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Department of Police, Office of Emergency Management
Reference: Resolution to Adopt the 2016 Weld County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
To: Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council
Through: Manuel Esquibel, City Manager
Prepared By: Stephanie Hackett, Emergency Management Coordinator
Date Prepared: 1.31.2016
PURPOSE
To provide background and reference information necessary to inform the local adoption of the 2016 Weld County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP).
BACKGROUND
In 2010, the City adopted the Denver Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, sponsored by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) which has been implemented for five (5) years until its expiration in 2015. To ensure local jurisdictions continue with hazard mitigation planning and maintain access to associated funding, many counties have undertaken the collaborative effort to develop more localized HMPs to be available for adoption by participants to replace expired HMPs.
To this end, The Weld County Office of Emergency Management has led process of brainstorming, developing and implementing the HMP. The City of Brighton and the Brighton Fire Rescue District have actively participated in this process, collaborating on the goals, objectives, priorities and strategies to best address effective hazard/risk mitigation.
The purpose of the 2016 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is:
• To protect life and property by reducing the potential for future damages and economic losses that result from natural disasters
• To qualify for additional grant funding, in both the pre-disaster and post-disaster environment
• To provide quick recovery and redevelopment following future disasters
• To integrate other existing and associated local planning documents
• To demonstrate a firm local commitment to hazard mitigation principles
• To comply with state and Federal legislative requirements tied to local hazard mitigation planning
• To increase local and regional resilience to hazards
CRITERIA BY WHICH COUNCIL MUST CONSIDER THE ITEM
It is critical the City of Brighton adopts a new HMP as an immediate priority to replace the expired plan to which we were formally party. A variety of emergency and disaster related federal grant programs require the local jurisdiction to have previously adopted a HMP as a condition for funding.
Our commitment to our residents, businesses, and visitors is to not only respond effectively to hazards and risks as they impact the City of Brighton, but also to continually examine our vulnerabilities and identify opportunities to mitigate consequences to our community.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The timely adoption of the 2016 Weld County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan will allow the City of Brighton to continue to remain eligible for federal funding to support projects currently underway, and to maintain eligibility to seek future funding.
Currently, the Outdoor Warning Siren project is supported by federal HMGP funds as well as the diversion structure at Ken Mitchell supported by Public Assistance funding provided under 4229 Disaster Declaration.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the 2016 Weld County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
The City of Brighton has actively participated in the multi-jurisdictional process of developing the HMP, and has focused on specific mitigation action items applicable to the City of Brighton contained within the overall plan. Some of the action items are in the process of being implemented and others include long term planning and funding has yet to be identified.
While the usual adoption process would include discussion within City Council Study Session, the need to promptly adopt this plan has superseded those procedures in an effort to expedite adoption as to not impact continued access to federal funding.
The full version of the final plan is available on the shared drive at P:\City of Brighton Share\Emergency Management\Current Plans
The Brighton specific section of this plan is included as an attachment to supplement the Staff report and facilitate adoption.
ATTACHMENTS
City of Brighton section of Weld County Multi-Jurisdictional HMP