025
PRIORITY
TIMELINE STATUS/IMPLEMENTATION
NOTES
SL.38 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Biological Incidents,
Flood, Wildfire
Incorporate holistic approaches to open
space management to prepare and
respond to issues associated with climate
change.
Office of
Sustainability
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
Medium 1 year New in 2025
SL.39 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm, Adverse
Weather: High
Wind/Tornado, Adverse
Weather: Extreme Heat,
Earthquake, Flood,,
Landslides and Debris
Flow, Wildfire, Hazardous
Materials Incident
Develop a post disaster management
plan to include activities like clearing,
collecting, and removing debris after a
storm/climate event.
Office of
Sustainability
and Natural
Resources
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
Medium 2-3 years New in 2025
SL.40 Wildfire Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Partner
with local Tribal bodies to incorporate
Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Open
Space Management and fuels reduction
activities.
Office of
Sustainability
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
Medium 1 year New in 2025
SL.41 Adverse Weather:
Thunderstorm,
Earthquake, Flood
Waterway Management Plan: Update
Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of the Waterway
Management Plan, and implement
critical projects and programs identified
therein.
Office of
Sustainability
Little to no cost.
Staff Time, General
Fund
Medium 2-3 years New in 2025
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Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
County of San Luis Obispo Local Hazard Mitigation Plan | City of San Luis Obispo | 2025-2030 Annex G-52
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. Implementation of the plan overall is discussed in
Section 7 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 Section 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 Section 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 Requirements 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
Page 252 of 476
Annex G: City of San Luis Obispo
County of San Luis Obispo Local Hazard Mitigation Plan | City of San Luis Obispo | 2025-2030 Annex G-53
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
Page 253 of 476
Page 254 of 476