ITEM TITLE:
Establish a Three Member Planning and Zoning Commission Sub-Committee for Assistance and Direction in Completing the City of Valdez Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
SUBMITTED BY: Rochelle Rollenhagen, Senior Planner
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
To make the motion to approve the creation of a three member Planning and Zoning Commission Sub-Committee for assistance and direction in completing the City of Valdez Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
A report on the status of the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan was given at the August 9, 2017 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The current plan has expired and the updated plan is approximately two-thirds complete. The Commission discussed the best way to assist in completing the plan and decided on a Sub-Committee.
Sub-Committee Parameters:
The Hazard Mitigation Plan Sub-Committee will include three Planning and Zoning Commission members, and one member from the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). Rochelle Rollenhagen will be the designated staff member from the Community Development Department to support the subcommittee.
The mission of the Hazard Mitigation Plan Sub-Committee is to assist in completing the plan by building on the following elements:
• Public Involvement: FEMA is stressing this basic part of the planning process. By involving stakeholders from the community we generate support from diverse interests. Discussions will ensue about creating a safer, more disaster resilient Valdez which will in turn create community wide support of the plan. This is essential for a successful and meaningful Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• Risk Assessment: The risk assessment section is an analysis of the hazards and risks that confront Valdez. It provides a factual basis for proposals in the mitigation strategy and can be based on historical experience, another reason for diverse public involvement. This is missing in most sections of the plan. Staff will be providing factual information for risk assessment discussion.
• Mitigation Strategy: Based on our public input identifying the risks and realistic capabilities of the City, we can develop a strategy for implementing mitigation activities. This is also missing in most of the plan.
• Timeframe: Staff would propose the first Sub-Committee meeting to strategize how to get stakeholders/general public involved and topics to be discussed. Three or four additional meetings on various sections may be needed to get to the public hearing on the proposed plan. Completion of the plan is proposed for late December 2017 or early January 2018.
Staff recommends that the Planning and Zoning Commission establish this three member Sub-Committee by motion and vote this evening.