REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 5, 2023
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Reimbursement of Costs Related to Recovery from the 2023 August Tropical Storm Hilary
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Authorize the reimbursement of up to $700,000 to the Department of Public Works for costs associated with dirt and debris cleanup and road grading of severely impacted non-County maintained roads damaged during the 2023 August Tropical Storm Hilary.
(Presenter: Luther Snoke, Chief Executive Officer, 387-4811)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). On June 13, 2023 (Item No. 99), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved setting aside $15.0 million from the General Fund into Disaster Relief Funds to meet community needs that would not be covered by other forms of relief. This item will utilize $700,000 of the Disaster Relief Community Needs funding to reimburse the Department of Public Works (DPW) for costs associated with dirt and debris cleanup and road grading of non-County maintained roads damaged during the 2023 August Tropical Storm Hilary.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On August 18, 2023, the National Weather Service issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the County. This event warned of conditions of peril to the safety of persons and property within the County, in the form of infrastructure damage from extreme weather, especially due to burn scars from the Apple and El Dorado fires, which could create conditions of dangerous and potentially catastrophic flooding, mudslides, and debris flows.
Due to the extensive anticipated damage resulting from this storm event, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), while serving as the Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency on August 20, 2023. On August 22, 2023 (Item No. 98), the Board ratified the action taken by the COO. The impact of the tropical storm event resulted in the need for the County to take actions, measures, and steps deemed necessary to assure the safety and welfare of County residents and property. The Board last took action to continue this local emergency on November 14, 2023 (Item No. 29).
As a result of Tropical Storm Hilary, the County received requests for assistance related to non-County maintained roads, which the Department of Public Works (DPW) was tracking. DPW evaluated the requests received and determined that some of these requests were considered “high priority” due to a major road or culvert washout or considerable hazards as a result of the storm. DPW will be performing work on these non-County maintained roads and is seeking approval for the reimbursement of up to $700,000 for the costs associated with debris cleanup or import of material and grading of the severely impacted non-County maintained roads.
PROCUREMENT
Not Applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 6, 2023; Department of Public Works (Mervat Mikhail, Deputy Director, 387-7916) November 6, 2023; Finance (Erika Rodarte and Carl Lofton, Administrative Analysts 387-4919) on November 6, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on November 7, 2023.
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