10 - Discussion of the city of Boulder Multi-Hazard Mitigation PlanCITYOF BOLTLDER
«~ATER RESC)URCES AD~'ISORY BOARD
aGEND~ ITEl~~i
l~ZEETING DATE: December 17, 2007
AGENDA TITLE:
Presentation and Discussion of the City of Boulder Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
PRESENTERS:
Eric Lessard, Engineering Project 11~Ianager
Bob Harberg, Utilities Planning and Project Management Coordinator
New Williams, Director for Public Works Utilities
WATER RESOURCES ADVIS()R~' BO~RD ACTIQN REQUESTED:
Staff requests that WRAB provide a recommendation regarding the adequacy of the Plan and
its recommendations
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are no fiscal impacts since the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan does not bind the city to
any funding requirements. Funding of any projects identified in the plan would be considered
as part of the city's aiuiual budget process.
E~ECLITIVE SL?l~TNZ~RY:
The City of Boulder has Ueen ~~~orl:ing with AMEC Earth and Envirorunental on completing a
multi-hazard rnitigation plan. The purpose of hazard mitigation is to reduce or eliminate long-
term risk to people and property from natural hazards. The City of Boulder is developing this
multi-hazard mitigation plan to make the city and its residents less vulneraUle to future natural
hazard events. This plan is being prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster
I~Iitigation Act of 20U0 in order for the City of Boulder to be eligible for the Federal Emergency
Managernent ~lgency's (FEMA) Pre-Disastei• Mitigation and Hazard Mitigation Grant Prograrns.
~ttachrnent ~ contains the Table of Contents and Executive Summary.
To meet the identified goals and oUjectiti~es of the pro~-am, the plan recommends a number of
mitigation actions. Information in this plan will be used to help guide and coordinate mitigation
activities and decisions for local land use policy in the future. Proactive mitigation plamiing will
help reduce the cost of disaster response and recovery to the city and its property owners by
protecting critical co~nmunity facilities, reducing liability exposure, and ~nini~nizing overall
community impacts and disruption. Boulder has been affected by natural hazards in the past and
City of Boulder
Multi-Hazard 1blitigation Plan
December 2U07
is thus committed to reducing future disaster impacts and maintaining eligibility for federal
funding. Upon formal adoption of the plan by the City, it will need to be regularly updated every
five years.
The current draft Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan is available in pdf format at:
http://www.bouldercolorado.~ov,~index.php?option=com content&task=view&id=7898&Itemid
=1189
BACKGROUND:
Hazard mitigation is defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as "any
sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from a
hazard event." The results of a three-year, congressionally mandated independent study to assess
future savings fi•om mitigation activities provides evidence that mitigation activities are highly
cost-effective. On average, each dollar spent on mitigation saves society an average of $4 in
avoided future losses in addition to saving lives and preventing injuries (National Institute of
Building Science Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council 2005}.
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires that local governments have hazard mitigation
plans approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be eligible for certain federal
disaster assistance and hazard mitigation funding programs. Hazard mitigation planning is the
process through which hazards that threaten communities are identified, likely impacts of those
hazards are determined, mitigation goals are set, and appropriate strategies to lessen impacts are
determined, prioritized, and implemented. The planning process is heavily dependent on the
participation of representatives from local government agencies and departments, the general
public, and other stakeholder groups.
ACTI<<'ITIES UPDATE AND OVERVIEW
The city is following a planning process prescribed by FEMA, which began with the formation
of the HMPC, comprised of key city, county, district, and stake-holder representatives. The
HIVIPC conducted a risk assessment that identified and profiled hazards that pose a risk to the
City of Boulder, assessed the city's vulnerability to these hazards, and examined the capabilities
in place to mitigate them. The City of Boulder is vulnerable to several natural hazards that are
identified, profiled, and analyzed in the plan. Floods, wildfires, severe weather, and drought are
among the hazards that can have a significant impact on the city.
In order to complete the Multi-Hazard IVlitigation Plan, a number of projects that identify plans
to mitigate potential hazards needed to be generated from the HMPC members. The plan was
presented to the monthly meeting of Multi-Agency Coordinating System (1VIACS) in order to
obtain the maximum project input possible. The draft of the City of Boulder 1Vlulti-Hazard
IVlitigation Plan is available for review. It contains the projects that were solicited during the
development of the report. A number of projects have been added since the October WRAB and
an internal review of the document by HMPC members has been completed. The updated
version of the plan is available online. As part of implementation process, a public open house
and review is curt-ently being completed. The open house is being held before the December
City of Boulder
Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
December 2007
2
WRAB meeting. The comments generated during this phase will be incorporated into the plan,
followed by a submittal to FEMA for their approval.
NEXT STEPS
Assuming WRAB concurrence, the Plan will be submitted to FEMA for review and approval.
FEMA's review should be completed in approximately 3 months, at which time the plan will be
presented to City Council for acceptance. The City Council presentation is anticipated in May.
STAFF REQUEST:
Staff requests that WRAB provide a recommendation regarding the adequacy of the Plan and its
recommendations. For additional information, please contact Eric Lessard at 303-441-4232 or
lessarde cr,bouldercolorado.gov
ATTACHMENTS:
A TIC & Executive Summary
City of Boulder
Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
December 2007
3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City of Bouldar
The purpose of hazard mitigation is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property
from natural hazards. The City of Boulder developed this multi-hazard mitigation plan to make
the city and its residents less vulnerable to future natural hazard events. This plan was prepared
pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 so that the City of Boulder
would be eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Pre-Disaster
Mitigation and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs.
The city followed a planning process prescribed by FEMA, which began with the formation of a
hazard mitigation planning committee (HMPC) comprised of key city, county, district and
stakeholder representatives. The HMPC conducted a risk assessment that identified and profiled
hazards that pose a risk to the City of Boulder, assessed the city's vulnerability to these hazards,
and examined the capabilities in place to mitigate them. The City of Boulder is vulnerable to
several natural hazards that are identified, profiled, and analyzed in this plan. Floods, wildfires,
severe weather, and drought are among the hazards that can have a significant impact on the city.
Based on the risk assessment the HMPC identified goals and objectives for reducing the City of
Boulder's risk to natural hazards. The three goals of this multi-hazard mitigation plan are to:
• Goal l Increase Community Awareness of Boulder's Vulnerability to Natural Hazards
• Goa12 Reduce Vulnerability of People, Property, and the Environment to Natural Hazards
• Goa13 Increase Interagency Capabilities and Coordination to Reduce the Impacts of
Natural Hazards
To meet identified goals and objectives, the plan recommends 23 mitigation actions, which are
summarized in the table that follows. This plan has been formally adopted by the city and will be
updated every five years at a minimum.
Mitigation Actions
Mitigation Type/
Action # Mitigation Action Title
Multi-Hazard Actions
Action #1 Increase Web-Based Public Information Outreach
Action #2 Implement Replacement Planting Program to Meet Three Criteria
Action #3 Increase Urban Forest Canopy to Provide Maximum Flood Reduction
Benefit
Action #4 Implement a System of Automatic Vehicle Location for Police, Fire, Snow
Removal Vehicles
Action #5 Increase Rotational Pruning of Street Trees to Eight Years
City of Boulder Public Review Draft i
Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
November 2007
Mitigation Typel
Action # Mitigation Action Title
Flood Actions
Action #6 Acquire Properties in the High Hazard Flood Zone
Action #7 Mitigate Flooding in the South Boulder Creek Floodplain
Action #8 Develop a Critical Facilities Floodplain Ordinance
Action #9 Construct a South Boulder Creek Regional Detention Plan
Action #10 Designate a Safe Zone for Flood Evacuation for City of Boulder Parks and
Recreation
Action #11 Institute a Community Assisted Floodproofing Program
Action #12 Implement Flood Forecasting and Warning Enhancements for Boulder
Creek, South Boulder Creek, and Tributary Streams
Action #13 Mitigate flooding in Fourmile Creek
Action #14 Mitigate flooding in Wonderland Creek
Human Health Actions
Action #15 Continue the City of Boulder West Nile Virus Mosquito Monitoring and
Control Program
Action #16 Conduct West Nile Virus/Mosquito Mitigation to Provide Safe Activities at
Parks and Recreation Sites
Wildfire Actions
Action #1 t Implement the City's Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Action #18 Implement the City's Forest Ecosystem Management Plan
Action #19 Add a Permanent Wildland Fire Crew Supervisor Position
Action #20 Increase Boulder Wildland Fire Hazard Mitigation Crew Funding
Action #21 Construct a New Fire Training Center
Action #22 Develop a Wildland Fire Mitigation Program for the Middle Boulder Creek
Watershed
Drought Actions
Action #23 Identify and Implement Priority Projects Identified in the City's Drought
Plan
City of Boulder Public Review Draft ii
Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
November 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
City of Bouldar
1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................1.1
1.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................1.1
1.2 Background and Scope ...............................................................................................1.1
1.3 Plan Organization ........................................................................................................1.2
2 Community Profile ...................................................................................................................2.1
2.1 Geography and Climate ..............................................................................................2.1
2.2 History .........................................................................................................................2.3
2.3 Economy .....................................................................................................................2.4
2.4 Demographics .............................................................................................................2.4
3 The Planning Process ...............................................................................................................3.1
3.1 Local Government Participation .................................................................................3.1
3.2 The 10-Step Planning Process ....................................................................................3.2
4 Risk Assessment .......................................................................................................................4.1
4.1 Identifying Hazards .....................................................................................................4.2
4.2 Profiling Hazards ........................................................................................................4.4
4.3 Assessing Vulnerability ............................................................................................4.84
4.4 Assessing Capabilities ............................................................................................4.149
5 Mitigation Strategy ..................................................................................................................5.1
5.1 Goals and Objectives ..................................................................................................5.1
5.2 Identification and Analysis of Mitigation Actions ......................................................5.3
5.3 The Mitigation Strategy ..............................................................................................5.7
5.4 Mitigation Action Plan ................................................................................................5.7
6 Plan Adoption ...........................................................................................................................6.1
7 Plan Implementation and Maintenance .................................................................................7.1
7.1 Implementation ...........................................................................................................7.1
7.2 Maintenance ................................................................................................................7.2
Appendix A-Plan Adoption ....................................................................................................A.1
Appendix B-Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee B.1
Appendix C-Data Collection Guide .......................................................................................C.1
Appendix D-Mitigation Categories, Alternatives, and Selection Criteria D.1
Appendix E-References E.1
City of Boulder Public Review Draft iii
Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
November 2007