HomeMy WebLinkAboutD-2 Staff Report - USDA NRCS AgreementSCHEDULED ITEM
D-2
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER
FROM: ROBERT DELGADILLO, P.E., DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER
DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES
CONSERVATION SERVICE FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE
EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM AND SUBSEQUENT
REIMBURSEMENT AGREEEMNT BETWEEN THE CITY AND MOUNTAIN COVE
HOME OWNWER’S ASSOCIATION
BACKGROUND:
On August 13, 2020, the Ranch 2 fires burned over 4,200 acres adjacent to the Mountain Cove Home
Owner’s Association. These fires left the adjacent hillsides bare of vegetation and susceptible to mud
flows. On September 3, 2020, City staff performed a site investigation with Los Angeles County
Department of Public Works, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Mountain Cove
HOA representatives to discuss details on how to protect homes that may be affected during a storm
event.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council take the following action:
1)Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for Federal assistance
through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program in a form acceptable to the City
Attorney and subsequent reimbursement agreement between the City of Azusa and the Mountain
Cove Home Owners’ Association.
ANALYSIS:
On August 13, 2020, the Ranch 2 fires burned over 4,200 acres adjacent to the Mountain Cove Home
Owner’s Association. These fires left the adjacent hillsides bare of vegetation and susceptible to mud
flows. On September 3, 2020, City staff performed a site investigation with Los Angeles County
APPROVED
CITY COUNCIL
9/21/2020
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
September 21, 2020
Page 2
Department of Public Works, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Mountain Cove
HOA representatives to discuss details on how to protect homes that may be affected during a storm
event. The EWP Program is a recovery effort aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property
caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural occurrences. All projects undertaken must have a
project sponsor. NRCS may bear up to 75 percent of the construction cost of emergency measures and
the remaining costs must be from local sources and can be in the form of cash or in-kind services. The
sponsor of these projects must be a legal subdivision of the state such as a city, county, general
improvement district, or conservation district. Sponsors are responsible for providing land rights to do
repair work, securing the necessary permits, furnishing the local cost share, accomplishing the
installation of the work, and performing any necessary operation and maintenance.
Because of the deadlines established by the USDA, it is not possible to attach a form of the proposed
agreement to this staff report. For that reason, the Council is being asked to approve participation in the
Program and authority for the City Attorney and City Manager to approve the form of the agreement
that will be executed. It is anticipated that the form of the Agreement will track the USDA’s standard
format for such participation agreements.
The City Engineer will be meeting with NRCS staff to perform a more in-depth analysis of the site to
develop a cost effective plan to divert potential mud flows. Once a plan is approved, the City, as the
sponsor, will implement an emergency construction contract to complete the work. NRCS will cover up
to 75 percent of that cost and the sponsor will cover the remaining 25 percent. The sponsor’s cost will be
partially/fully reimbursed by the Mountain Cove HOA under a separate agreement. Once a plan has
been approved, the sponsoring agency has 14 days to implement the proposed plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
At this time, an exact fiscal impact cannot be determined because a final plan has not been developed
and a separate agreement between the City and the Mountain Cove HOA would need to be executed.
Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved:
Robert Delgadillo, P.E. Sergio Gonzalez
Director of Public Works/City Engineer City Manager
Attachment:
1) Sample Agreement
Attachment 1