HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2024-037RESOLUTION NO. 2024-037
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
DESERT, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE PALM DESERT LOCAL
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN ANNEX FROM THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY
OPERATIONAL AREA MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL LOCAL HAZARD
MITIGATION PLAN, AS REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL DISASTER
MITIGATION AND COST RECOVERY ACT OF 2000.
WHEREAS, President William J. Clinton signed H.R.707, the Disaster Mitigation
and Cost Reduction Act of 2000, into law on October 30, 2000; and
WHEREAS, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires all jurisdictions to be
covered by a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to be eligible for Federal Emergency
Management Agency post-disaster funds; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Desert has committed to participate in the
development of the Riverside County Operational Area Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Desert coordinated the development of the City’s
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Desert is concerned about mitigating potential losses
from natural disasters before they occur; and
WHEREAS, the plan identifies potential hazards, potential losses, and potential
mitigation measures to limit losses; and
WHEREAS, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the
Federal Emergency Management Agency have reviewed the plan; and
WHEREAS, formal adoption of the plan by the Palm Desert City Council is required
before final approval of the plan can be obtained from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency; and
WHEREAS, The City of Palm Desert has determined that it would be in the best
interest of the City to adopt the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm
Desert, California, as follows:
SECTION 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The City Council finds and determines that
the recitals of this Resolution are true and correct and are hereby incorporated into this
Resolution as though fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. That the City of Palm Desert hereby adopts the Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan annex to meet the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation and Cost
Reduction Act of 2000; and directs the City Manager to forward the Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan Annex to the Riverside County Emergency Management Department, the
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Resolution No. 2024-037 Page 2
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency on behalf of the City of Palm Desert for final approval.
SECTION 3. Severability. If any section or provision of this Resolution is for any
reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, or
contravened by reason of any preemptive legislation, the remaining sections and/or
provisions of this Resolution shall remain valid. The City Council hereby declares that it
would have adopted this Resolution, and each section or provision thereof, regardless of
the fact that any one or more section(s) or provision(s) may be declared invalid or
unconstitutional or contravened via legislation.
SECTION 4. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon
its adoption.
ADOPTED ON JUNE 27, 2024
KARINA QUINTANILLA, MAYOR
ATTEST:
ANTHONY J. MEJIA, CITY CLERK
I, Anthony J. Mejia, City Clerk of the City of Palm Desert, hereby certify that
Resolution No. 2024-037 is a full, true, and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a
regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Desert on June 27, 2024, by the
following vote:
AYES: HARNIK, KELLY, NESTANDE, TRUBEE, AND QUINTANILLA
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
RECUSED: NONE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the
City of Palm Desert, California, on ___________________.
ANTHONY J. MEJIA
CITY CLERK
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Resolution No. 2024-037 Page 3
Exhibit “A”
City of Palm Desert Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
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CONTACT INFORMATION
CITY OF Palm Desert
Name: Daniel Hurtado
Title: Public Safety Analyst
Address: 73-510 Fred Waring Drive
City, State, and Zip: Palm Desert, CA 92260
Direct Contact: Daniel Hurtado
Phone: 760-776-6414
Email: dhurtado@palmdesert.gov
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PLAN ADOPTION/RESOLUTION
The City of Palm Desert will submit plans to the Riverside County Emergency
Management Department, which will forward to the California Governor’s Office of
Emergency Services (CAL OES) for review before being submitted to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). In addition, we will wait to receive an “Approval Pending
Adoption” letter from FEMA before taking the plan to our local governing bodies for adoption.
Upon approval, the City of Palm Desert will insert the signed resolution.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This local hazard mitigation plan aims to identify the County’s hazards, review, and assess past
disaster occurrences, estimate the probability of future events, and set goals to mitigate potential
risks to reduce or eliminate long-term risks to people and property from natural and man-made
hazards.
The plan was prepared pursuant to the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requirements to achieve
eligibility and potentially secure mitigation funding through Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance, Pre-Disaster Mitigation, and Hazard Mitigation Grant
Programs.
The City of Palm Desert’s continual efforts to maintain a disaster-mitigation strategy are ongoing.
Our goal is to develop and maintain an all-inclusive plan to include all jurisdictions, special districts,
businesses, and community organizations to promote consistency, continuity, and unification.
The City’s planning process followed a methodology presented by FEMA and CAL-OES which
included conducting meetings with the Operational Area Planning Committee (OAPC) coordinated
by Riverside County Emergency Management Department (EMD) comprised of participating
Federal, State, and local jurisdictions agencies, special districts, school districts, non-profit
communities, universities, businesses, tribes, and the general public.
The plan identifies vulnerabilities, provides recommendations for prioritized mitigation actions,
evaluates resources, identifies mitigation shortcomings, and provides future mitigation planning
and maintenance of existing plan.
The plan will be implemented upon FEMA approval.
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Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENT
CONTACT INFORMATION ....................................................................................................................... 1
PLAN ADOPTION/RESOLUTION ............................................................................................................. 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 3
TABLE OF CONTENT ............................................................................................................................... 4
SECTION 1.0 - COMMUNITY PROFILE ................................................................................................... 5
1.1 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE DESCRIPTION ...................................................................... 6
1.2 BRIEF HISTORY ................................................................................................................... 6
1.3 ECONOMY DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................... 7
1.4 POPULATION AND HOUSING .............................................................................................. 7
1.5 DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND LAND USE ......................................................................... 8
SECTION 2.0 - PLANNING PROCESS ................................................................................................... 11
2.1 LOCAL PLANNING PROCESS ............................................................................................ 11
2.2 PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL (OA) PLANNING PROCESS ............................................ 11
2.3 DATES AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ................................................................... 12
2.4 PLANS ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION ................................................................................. 12
SECTION 3.0 – MITIGATION ACTIONS/UPDATES ............................................................................... 12
3.1 NEW HAZARDS OR CHANGES FROM 2017 ..................................................................... 12
3.2 BRIEF STATEMENT OF UNIQUE HAZARDS ..................................................................... 12
3.3 VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ........................................................................................... 34
3.4 MITIGATION PROJECT UPDATES ..................................................................................... 36
Section 4.0 – HAZARD IMPACT AND RISK ASSESSMENTS ................................................................ 39
4.1 ESTIMATING POTENTIAL LOSS ........................................................................................ 39
4.2 CRITICAL FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ............................................................... 39
4.3 TABLE REPLACEMENT VALUES ....................................................................................... 39
SECTION 5.0 – COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM ................................................................................... 40
5.1 REPETITIVE LOSS PROPERTIES ...................................................................................... 40
5.2 NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROPERTIES ................................................................ 40
SECTION 6.0 - CAPABILITIES ASSESSMENT ...................................................................................... 41
6.1 REGULATORY MITIGATION CAPABILITIES ...................................................................... 41
6.2 ADMINISTRATIVE/TECHNICAL MITIGATION CAPABILITIES ............................................ 46
6.3 FISCAL MITIGATION CAPABILITIES .................................................................................. 47
6.4 MITIGATION OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIPS .............................................................. 47
6.5 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ............................................................................................... 49
SECTION 7.0 - MITIGATION STRATEGIES ........................................................................................... 51
7.1 MITIGATION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................................... 51
7.2 MITIGATION ACTIONS ....................................................................................................... 52
7.3 ON-GOING MITIGATION STRATEGY PROGRAMS ........................................................... 55
7.4 FUTURE MITIGATION ......................................................................................................... 59
SECTION 8.0 - PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE PROCESS ........................................ 60
SECTION 9.0 - INCORPORATION INTO EXISTING PLANNING MECHANISMS .................................. 61
SECTION 10.0 - CONTINUED PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ........................................................................ 62
APPENDIX A – PUBLIC NOTICES AND MAPS ...................................................................................... 63
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SECTION 1.0 - COMMUNITY PROFILE
Figure 1- Palm Desert City Map 2024
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1.1 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE DESCRIPTION
The City of Palm Desert is a charter city in Riverside County. The City of Palm Desert is a
business, resort, and residential community centrally located in the heart of the Coachella Valley,
in southeastern Riverside County, California. The City is located 125 miles east of Los Angeles
and just 15 miles east of Palm Springs. The valley is flanked on three sides by the Little San
Bernardino, Santa Rosa, and San Jacinto Mountains. The protection afforded by the mountains
contributes to the arid climate. The average rainfall per year is less than four inches in total. Low
temperatures rarely drop below freezing, while highs during the summer are usually in the triple
digits and can reach 108-120 degrees Fahrenheit; with occasional periods of high humidity in the
late summer months. Visitors from colder climates flock to the Palm Desert and surrounding cities
in the Coachella Valley from November to May because of our extremely mild winters. Palm
Desert’s climate can be described as a lower California desert.
Figure 1.1 - Climate Data Chart for the City of Palm Desert (2019)
Source: National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA)
1.2 BRIEF HISTORY
The City of Palm Desert was incorporated as a charter city on November 26, 1973. It has a
“Council-Manager” charter city form of government where the City Manager is appointed by the
City Council and is the Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Corporation. The Council acts as
the board of directors of the municipal corporation and meets in a public forum where citizens
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may participate in the governmental process. The City Council consists of five members elected
at large, on a non-partisan basis.
1.3 ECONOMY DESCRIPTION
The City of Palm Desert is located near the center of the Coachella Valley, a geographical and
economic area comprised of nine cities. Palm Desert relies heavily on sales tax and transient
occupancy taxes to support most of its financial needs, and tourism is vital in supporting the local
economy and government services. Sales tax is assessed on all purchases of merchandise
(tangible personal property) and the City receives one percent of the sales tax collected. A
collection of retail centers as well as the upscale shopping destination, El Paseo, bolster sales tax
collection and help support City services. Transient occupancy taxes are collected from visitors
staying in local accommodations, such as hotels, short-term rentals, or other lodging for less than
28 days. An abundance of premium golf courses, along with regional festivals and events, draw
visitors to Palm Desert to shop, stay, and explore.
Palm Desert also supports the arts and education as valuable economic drivers and sources of
community vibrancy. Throughout the City is a robust public art program, as well as the McCallum
Theatre for the Performing Arts and the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Additionally, the Palm
Desert is home to the main campus of the Coachella Valley’s local community college, College of
the Desert, and satellite campuses for California State University, San Bernardino, and University
of California, Riverside.
1.4 POPULATION AND HOUSING
Population: 51,163 (2020 United Census Bureau)
The 2020 Census showed that the total population of Palm Desert increased by 2,718 people
since its last 2010 survey.
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Housing: In 2021, 65.6% of the housing units in Palm Desert, CA were occupied by their
owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 64.6%.
1.5 DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND LAND USE
The City of Palm Desert is in the center of the Coachella Valley, which is in the geographic center
of Riverside County. The city is bordered by Rancho Mirage to the west and Indian Wells to the
south and east, and the unincorporated community of Bermuda Dunes to the east. The existing
city limits generally extend southward from Interstate 10, past Highway 111 and along Highway
74 to the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains between Monterey Avenue and Washington Street.
The City’s Sphere of Influence (SOI) encompasses areas to the north and south of the city,
including portions of the Santa Rosa Mountains south of the city limits and the unincorporated
communities of Bermuda Dunes to the east, and Sun City Palm Desert north of Interstate 10.
Figure 2.1 depicts the Palm Desert City Limits, SOI, and location relative to other nearby cities or
communities.
The General Plan area covers 44,533 acres, or 69.9 square miles. The City’s corporate
boundaries include 17,256 acres, while 27,277 acres, or 42.6 square miles, constitute the City’s
sphere of influence. Within the city, there are approximately 2,700 acres of undeveloped land,
much of which is in the northern portion of the city.
The City currently offers a wide range of housing opportunities, from rental apartments to multi-
million-dollar estates. Like many California communities, much of Palm Desert’s housing was
constructed in a suburban context in which value is in part derived from the separation and
isolation of neighborhoods from the rest of the city. This trend is most striking when viewing a map
of the city’s gated communities and has likely contributed to Palm Desert’s success at attracting
seasonal residents.
During the last General Plan cycle, the city initiated the development of the California State
University and University of California campuses, expanding the city’s educational opportunities.
This move presents great educational, economic, and overall quality of life offerings. However, to
fully capitalize on the opportunity, the city will need to make sure it appropriately plans for enough
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land in the vicinity of the universities to accommodate new students, faculty, and university
supportive businesses. Additionally, it will be very important for the city to ensure that all new
development in the area is interconnected to form a cohesive university area.
Palm Desert has also concluded that the development of the Highway 111 corridor area into a
downtown presents an important opportunity for maintaining and improving the City’s position as
a premier destination for tourists, visitors, and shoppers. The City’s strategy is to focus on retail
business retention and the redevelopment of underutilized commercial areas to protect and grow
Palm Desert’s market position. The City’s strategy also includes transitioning the Highway 111
corridor into a walkable City Center district where visitors and residents alike can employ a “park
once” approach. In part, this approach is based on leveraging the success of the walkable “Main
Street” form and character of El Paseo. The city is also responding to strong market and
demographic trends, driven by the Baby Boomer and Millennial generations, exhibiting strong
demand for walkable, connected places over isolated, automobile-oriented places. As such, this
General Plan contains strategies that emphasize the connectivity between housing, jobs, and
services as well as the City’s desire to enhance resident mobility through high-quality transit and
transit-supportive development. In sum, this strategy aims to create a true downtown, enhancing
the city’s identity, quality of life, and economic competitiveness.
As the city continues to grow, infill development will be a critical land use strategy. This strategy
will allow the city to continue to grow and allow the city to continue to protect and preserve its
hillsides and natural environment. These amenities create the striking natural beauty that is at the
heart of Palm Desert’s identity. All development that took place in the past few years was in
compliance with local land use, building codes, zoning, and environmental requirements, as well
as applicable state and federal regulations. There have been no changes to the community’s
vulnerability.
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Figure 1.3- Land Use Designations from General Plan (2019)
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SECTION 2.0 - PLANNING PROCESS
2.1 LOCAL PLANNING PROCESS
Representatives from various City departments were contacted to determine if any projects or
activities were necessary in mitigating the identified hazards to Palm Desert. Each representative
was invited to participate in the planning process and to attend meetings via email. The City of
Palm Desert General Plan also contains an Environmental Hazards Chapter that outlines various
hazards and mitigation steps, which includes a goal, policies, and programs regarding the
identified environmental hazards. The General Plan also includes a Safety Element which
addresses a broad range of issues and hazards that affect the community.
The following members from these departments formed the LHMP planning team for the City of
Palm Desert: Planning Department (Planning Director), Rosie Lua Human Resources (Human
Resources Manager), Andrea Staehle, Building and Safety (Building Inspector), Jeremy Frey Sr.
Public Works (Director), Martin Alvarez
The city planning team met and worked collectively to ensure the necessary components of the
plan were reviewed and updated accordingly. Below is a list of meeting dates the planning team
met:
September 20th, 2022
November 2nd, 2022
2.2 PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL (OA) PLANNING PROCESS
The City of Palm Desert participated in the MJLHMP planning process with the Riverside County
Operational Area by attending LHMP meetings and public hearings.
The City of Palm Desert participated in various Riverside County conferences, and meetings,
including:
April 13th, 2022, MJLHMP/LHMP Steering Committee
June 15th, 2022, Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Kick-Off Meeting
July 3rd, 2022, MJLHMP/LHMP Steering Committee
August 17th, 2022, LHMP Jurisdiction Workshop
October 5th, 2022, MJLHMP/LHMP Steering Committee
October 20th, 2022, Local Hazard Mitigation Planning Risk Assessment
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November 2nd, 2022, LHMP Planning Meeting with cooperating agencies Riverside County
Fire and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
January 4th, 2023, MJLHMP/LHMP Steering Committee
2.3 DATES AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
September 7th, 2022 - Public comment during National Preparedness Month community
outreach. Sign-in sheet is included in Appendix A.
Posted on City Website between December 28, 2023 – January 18, 2023, for public input. No
comments were made during this opportunity. A screenshot of the website is included in
Appendix A.
2.4 PLANS ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION
The City of Palm Desert will present the LHMP Annex to the City Council to adopt at a public
meeting, via an official Resolution upon FEMA approval.
SECTION 3.0 – MITIGATION ACTIONS/UPDATES
3.1 NEW HAZARDS OR CHANGES FROM 2017
The City of Palm Desert planning team has reviewed the hazards that affect the City and
summarized their frequency of occurrence, spatial extent, potential magnitude, and
significance specific to Palm Desert and has concluded that there are no changes to the
hazard priority or hazard profile or additional hazards.
3.2 BRIEF STATEMENT OF UNIQUE HAZARDS
The most prominent hazards faced by residents of Palm Desert are Earthquakes, Drought,
Flooding, Wildland- Urban Interface Fires, and Extreme Heat A long-term power outage in summer
could produce life-threatening extreme heat conditions for residents without access to air
conditioning. In addition, the proximity of Interstate 10 and the Union Pacific Railroad increases
the risk of hazardous materials transportation spills or releases during any of these natural
disasters listed. The City of Palm Desert could also be impacted by terrorism or bioterrorism.
3.3 IDENTIFICATION OF RISKS AND VULNERABILITIES
The City of Palm Desert strives to maintain a high level of safety and to respect the natural setting
of the community while meeting the needs of residents, a thriving economy, and critical
government functions. The city conducted a safety element plan incorporated into the general
plan. This element identifies priority public safety element issues in Palm Desert and addresses
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potential hazards to people and property. Issues in this element include both natural and human-
caused hazards.
The Safety Element is consistent with and supports the other General Plan elements. The
elements of the General Plan that most closely correlate to the Safety Element are the Land Use
and Community Character Element, Public Utilities Element, Mobility Element, Housing Element,
and Environmental Resources Element. While the Safety Element has a less direct relationship
with the remaining General Plan elements, each element is important and collectively supports a
comprehensive framework for Palm Desert’s future.
Hazard Screening and Prioritization
Following the identification of hazards, the Planning Team went through a process to prioritize
(screen) the hazards to determine which hazards created the most significant concern in the
community. The Planning Team utilized a ranking implemented during this update to the City of
Palm Desert LHMP. This process consists of generating a qualitative scale, Very High, High,
Medium, or Low rating for 1) Probability and 2) Severity from each hazard. As part of this process,
the following criteria (definitions) were applied:
❖ Geographic Extent
o Extreme: 50-100 percent of the planning area
o Extensive: 25-5 percent of the Planning area
o Significant: 10-25 percent of the planning area
o Limited: less than 10 percent of the planning area
❖ Probability
o Very Likely: Near 100% chance of it happening. There have been Historic Occurrences of the
Hazard in the community or region, and experts concluded it is highly likely that the hazard will
occur in the community. Citizens feel that there is a likelihood of occurrence.
o Likely: Between 10 and 100 percent chance of happening in the next year. There may or may
not have been historical occurrences of the hazard in the community or region, but experts
concluded that it is likely that the hazard will occur in the community. Citizens feel that there is a
likelihood of occurrence.
o Occasional: Between 1 and 10 percent chance of happening within the next year or has a
recurrence interval of 11 to 100 years. There may or may not have been a historical occurrence
of the hazard in the community or region, but experts concluded that it is possible that the hazard
could occur in the community. Citizens may feel that there is a likelihood of occurrence.
o Unlikely: Less than 1 percent chance of happening or having a recurrence interval of greater
than every 100 years. There have been no historical occurrences of the hazard in the community
or region and both experts and citizens agree that it is highly unlikely that the hazard will occur in
the community.
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❖ Severity
o Catastrophic: Both experts and citizens have concluded that the consequences will be
significant in terms of building damage and loss of life. More than 50 percent of Property severely
damaged, shutdown of facilities for more than 30 days; and/or multiple deaths.
o Critical: Consequences are thought to be significant in terms of building damage and loss of
life. 25-50 percent of property severely damaged; shutdown of facilities for at least two weeks;
and/or injuries/illnesses result in permanent disability.
o Limited, but not insignificant: Consequences are thought to be modest in terms of building
damage and loss of life, limited either in geographic extent or magnitude. 10-25 percent of property
severely damaged; shutdown of facilities for more than a week; and/or injuries/illnesses treatable
do not result in permanent damage.
o Negligible: Consequences are thought to be minimal in terms of building damage and loss of
life, limited either in geographic extent or magnitude. Less than 10 percent of the property Severely
damaged, shutdown of facilities and services for less than 24 hours; and/or injuries/illnesses
treatable with first aid.
❖ Risk
o High: Widespread potential impact
o Medium: Moderate potential impact
o Low: minimal potential impact
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Figure 3.1- City of Palm Desert Hazard Risk Matrix
The top hazards were identified for inclusion in the City of Palm Desert’s LHMP Update:
Drought
Wind
Flooding
Extreme Heat
Earthquake
Wildfire
Human-Caused & Other Hazards
1. Drought
Probability – Medium
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Impact- High
All of the City of Palm Desert is subject to moderate to severe drought conditions as the Coachella
Valley is considered to be an extension of the Sonoran Desert. The Coachella Valley Water
District is the water purveyor for the City. CVWD will be contacted in the event of a water line
break. The City is prohibited from touching the water distribution system for liability reasons.
The City of Palm Desert is at Very High Risk for Drought. In the Coachella Valley, the water
comes from a vast underground aquifer that has been in a state of overdraft since the 1980s. Over
time, the Drought risk has significantly decreased due to rain and the mitigation actions taken by
the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) and the Coachella Valley. However, because drought
is difficult to define, predict, and monitor, the entire planning area’s population is at risk for Drought.
Likelihood of occurrence: Occasional
Between 1 and 10 percent chance of happening within the next year or has a recurrence interval
of 11 to 100 years. With higher air temperatures, water losses could increase across the Coachella
Valley Region, leading to increased evaporation in water bodies that would typically allow
groundwater recharge. On average, Coachella Valley water users pump nearly three times more
water out of the aquifer than is returned by natural and artificial replenishment.
In an effort to conserve water, the City has adopted the CVWD Model Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance (as amended) which establishes a water budget that requires native and drought-
tolerant species for all new and substantial remodel projects. The City Council intends to promote
water conservation through the planning, design, installation, and maintenance of landscapes by
the use of climate-appropriate plant material and efficient irrigation as well as to create a Palm
Desert landscape theme by enhancing and improving the physical and natural environment.
Figure 3.2 - Palm Desert Drought Hazard (2023)
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Figure 3.3 History of Drought in Riverside County (2023)
Vulnerability
Nearly all the water that is used in the Coachella Valley comes from a groundwater basin, or
aquifer under the ground's surface. This aquifer is estimated to have a capacity of about 39
million acre-feet of water. Drought can have far-reaching impacts on public health, including
decreased water quality and quantity, increased incidence of illness and disease, increased
mortality rates, and adverse mental health outcomes.
Other possible impacts include recreational risks; effects on air quality; diminished living
conditions related to energy, air quality, and hygiene; compromised food and nutrition; and
increased incidence of illness and disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Droughts can also lead to reduced local firefighting capabilities. Fire services for the City of
Palm Desert are provided through a cooperative agreement with the State of California (Cal-
Fire) and the County of Riverside. Cal-Fire/Riverside County Fire Department is an all-risk,
full-service fire department and has three fire stations located strategically throughout the City
of Palm Desert which provide highly effective protection.
The economic impact will be largely associated with industries that use water or depend on
water for their business. For example, landscaping businesses were affected by the droughts
of the past, as the demand for service significantly declined because landscaping was not
watered. There are 37 golf courses in Palm Desert, California, including 13 public, 3 municipal,
and 21 private courses. Closures of these facilities will have a huge impact on the economy
since golf generates nearly $1.1 billion in overall economic activity, thousands of jobs, and
roughly $83.3 million in state and local taxes. The golf industry’s direct employment amounts
to 7.3% of total employment in the Coachella Valley, or about half the share of leisure and
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hospitality (15.0%) and nearly double that of financial activities (4.0%). Total business sales
generated directly by golf account for 11.4% of all taxable sales in the Coachella Valley, while
direct golf-related retail sales represent 3.0% of taxable retail sales in the region. Further,
state and local tax revenues generated by golf in the Coachella Valley make up about 9.7%
of the total state and local tax impact of travel in California’s Riverside and San Bernardino
Counties.
No structures will be directly affected by drought conditions, though some structures may
become vulnerable to fires, which are more likely following years of drought. Droughts can
also have significant impacts on landscapes, which could cause a financial burden to property
owners. However, these impacts are not considered critical in planning for impacts from the
drought hazard.
Critical facilities as defined for this plan will continue to be operational during a drought. Critical
facility elements such as landscaping may not be maintained due to limited resources, but the
risk to the planning area’s critical facilities inventory will be largely aesthetic. For example,
when water conservation measures are in place, landscaped areas will not be watered and
may die. These aesthetic impacts are not considered significant.
2. Earthquake
Probability – Medium
Impact – High
Palm Desert is in a region bordered by mountain ranges on three sides. According to the state
mapping of fault zones, under the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act of 1972 (Public
Resources Code Sections 2621–2630), the city and the sphere of influence (SOI) are not located
in an active fault zone. Nonetheless, the area is bordered by three active faults. The closest fault
to the community is the San Andreas Fault, located approximately four miles to the north. Other
nearby faults include the San Jacinto Fault, located approximately 10 miles to the southwest, and
the Elsinore Fault, located approximately 30 miles to the southwest.
Fault rupture is a primary seismic hazard that describes the sudden release of energy that results
from the sliding of one part of the earth’s crust past another. An earthquake, or ground shaking,
is another type of primary seismic hazard. Thousands of earthquakes occur frequently in
Southern California each year, although most do not cause significant damage or affect
communities. The most recent earthquake in the Coachella Valley occurred on October 16, 1999,
and registered as a magnitude (M) of 7.1. Relatively negligible damage was reported from the
earthquake because of the epicenter’s remote location. Six major seismic events (magnitude 5.9
or greater) have been recorded in the Coachella Valley region in the past 100 years, with none
occurring in Palm Desert.
Although no active faults run through the community, Palm Desert’s soils and geologic
characteristics result in other potential secondary seismic hazards. Due to a combination of steep
slopes, unstable terrain, and proximity to earthquake faults, the southwestern portions of the city
and the SOI are susceptible to landslide risks ranging from moderate to very high. Areas
susceptible to landslides are shown. Susceptible areas include those identified in the Land Use
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and Community Character Element for development of new buildings and structures. As of 2015,
no recent landslides had been reported in Palm Desert or the SOI.
Palm Desert shares many of the hazards associated with earthquake faults in Southern California.
There are three major faults and several minor faults that could impact the City of Palm Desert.
The major faults include the San Andreas near San Gorgonio Pass, the Palm Desert Fault, and
the Elsinore Fault. Each of these has the potential of generating a significant earthquake which
would impact the City of Palm Desert.
Likelihood of occurrence: Very Likely
Near 100% chance of it happening every year. Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture
Forecast (UCERF3) concurs with previous studies that consider the Southern San Andreas Fault
the most likely to host a large earthquake. Compared to UCERF2, the likelihood of M≥6.7
earthquakes on the San Jacinto Fault decreases three-fold in UCERF3 but is balanced by an
equivalent increase in the likelihood of M≥8 earthquakes on that fault.
Table 1 - Average time between earthquakes in the various regions together with the likelihood of
having one or more such earthquakes in the next 30 years (starting from 2014).
Values listed in parentheses indicate the factor by which the rates and likelihoods have increased,
or decreased, since the previous model (UCERF2). “Readiness” indicates the factor by which
likelihoods are currently elevated, or lower, because of the length of time since the most recent
large earthquakes. These values include aftershocks. It is important to note that actual repeat
times will exhibit a high degree of variability and will almost never exactly equal the average listed
here. (USGS)
The Risk Index rating is Very High for Riverside County, CA when compared to the rest of the U.S.
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Figure 3.4 – Palm Desert Risk Index
❖ History
Vulnerability
The impact of earthquakes can potentially affect the entire population directly or indirectly. The
degree of exposure depends on various factors such as the type and age of the building people
reside in, the intensity of the earthquake, etc. Such impacts could lead to business closures, road
closures, which may isolate the population, and critical facilities and utilities may also lose their
function. During an earthquake, hazardous materials carried by trains or trucks might spill or
release due to crashes or derailments, which can negatively impact public health.
Earthquakes can have devastating impacts on the economy at both the local and regional levels.
Palm Desert has consistently had the highest amount of annual retail sales within the nine cities
of the Coachella Valley, achieving an average of 25% of the Valley’s sales with $1.7 billion in sales
in 2012. Palm Desert retail sales have increased by $248.9 million, or 17%, during the last five
years. The losses incurred can include structural and non-structural damage to buildings, loss of
business function, damage to inventory, relocation costs, wage loss, and rental loss caused by
the repair and replacement of buildings. Infrastructure such as roads and freeways that run
through earthquake-prone soils are also at risk of significant damage, which can impact
commodity flows. Access to major roads is essential for response and recovery operations as well
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as for ensuring the safety of people after a disaster event. Average Daily Traffic Count at sample
intersections I-10 and Monterey Avenue was 41,000 cars, I-10 and Cook Street having 107,000
westbound; and 105,000 eastbound. Downtown Highway 111 sees 31,000 westbound; and
35,000 eastbound. Additionally, the water and sewer infrastructure are likely to suffer significant
damage in the event of an earthquake.
Our higher educational institutions of UC Riverside at Palm Desert, California State University San
Bernardino Palm Desert Campus, and College of the Desert would be at risk during an
earthquake. The number of students can vary at any time, but recent statistics show that the
College of the Desert has an enrollment of 10,229 students with California State University San
Bernardino Palm Desert Campus having 12% of the 18,510 students taking at least 1 unit at the
Palm Desert Campus.
Earthquakes can cause severe and far-reaching environmental damage. One of the potential
hazards is the release of hazardous materials from fixed facilities or during transportation
incidents. Such materials could leak from ruptured structures and contaminate the surrounding
area or nearby waterways, leading to catastrophic consequences for the environment.
3. Flood
Probability – Medium
Impact – High
Flooding hazards in Palm Desert can result from stormwater flows and flash runoff from the Indio
Hills and the foothills of the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains. The threat of localized
flash flooding is especially high during summer storms due to the high intensity and shorter
duration of rainfall. The arid landscape has low absorption rates, causing water to rapidly
accumulate and result in sudden and destructive flash floods, endangering lives, property, and
infrastructure. The City's Floodplain Management Ordinance specifies construction standards for
all areas of flood hazards. All new construction and improvements must be constructed using
methods and practices that minimize flood damage and provide adequate drainage. City
development permits are required for all new construction and improvements within areas of flood
hazard. Applications for development in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are subject to Palm
Desert Municipal Code Title 28, Flood Damage Prevention.
The standard measure for flooding is the "100-year flood", a benchmark used by the FEMA to
establish a standard of flood control in communities throughout the country. The 100-year flood is
also referred to as the "regulatory" or "base" flood. The term 100-year flood is often incorrectly
used and can be misleading. The correct designation is “the 1% annual chance flood”, meaning
there is a 1% chance that a flood of that intensity and elevation will occur in any given year, not
that the flood will occur once every hundred years.
Likelihood of occurrence: Very Likely
Near a 100% chance of it happening every year. The 100-year Flood map of the City of Palm
Desert is shown in Below. As defined by FEMA, the darker shades of purple indicate a 1% annual
chance of flooding, while lighter shades of purple indicate a 0.2% annual chance of flooding.
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Climate change acts as an amplifier to flood hazards. Extreme weather events have become
more frequent over the past 40 to 50 years, and this trend is projected to continue. Rising sea
levels and shifting weather patterns (temperate, winds) are expected to have a significant impact
on rainfall frequency, intensity, and distribution, which in turn will have a significant impact on the
frequency of flood occurrences. Additionally, warmer weather patterns increase snowmelt,
producing more runoff to the lower elevations.
Figure 3.5 - Palm Desert Flood Zone Hazard Map (2024)
❖ History
Palm Desert has a history of flood events. Recent regional occurrences include the Riverside
County floods in 1998 that resulted in reported damage of over $12 million. Locally, smaller flood
incidents have also occurred in Palm Desert. Previous local events in Palm Desert include flash
floods that occurred in 1998, in addition to flooding from Tropical Storm Kathleen in 1976 that
caused extensive flood damage throughout the city (Riverside County 2012, City of Palm Desert
2012). Nonetheless, reported damages from these flood events in Palm Desert are low and far
less extensive than the reported damages from the countywide floods of 1998.
❖ Vulnerability
Floodwater can contain harmful substances like bacteria and chemicals. When there's a flood,
the sewer systems can overflow, which leads to sewage in the floodwater. People who walk or
play in floodwater can get sick, injured, or infected. The floodwater can also contaminate
drinking water sources, which can cause waterborne diseases. Stagnant pools of water and wet
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soil can increase the number of mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue, and West
Nile fever. Mold can grow in flooded buildings within 24 to 48 hours, which can affect people
with asthma, allergies, or breathing problems. During floods, trains or trucks carrying hazardous
materials can crash or derail and release hazardous substances, which can harm people's
health. Buildings like factories or industrial facilities can also release hazardous materials when
they're flooded.
Structures that are exposed to flooding, including critical facilities, can suffer severe damage.
Floodwater can lead to the loss, damage, or destruction of building contents, and can also
compromise the structures themselves. The pressure from floodwater, particularly as it seeps
through soil, can cause harm to building foundations. During floods, water may batter structures
or erode soil, which can undermine building foundations. After a flood, wooden structures may
begin to rot. Mold is a common issue in structures that have been inundated by floodwaters,
and it can grow within 24 to 48 hours after a flood. Mold can be expensive to treat safely and
properly, and it presents serious public health risks if left untreated.
Flooding can cause significant damage to infrastructure, including bridges, roads, stormwater
systems, water/sewer/gas lines, and electrical systems. During the most recent tropical storm
Hilary we experienced our major streets being affected by road closures. This affected the
thousands of drivers needing access to homes, work, and especially all of our first responder
personnel.
The Palm Desert Police Department Station is key to the City which handles over 47,600 calls
for service each year. The Palm Desert Police Contract consists of 80 sworn deputy sheriff's
positions. The current sworn officer per 1,000 resident’s ratio is 1.56. 36 of the 80 positions are
dedicated to the patrol division with the remaining deputies dedicated to special assignments
such as the Traffic Division, Special Enforcement Team, Motorcycle Enforcement Unit, K-9
Officer, Business District Team, School Resource Officers, the Coachella Valley Violent Crime
Gang Task Force and Narcotics Enforcement. During a hazardous event, this will have a severe
impact on the Cities response time with an average of 6 minutes for priority one calls.
Levees can lower the risk of flooding incidents, but they cannot completely eliminate it. Even if
the levee is constructed and maintained perfectly, there is always a chance that a flood may
surpass its ability to hold back the water. Moreover, if a levee is not adequately maintained or if
it is overwhelmed by a flood that goes beyond its engineering capacity, it can fail, resulting in
floodwater flowing underneath or directly through the levee. When levees are overrun or fail, the
resulting floods can be catastrophic.
4. Extreme Heat
Probability – High
Impact – High
The City of Palm Desert is known for its desert climate, and extreme heat is a significant hazard.
The climate in Palm Desert is hot and arid. Exposure to extreme heat or extended periods of high
temperatures results in a variety of health effects, including increased heat-related mortality
(Chestnut et al. 1998; Medina-Ramon et al. 2006). Due to a changing climate, Palm Desert is
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anticipated to experience increasing levels of heat. By 2100, the Riverside County region is
anticipated to experience an increase ranging from 4.3°F to 8.7°F (Scripps Institution of
Oceanography 2018).
Similarly, Palm Desert is anticipated to experience an increase in the number of days when the
temperature exceeds 112.1°F, the local threshold for extreme heat. While Palm Desert’s historic
number of extreme heat days through 2011 was four occurrences per year, by 2050 the number
of extreme heat days could increase to 56 per year, on an average of 21 to 25 (Scripps Institution
of Oceanography 2009 & 2018). Increased heat, when combined with drought and high winds,
can exacerbate wildfire risk in and around Palm Desert, especially for vulnerable populations
such as the unhoused, elderly, and those with chronic health conditions. Heatwaves can also
lead to increased demand for energy and strain on the power grid. Palm Desert’s summer
temperatures reach over 120°F for four months of the year and have an average temperature of
over 100°F.
Heat waves do not strike victims immediately, but rather their cumulative effects slowly take the
lives of vulnerable populations. Heat waves do not generally cause damage or elicit an immediate
response to floods, fires, earthquakes, or other more “typical” disaster scenarios. While heat
waves are less dramatic, they are potentially deadlier.
Likelihood of occurrence: Very Likely
Near a 100% chance of it happening every year. In any given year, Palm Desert could experience
extreme heat events. Heat emergencies are often slower to develop, taking several days of
continuous, oppressive heat before a significant or quantifiable impact is seen. According to
information provided by FEMA, extreme heat is defined as temperatures that hover 100 degrees
or more above the average high temperature for the region and last for several weeks. Heat kills
by taxing the human body beyond its abilities. In a normal year, about 175 Americans succumb
to the demands of summer heat. In the 40 years from 1936 through 1975, nearly 20,000 people
were killed in the United States by the effects of heat and solar radiation. In the heat wave of
1980, more than 1,250 people died.
❖ History
The City of Palm Desert experiences extreme temperatures on an annual basis. Some of the
events require the City to act, including disseminating Public Service Announcements, checking
in with vulnerable populations (elderly, homeless), and opening and/or coordinating with others
to open cooling centers.
The heat index is a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with the
actual air temperature.
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Figure 3.6 – Heat Index
Figure 3.7 - NWS Monthly Summarized Data for Max Temperature 2018-2023
❖ Vulnerability
It's crucial to understand that certain groups of people are at a higher risk of experiencing the
negative effects of extreme heat events. These groups include individuals with physical or mobility
constraints, cognitive impairments, economic constraints, and social isolation. Among these
groups, the elderly, young children, low-income individuals, people with life-threatening illnesses,
and those who are overweight are particularly vulnerable.
Additionally, power outages can be life-threatening for those who rely on electricity for life support.
Moreover, outdoor enthusiasts and recreational users may also be more susceptible to adverse
weather conditions. It is essential to take extra precautions and stay informed to protect these
populations during times of excessive heat and strong wind events.
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Power outages will disrupt communications. Our key utilities like water will be affected as well as
transportation. This will disrupt our economy due to closed retail businesses, grocery stores, gas
stations, ATMs, banks, and other services. A percentage of the population will have food spoilage
and water contamination with no power for an extended period.
5. Strong Wind Events
Probability – High
Impact – High
Palm Desert experiences strong winds, particularly during the spring months. High winds can
cause damage to buildings, infrastructure, and utilities, leading to power outages and potential
safety hazards. Additionally, gusty winds can exacerbate wildfires and increase their speed and
intensity.
The Coachella Valley is also susceptible to Microbursts; strong, damaging winds strike the ground
and often give the impression that a tornado has struck. They frequently occur during intense
thunderstorms. An intense microburst can result in damaging winds near 170 miles per hour and
often lasts for less than five minutes. There are two (2) types of microburst windstorms: dry and
wet. The most significant hazard associated with winds is an increased fire danger, but winds can
also cause downed trees and power lines and property damage, as well as potentially hazardous
conditions for travelers, RV’s, semi-trailers, and aircraft
Dust Storms: The City's desert environment makes it prone to dust storms, especially during
periods of dryness and when high winds coincide. Dust storms can significantly reduce visibility,
posing risks for motorists and outdoor activities. In addition to the immediate safety concerns, dust
storms can also have negative impacts on air quality and public health. The combination of high
winds and sandy, sparsely vegetated soils characteristic of desert areas can create blow sand
hazards. The City's Municipal Code (Chapter 24.12) requires that an applicant for a grading or
demolition permit must first obtain an approved Fugitive Dust Mitigation Plan. This plan must
include all reasonably available control measures so that fugitive dust emissions comply with
South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 403. Control measures at a construction or
demolition site can include the use of soil stabilizers or watering. Erection of wind fences, covering
soil stockpiles, and revegetation of disturbed surfaces.
Likelihood of occurrence: Very Likely
Near 100% chance of wind events occurring every year in the City of Palm Desert. These events
can happen at any time during the year, but they are more common during the autumn and winter
months. Wind can suddenly pick up speed, making it unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
❖ History
The City of Palm Desert has experienced significant wind events.
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Figure 3.8 - History of Max Wind Speed in the Coachella Valley
Figure 3.9 - Wind Erosion Hazard Map
Vulnerability
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some people are more vulnerable
to the negative effects of extreme wind or heat events. These include individuals who have
physical or mobility constraints, cognitive impairments, economic difficulties, and social
isolation. Examples of such people are the elderly, young children, low-income individuals,
people with life-threatening illnesses, and those who are overweight. Power outages can be
life-threatening for those who rely on electricity for life support. Furthermore, outdoor
recreational users could also be at risk during severe wind events.
All property is vulnerable to adverse weather, but structures in poor condition or vulnerable
locations may risk the most damage. Homes near mature trees or overhead power lines may
be more susceptible to wind damage and blackouts.
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Palm Desert takes pride in its parks and constantly works to improve its recreational facilities.
The Parks and Recreation Department's highest priority is to meet the City’s goal of advancing
the quality of life in Palm Desert’s neighborhoods by delivering consistent services,
maintaining the safety and appearance of city parks and recreation facilities, and inspiring
community pride. During severe wind events, we have seen the disruption and damage
caused to facilities and park closure.
The Family YMCA of the Desert and Desert Recreation District each works with the City of
Palm Desert to provide a wide variety of programs to the community. The Community Gardens
are open to all Palm Desert residents and business owners, whether they are novices or
master gardeners. Palm Desert’s Community Gardens provide residents with an opportunity
to learn the joys and benefits of gardening. They are a place to share gardening experiences,
make new friends, gather advice, and learn. The severe weather causes disruptions to
programs due to park closure, damaged facilities, and the need to conduct repairs. For more
than 70 years, Desert Recreation District (the district) has played a key role in enriching the
quality of life for residents and visitors through the recreational services offered in the Greater
Coachella Valley. They cover 1,800 square miles and provide recreational services to
approximately 300,000 residents, in part by working with municipalities in a collective effort to
assure equitable service delivery to every community. The Family YMCA of the Desert is the
largest provider of licensed childcare in the Coachella Valley in addition to providing many
opportunities in youth and family programming. The community relies on these services to
continue as normal and we have seen the impact when weather has a disruption to services.
Incapacity and loss of roads are the primary transportation failures resulting from adverse
weather, mostly associated with secondary impacts. High winds can cause significant damage
to trees and power lines, blocking roads with debris, incapacitating transportation, and
disrupting ingress and egress.
The vulnerability of the environment to adverse weather is the same as the exposure.
6. Wildfire
Probability – Medium
Impact – High
Wildfire hazards are highest in areas of the community near the wildland-urban interface (WUI).
The WUI refers to areas where development abuts areas of wilderness or landscapes with higher
fuel loads. Although Palm Desert does not have a record of any reported fire incidents, the
Riverside County MJHMP indicates that from 2001 to 2011, more than 60 large fires (300 acres
or greater in size) were reported in the county.
The Wildfire Hazard Severity Figure Zone presents the three fire hazard severity zones in Palm
Desert. The Very High Wildfire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) was identified by the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) based on fuel load, slope, fire weather, and
other relevant factors. The High (HFHSZ) and Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones (MFHSZ)
were identified by the Riverside County Fire Department based on an assessment of vegetation,
slope, fire history, weather patterns, and the effects of flames, heat, and flying fire embers.
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The City of Palm Desert has incorporated state requirements with the adoption of the 2013 edition
of the California Building Standards Code and the 2013 edition of the California Fire Code by
reference in Municipal Code Title 15, Building and Construction. The state’s fire hazard severity
zones shown in Figure 8.6 are incorporated and established in Palm Desert Municipal Code
Section 15.26.040, supporting the City’s ability to enforce state standards applicable to areas of
higher risk.
Likelihood of occurrence: Likely
Between a 10 and 100 percent chance of happening in the next year. Three (3) weather conditions
that may cause ignition and/or impact the behavior of wildfires are as follows; Thunderstorms and
the associated lightning are a significant source of fire starts and usually occur mid to late summer.
High winds can become steady up to 20 mph and gust up to 30-40 mph throughout the year but
are most likely to exacerbate fires during the months of August through October when dry
vegetation conditions are generally present. Hot, dry conditions most commonly occur in August
and September. Fires can have a quick speed of onset, especially during periods of drought. Fires
can burn for a short period of time or may have durations lasting for a week or more. Unlike
earthquakes and wind, the extent of a wildfire is dependent on fuels, weather, and topography.
Figure 3.9.1 - Wildfire Hazard Severity Zone (2023)
Vulnerability
Fires can have a negative impact on public health by reducing air quality due to smoke. Smoke
inhalation and increased particulate matter in the air can cause lung irritation and respiratory
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problems in vulnerable populations, such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with
asthma, emphysema, or other underlying respiratory issues. Fires can be especially challenging
for vulnerable populations who have difficulty evacuating due to disability, age, or mobility
challenges. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, older adults are more than twice as likely
as the general population to die in fires. In 2018, the Camp Fire in Paradise, California claimed
the lives of 86 people, and of those positively identified, 77% were over the age of 65. Evacuation
can also be challenging for those living in crowded or high-density housing situations, particularly
in multi-story buildings. Those living in areas with low road density may have fewer options for
evacuation. Populations with limited access to information may not receive critical warning
information in time to reach safety.
Fires can have a significant impact on the economy by destroying or damaging structures, utilities,
roads, and other essential assets. They can also cause business disruptions, school closures, and
flight cancellations, thus affecting the tourism industry.
Buildings, critical facilities, utility lines, roads, and bridges are vulnerable to fire damage. When
fire damages utility lines, it can lead to a loss of functionality in water, sewer, gas, and electricity
systems. Buildings that do not meet the California State Building Code requirements may be more
susceptible to fire damage. The materials used in buildings and landscaping around them can also
affect their vulnerability. For instance, wood shakes can ignite quickly due to embers. The
vegetation around a structure can also impact its risk level. Maintaining a buffer area (defensible
space) between the vegetation and the structure can reduce the risk of fire damage. Furthermore,
proactive landscaping schemes can be used in fire-prone areas, such as avoiding pine straw and
mulch.
7. Terrorism
Terrorism, as defined by the FBI, is "the unlawful use of force against persons or property to
intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population or any segment thereof, in the
furtherance of political or social objectives". The act of terrorism could involve biological agents,
nuclear technology, incendiary devices, chemicals, or explosives.
All City businesses and facilities are perceived as soft targets; however, due to the intended
purpose of terrorism, it would most likely happen in more populous urban areas where more
devastation (and fear) will ensue.
Likelihood of occurrence: Likely
Between a 10 and 100 percent chance of happening in the next year. Palm Desert is recognized
as a world-class vacation and shopping destination. The city boasts a variety of renowned special
events, including Fourth of July at the Park, Fashion Week, Film Festival, Concerts in the Park,
McCallum Theatre, Tour de Palm Springs, and The Living Desert Zoo. The city has multiple luxury
resort destinations and golf resorts that draw visitors from around the world.
The City of Palm Desert has identified high-profile targets for potential attacks:
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Figure 3.9.2- Palm Desert Civic Center Park
The Palm Desert Independence Day Celebration concert and fireworks at Civic Center can have
up to 15,000 people in attendance.
Figure 3.9.3 - Fashion Week on El Paseo
Fashion Week on El Paseo is a nine-day event that attracts more than 14,000 people.
Figure 3.9.4 - Golf Cart Parade
The City of Palm Desert's annual Golf Cart Parade on El Paseo can see anywhere from 15,000
attendees.
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Figure 3.9.5 - Tour De Palm Springs
The Tour de Palm Springs passes through the City of Palm Desert and can see up to 6,000
bicyclists traveling through city limits.
❖ History
There are no significant historical events that have occurred to date.
8. Other Hazards
Hazardous Materials: A hazardous material is any material that, due to its quantity, concentration,
or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human
health and safety or the environment if released. Hazardous materials include but are not limited
to, hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, and any material that a business or local
implementing agency has a reasonable basis to believe would be injurious to the health and safety
of persons or would be harmful to the environment if released. While Palm Desert has
nonresidential land uses, it has very few generators of hazardous or toxic materials. Potential uses
associated with possible hazardous materials production may include commercial, quasi-
industrial, or medical operations.
Likelihood of occurrence: Likely
Between 10 and 100 percent chance of happening in the next year. The city has one abandoned
hazardous waste site that is designated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a
Superfund site (EPA 2014). The site, Enfield Chemical, is located at 77539 Enfield Court, just
south of I-10 in Palm Desert. Although listed as a Superfund site, this site is not on the EPA
National Priority List for cleanup and only requires site cleanup and material removal. The potential
for exposure to potentially hazardous materials in Palm Desert results primarily from the transport
of hazardous materials. As of 2015, one registered transporter of hazardous materials is located
in the community. In addition, major transportation corridors such as I-10 may be used to transport
hazardous materials; accidents could result in the release of hazardous materials. Major natural
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gas transmission lines provide another potential source of hazardous materials exposure. As of
2012, transmission lines for natural gas run parallel approximately two miles north of I-10, and
transmission lines for hazardous liquid are located along the I-10 corridor (PHMSA 2012). The
City jointly participated with Riverside County and other jurisdictions to adopt the Riverside County
Hazardous Waste Management Plan. The plan supports the safe management of hazardous
materials and waste products with the identification of types of waste and programs to manage
them.
Airport Operations Hazard: Hazards from airports can result from accidents during takeoff and
landing. Airports can also pose issues associated with land use incompatibilities.
Likelihood of occurrence: Likely
Bermuda Dunes Airport is the closest airport to the city and is located within the sphere of
influence. This privately owned public-use airport encompasses over 90 acres. For the 12 months
ending April 30, 2014, the airport had approximately 27,000 aircraft flights at an average of 74 per
day.
Hazards Overview
The most prominent hazards faced by residents, businesses, and visitors of Palm Desert are a
major earthquake on the southern section of the San Andreas Earthquake Fault line, localized
flash flooding in winter months, dust storms, high windstorms, and drought. A long-term power
outage in summer months could produce life-threatening extreme heat conditions for residents
without access to air conditioning. Palm Desert could also be impacted by terrorism that initially
targets the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, and then spreads the impacts through initial or
cascading hazards to all neighboring communities. The City of Palm Desert has experienced the
following emergency activations where significant damage was incurred.
• September 9-12, 1976 & August 13-18, 1977- As a result of two Pacific hurricane systems,
Kathleen, and Doreen, which became significant tropical storms, Palm Desert suffered
considerable flood damage. The City’s flood control system was deemed inadequate and was
later addressed through significant infrastructure improvements, to mitigate future flood damage.
• December 26, 2006- City Hall was closed for three days and the EOC was activated and
served as the Military/Federal Government/Local Government Command Center in response to
the death of President Gerald R. Ford.
• July 30, 2015- The Palm Desert Country Club neighborhood experienced an isolated high
wind/storm event that caused temporary flooding, loss of power for 24 hours, numerous trees
being uprooted, and damaged homes from falling trees and high winds.
• January 30, 2020 – Palm Desert city staff and the community are following guidance by
Federal, State, and county health officials to be prepared for the potential spread of the Covid 19
virus. Over the next 2 years, the changes to the community because of the virus caused financial
instability, tremendous drawdown on the health care system, and the reduction of the workforce.
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These hazards have been thoroughly assessed and addressed in the Local Hazard Mitigation
Plan to ensure effective mitigation, preparedness, and response strategies are in place to protect
the community of Palm Desert.
3.3 VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
Factors such as age, physical and/or mental condition, socioeconomic status, access to key
services, and many other factors affect the ability of people to prepare for and protect themselves
and their property from a hazardous event. Even though some hazard events may impact all or
parts of Palm Desert, different populations may experience the impacts differently. Higher-income
households, for instance, are more likely to afford the cost of retrofitting their homes to resist
flooding or move to a location that is less prone to flooding than a lower-income household. As a
result, the higher-income household is less likely to experience significant damage during a flood
event than the lower-income household, even if the same amount of rain falls on both.
There are situational and physical characteristics that help identify vulnerable populations or
populations at risk, that may not comfortably or safely access and use disaster/emergency
resources. Specifically, when discussing emergency preparedness, the following groups could be
considered vulnerable or at a greater risk during an emergency:
• Infants and small children under age three (3)
• Women who are pregnant
• Elderly people (age 65 and older)
• Homeless
• Obese and bedridden
• Mentally ill
• Those with cognitive disabilities
• Those with medical conditions (e.g., heart disease, diabetes high blood
pressure)
• Those requiring life-saving medications (e.g., high blood pressure,
depression, dementia)
• Individuals with drug or alcohol addiction
• Mobility constraints
• Those who are non-ambulatory
• The poor
• Non-English speakers who may not have access to information
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A social threat analysis examines the ways hazard events are likely to impact different
demographic populations in Palm Desert and where these different demographic populations live
within the City. This includes assessing whether the people in an area of an elevated hazard risk
are more likely than the average person to be considered a threatened population. The social
threat analysis uses the following criteria to assess the threat to vulnerable populations:
• Disability status: Persons with disabilities may often have reduced mobility and experience
difficulties living independently. As a result, they may have little or no ability to prepare for and
mitigate hazard conditions without assistance from others.
• Income levels: Lower-income households are less likely to have the financial resources to
implement mitigation activities on their residences. They may also struggle with having the
necessary time to find and access educational resources discussing hazard mitigation strategies.
Furthermore, lower-income households are less likely to be able to afford to move to areas that
are safer or less at risk of being impacted by a hazard.
• Seniors (individuals at least 65 years of age): Seniors are more likely to have reduced mobility,
physical and/or mental disabilities, and lower income levels, all of which may decrease their ability
to prepare for and mitigate a hazard event. The social threat analysis also shows the threat other
populations may encounter, such as persons experiencing homelessness or persons without
access to lifelines (vehicles or communication networks). Since data for these groups are not
readily available, there is no definitive way to determine the amount of these persons in areas of
elevated risk, so this assessment will discuss how these other threatened groups may also be
affected on a general level.
Figure 3.4.1 - The City of Palm Desert Threatened – Population Metrics (2023)
Threatened Population Metric Community-Wide Data
Population 51,163
Households 24,129
Median Household Income $75,691
Percentage of households with at least one person
living with a disability over the age of 65 years
28.4%
Percentage of households with at least one person
living with a disability under the age of 65 years
10%
Percentage of households living under the poverty
limit
12.9%
Percentage of households with one-member aged
65+
36.1%
Percentage of households with a language other
than English spoken at home (ages 5 years +)
23.6%
*** Population estimates rely on US Census ACS data. Any differences from other population estimates in
this document may be related to how the data is analyzed.
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3.4 MITIGATION PROJECT UPDATES
Completion of Parkview Bridge Maintenance (Bridge Maintenance Program)
Completion of the White Stone Lane Drainage Improvement Project.
Completion of the Cook Street Rehabilitation Project.
Completion of the Installation of the North Shere Wind Fence Project
Figure 3.5.1 - Park View Bridge (Bridge Maintenance Program)
Figure 3.5.2- White Stone Lane Drainage Improvements
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Figure 3.5.3- North Sphere Wind Fence Project (2022)
Palm Desert is a city with a clear vision of its future. The city staff and elected officials welcome
and encourage community organizations, the business community, other public agencies,
neighborhood groups, and passionate individuals to help implement many of these actions.
These implementation actions are specific physical infrastructure necessary for achieving
mitigation actions for each identified hazard as described in the General Plan.
Figure 3.5.4- Palm Desert 2023 Mitigation Actions
Hazard/
Priority
Mitigation Action Departments Funding Grant Completion
Timeframe
Flood
High Purchase parcels within the city to be used as retention basins for
excess water flow.
Public Works Capital
Improvement
Fund
Hazard
Mitigation
Grant
Program
2023-2028
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High
Enforce the City's Floodplain Management Ordinance to mitigate
flood hazards in development within the 100-year floodplain and
flash flood areas through specific standards.
Code
Enforcement
General
Fund
BRIC 2023-2028
High
Maintain the major flood control channel that exists in Palm Desert
which confines and directs stormwater runoff. The Mid Valley
Channel runs west to east through the city from Monterrey Avenue
to Washington Street. This channel carries stormwater runoff
which originates in western Coachella Valley.
Public Works Capital
Improvement
Fund
Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
2023-2028
High Expansion of the Section 29 retention basin along the I-10
freeway. The basin’s current physical capacity of 45.4 acre-feet,
another 16.3 acre-feet of retention volume would reduce the risk of
overflows and provide the storage necessary for a 100-year storm
event
Public Works Capital
Improvement
Fund
HMPG 2023-2028
Drought
Medium
Encourage golf courses and other water-intensive land uses to use
treated effluent for irrigation.
Planning General
Fund
SWEEP 2023-2028
High
Annually monitor citywide water usage with Coachella Valley
Water District (CVWD) and recommend effective water
conservation measures.
Public Works General
Fund
Water
SMART
Water &
Energy
Efficiency
2023-2028
Low
Cooperate with CVWD to develop education programs that
encourage water conservation.
Management General
Fund
County-Wide
Funding
Programs
CSWB
2023-2028
Medium
Residential Turf Conservation Project: City Council approved the
partnership with Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) as of
October 6, 2022. CVWD rebate programs are designed to assist
residential customers who want to reduce their water usage.
Planning/
Public Works
General
Fund
Public Agency
Turf
Replacement
2022-2024
Earthquake
High
Adopt and maintain high standards for the seismic performance of
buildings through prompt adoption and careful enforcement of the
most current seismic standards of the Uniform Building Code. IV
A2.2 Develop a structural hazards reduction program (per Section
8875 of the Government Code) for the upgrading of seismically
hazardous buildings.
Building and
Safety
General
Fund
NEHRP 2023-2028
Medium
Developments in or adjacent to hillsides require geological and soil
engineering studies to ensure safety from potential landslides
and/or rockfalls. Additionally, development adjacent to hillside
areas must minimize the potential hazard of falling rocks through
project design.
Engineering General
Fund
Engineering
for Natural
Hazards
2023-2028
Extreme
Heat
High Enforce the City standard of inspection and management of
hazardous trees. The City maintains and identifies high-risk trees
annually. Trees are utilized as a shade barrier during extreme
summer weather.
Public Works General
Fund
Extreme Heat
& Community
Resilience
2023-2028
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Section 4.0 – HAZARD IMPACT AND RISK ASSESSMENTS
4.1 ESTIMATING POTENTIAL LOSS
Table 4.2 shows the city's critical infrastructure and the number of buildings in that
classification. Table 4.3 shows the City’s exposure to hazards in terms of the number and
value of structures. Riverside County’s assessor’s data can be used to calculate the
improved value of parcels.
4.2 CRITICAL FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Critical Facilities Type Number
Public Safety Dispatch 1
Emergency Operations Center 1
City Hall 1
Fire Stations 3
Wastewater Treatment Plants 1
Police Facility 1
Maintenance Yards 1
Senior Community Centers 1
Schools 9
Radio Repeaters 2
4.3 TABLE REPLACEMENT VALUES
Wind
High
The City's Municipal Code (Chapter 24.12) requires that an
applicant for a grading or demolition permit must first obtain an
approved Fugitive Dust Mitigation Plan. This plan must include all
reasonably available control measures so that fugitive dust
emissions comply with South Coast Air Quality Management
District Rule 403. Control measures at a construction or demolition
site can include the use of soil stabilizers or watering. Erection of
wind fences, covering soil stockpiles, and revegetation of disturbed
surfaces’
Code
Enforcement/
Public Works
General
Fund
2023-2028
Wildfire
Medium Develop a comprehensive fire plan which forecasts future
personnel and equipment needs and requires new development to
pay its pro-rata share of costs for fire services.
Management General
Fund
California Fire
Foundation
2024-2028
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Name of Asset Replacement Value ($)
City Hall & EOC
73-510 Fred Waring Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92260
$29,000,000
Fire Department, Station 67
73200 Mesa View Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92260
$5,000,000
Fire Department, Station 33
44400 Town Center Way, Palm Desert, CA 92260
$6,000,000
Fire Department, Station 71
73995 Country Club Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92260
$5,000,000
Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station
73705 Gerald Ford Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92211
$33,000,000
Palm Desert Corp. Yard
74705 42nd Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260
$10,000,000
Palm Desert Library
73-300 Fred Waring Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92260
$10,000,000
The Joslyn Center
73750 Catalina Way, Palm Desert, CA 92260
$2,000,000
SECTION 5.0 – COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM
5.1 REPETITIVE LOSS PROPERTIES
Palm Desert has no repetitive loss properties or severe repetitive loss properties relating
to floods in the City of Palm Desert.
5.2 NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROPERTIES
A. Describe participation in NFIP, including any changes since the previously
approved plan.
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As of October 13th, 2011, The City of Palm Desert is currently in compliance with the
NFIP.
B. Date first joined NFIP.
October 13th, 2011
D. Identify actions related to continued compliance with NFIP.
The City of Palm Desert adopted an amended floodplain management ordinance on
October 13, 2011, and there have been no changes.
E. CRS member:
NO
F. Describe any data used to regulate flood hazard areas other than FEMA maps.
None
G. Have there been issues with community participation in the program?
Continued communication with the citizens on the importance of flood insurance.
H. What are the general hurdles for effective implementation of the NFIP?
Community involvement and education
I. Summarize actions related to continued compliance with NFIP.
Compliance is verified through Community Assistance Visits (CAV) that are conducted by
staff members from FEMA and/or the California Department of Water Resources
SECTION 6.0 - CAPABILITIES ASSESSMENT
6.1 REGULATORY MITIGATION CAPABILITIES
City of Palm Desert – Jurisdictions Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities Table
Regulatory Tool Yes/No Comments
General plan Yes The current plan was updated in 2016.
City safety element.
Zoning ordinance Yes Title 25 Overlay Districts.
Subdivision ordinance Yes Title 26.
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Site plan review requirements Yes 2022 California Model Codes.
Floodplain ordinance Yes Title 24.
Other special purpose ordinance
(storm water, water conservation,
wildfire)
Yes Water Conservation Ordinance, Multi-
Species Habitat Conservation Plan.
Building code Yes 2022 California Model Codes.
Fire department ISO rating Yes ISO rating 5.
Erosion or sediment control program Yes PM10 Regulations.
Storm water management program Yes Catch Basin & Storm Drain Cleaning
Program.
Capital improvements plan Yes Capital Improvement Program
Economic development plan Yes
Local emergency operations plan Yes Continuous updates have been applied
to the EOP.
Flood Insurance Study or other
engineering study for streams Yes FEMA Flood Insurance Study, 2017
Whitewater River Flow
Capabilities are the programs and policies currently in use to reduce hazard impacts or that could
be used to implement hazard mitigation activities. There are a multitude of methods and processes
that a jurisdiction may use to improve upon current capabilities to mitigate emergencies or
disasters. The City of Palm Desert has identified the below to support this thought process:
Personnel: Hiring of new staff in departments with identified deficiencies in capabilities or
processes can and will make the staff stronger thereby increasing capabilities. However, the
addition of employees is always a point of contention that does not always materialize. Through
training and implementation of additional support resources as well as the creation of working
groups to support the mitigation project planning process may prove to be successful in the
absence of additional staffing.
Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities: Continue to ensure that necessary regulations are put in place
relating to building codes, ordinances, and state and federal requirements.
Administrative: The administrative capabilities can be improved by developing a mitigation actions
implementation plan that is reviewed and updated on a recurring basis. This process would be
used to update the LHMP over the coming years providing updates to the status of projects and
actions.
Technical: Incorporate the technical expertise of residents within the City staff into the emergency
management planning process to include the development of mitigation projects.
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Fiscal: Identify additional funding opportunities that can be expanded upon for mitigation. In
previous years, hazard mitigation grants have not been utilized to complete any projects that have
been identified by the hazard mitigation planning team.
Mitigation Outreach and Partnerships: Expand current capability through an increase in the
number of events participated in, and presentations conducted to the community through
integration with HOAs and civic organizations. Promote preparedness through increased use of
social media and the creation of an emergency management section for the City application.
The 2016 General Plan update provided an opportunity to review and update the current
capabilities to mitigate hazards. This also provided an opportunity to identify where capabilities
could be improved or enhanced. Specific opportunities include:
Safety Element, As required by state law, this identifies forces of nature and events resulting from
human action that have the potential to cause harm to life and property in the City. Identifying the
source of such threats allows decision-makers to take preemptory action to minimize the damage,
particularly as it relates to new development projects. In addition to State-mandated components,
the Safety Element builds on the previous General Plan to emphasize the importance of police
services and personal safety. This element presents existing conditions relative to public safety in
Palm Desert and is organized to address the following six priority safety issues required by state
law and identified by the City’s (2017) Local Hazard Mitigation Plan: Seismic and geologic
hazards, Flooding, Extreme Weather, Fire, Emergency Preparedness and Human-caused
Hazards.
Outreach: The City of Palm Desert sees an opportunity to increase collaboration within the region
that sustains maximum resilience to emergencies and disasters. Efforts for improvements could
include:
• Hazards Education - Consult with agencies and partners to provide public education
materials on safe locations and evacuation routes in case of emergency or hazardous
event.
• Critical Facilities - Prepare existing critical facilities for resilience to hazards and
develop new facilities outside of hazard-prone areas.
• Emergency Plans and Processes: Consult with the Coachella Valley Emergency
Managers Association and CVAG to maintain and update the City’s Emergency
Operations Plan and maintain SEMS-compliant disaster preparedness plans for
evacuation and supply routes, communications networks, and critical facilities’
capabilities.
• Utility Reliability - Coordinate with providers and agencies including CVWD and
Southern California Edison for access to reliable utilities and water supply to minimize
potential impacts of hazards and emergencies to pipelines and infrastructure.
Training: Training opportunities should be provided to integrate hazard information for City staff
and community members. Citizen-based disaster preparedness and emergency response should
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continue to be promoted through Riverside County’s Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT) training and certifications.
Geologic hazards: A built environment that minimizes risks from seismic and geologic hazards,
including hazards due to wind erosion. Efforts for improvement could include:
• Seismic Standards - Consider exceeding minimum seismic safety standards for critical
facilities that ensure building function and support continuity of critical services and
emergency response after a seismic event.
• Structural Stability - Maintain development code standards to prohibit the sitting of new
septic tanks, seepage pits, drainage facilities, and heavily irrigated areas away from
structure foundations to reduce potential soil collapse.
• Seismic Retrofits to the Existing Building Stock: Create a phased program for seismic
retrofits to existing public and private unreinforced buildings to meet current
requirements.
• Wind Hazards - Support integrated land management for site design and
improvements that protect the natural and built environment, including both public and
private structures, from hazardous wind events.
Flood Hazards: A community where flooding and inundation hazards are contained within areas
reserved for open space. Efforts for improvements could include:
• Flood Risk in New Development - Require all new development to minimize flood risk
with siting and design measures, such as grading that prevents adverse drainage
impacts to adjacent properties, on-site retention of runoff, and minimization of
structures located in floodplains.
• Flood Infrastructure - Require new development to contribute to funding regional flood
control infrastructure improvements.
• Stormwater Management - Monitor, update, and enforce stormwater management
plans in coordination with regional agencies, utilities, and other jurisdictions.
• Open Space for Flood Control - Prioritize open space or uses that serve recreational
purposes as preferred land use within areas of high flood risk.
Wildfire hazards: Existing and future developments are protected from wildfire hazards, with
decreased frequency and intensity of wildfire incidents despite increased density and urbanization
within the community. Efforts for improvements could include:
• Fire Preparation- Review inter-jurisdictional fire response agreements and ensure that
the agreements and firefighting resources, including water supply, can meet current and
future needs, including increased demand from new development and changing fire
regimes.
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• Fire Hazard Severity Zones - Adopt and implement fire mitigation standards for areas
designated as High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones per CalFire, including
safe access for emergency response vehicles, visible street signs, and water supplies
for structural fire suppression.
• Brush Clearance - Require new development and homeowner’s associations to
maintain brush clearance criteria that meet 120% of the current state requirement for
fire hazard severity zones in the city.
• Inventory of Structures for Fire Risk - Prepare an inventory of all structures and
ownership information for structures in each fire hazard severity zone in the city and the
SOI.
• Fire Education - Disseminate information on fire risks and minimum standards, including
guidance for new development in the wildland-urban interface and fire hazard severity
zones.
• Future Emergency Service Needs - Require new developments and homeowner’s
associations along the wildland-urban interface to house the proper equipment and
infrastructure to respond to wildland fire incidents.
• Open Space Preservation - Consult with neighboring jurisdictions, private property
owners, and other agencies to identify resource management activities that can both
enhance open space areas and reduce wildland fire.
The Jurisdiction General Plan reflects the City’s long-range aspirations of physical form and
amenity and guides developmental regulations. More than 100 interested residents, business
owners, and policymakers worked together to develop a 20-year strategic plan for the City. The
yearlong process and resulting document, the 2013-2033 Strategic Plan, “Envision Palm Desert-
Forward Together,” laid the groundwork and direction for the General Plan Update. Three of the
plans’ goals, in particular, support mitigation. These goals and their policies are included below.
Goal 1: Health & Wellness
A broad range of social, economic, and environmental factors all contribute to health including
nutritious diets, active lifestyles, clean air and water, education, jobs, and medical care.
Avoid locating new air quality-sensitive uses (schools, childcare centers, senior centers, medical
facilities, and residences) in proximity to sources of localized air pollution (e.g., Interstate 10, high-
traffic roads, certain industrial facilities), and vice versa. Where such uses are located within 500
feet of each other, require preparation of a health impact assessment (HIA) or similarly effective
health analysis as part of the CEQA environmental review process, to analyze the significance of
the health impact on sensitive land uses and incorporate project-specific mitigation measures to
reduce potential impacts.
Require new development to meet the State’s Green Building Code standards for indoor air quality
performance and promote green building practices that support “healthy buildings,” such as low
VOC materials, environmental tobacco smoke control, and indoor air quality construction pollution
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prevention techniques. Sensitive receptors. Avoid the siting of new projects and land uses that
would produce localized air pollution in a way that would adversely impact existing air quality-
sensitive receptors including schools, childcare centers, senior housing, and subsidized affordable
housing. The recommended minimum distance separating these uses should be 500 feet. When
a minimum distance of 500 feet cannot be avoided, a health impact assessment (HIA) shall be
completed in compliance with Policy 6.1.
Goal 2: Environmental Resources
The vision is to be a responsible steward of the city’s natural resources. Priorities are to reduce
per-capita consumption of energy and water, promote greater use of sustainable materials with
an eye upon the needs of future generations, encourage all new construction to be net zero energy
in design and exceed the Coachella Valley Water District’s efficiency standards, and encourage
property owners to reduce energy and water consumption.
Drought, climate change, and development pressure on environmental resources are key issues
within the City of Palm Desert. The California Department of Finance estimated a growth of 9,262
residents between 2000 and 2014, or 22.5% growth in the City of Palm Desert. Significant
population growth throughout Riverside County has led to increased development pressure in and
around the city. Without proper planning, new developments can contribute to further depletion of
limited water and energy resources, increased air and water pollution, and negative impacts on
biological resources. Water resources are a basic and necessary component of inhabitance, and
a community’s survival may be endangered if water needs cannot be met.
The City’s Water-Efficient Landscaping Ordinance, adopted as part of the California Water
Conservation Landscaping Act of 1990, established minimum water-efficient landscaping
requirements for all new and rehabilitated public and private landscape projects.
6.2 ADMINISTRATIVE/TECHNICAL MITIGATION CAPABILITIES
Personnel Resources Yes/No Department/Position
Planner with knowledge of land
development/land management practices Yes
Planning Depart. / Dir. of
Community Development
Engineer/professional trained in construction
practices related to buildings and/or
infrastructure Yes
Public Works Director, City
Engineer, and Building Official
Engineer with an understanding of natural
hazards Yes
Looking at options for educational
options on expanding on
engineering for natural hazards.
Personnel skilled in GIS Yes Human Resource/GIS Technician
Full time building official Yes Building Department/ Official
Floodplain manager Yes Public Works Director
Emergency manager Yes Human Resources/ Risk Manager
Grant writer No
GIS Data—Land use Yes Human Resource/GIS Technician
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GIS Datalinks to Assessor’s data Yes Human Resource/GIS Technician
Warning systems/services
(Reverse 9-11, outdoor warning signals) Yes
Riverside County Early Warning
Notification System
6.3 FISCAL MITIGATION CAPABILITIES
Financial Resources
Accessible/Eligible
to Use (Yes/No)
Comments
Community Development Block
Grants
Yes
Capital improvements project funding Yes
Authority to levy taxes for specific
purposes
Yes With voter
approval
Fees for water, sewer, gas, or electric
services
No Exploring
options to
reduce the
impacts of
hazards
Impact fees for new development Yes
Incur debt through general obligation
bonds
Yes With voter
approval
Incur debt through special tax bonds. Yes With voter
approval
Incur debt through private activities. No
Withhold spending in hazard-prone
areas
N/A
Other N/A
6.4 MITIGATION OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIPS
The City of Palm Desert actively prepares to safeguard the community from the numerous
potential hazards that could occur. The City undertakes several emergency preparedness
activities, establishing procedures and responsibilities for emergency response. Land use rules
and service providers also play a role in achieving readiness for hazards and emergencies.
Additionally, the City is supported by several other external entities to provide response services.
Palm Desert CERT
The City of Palm Desert has been training residents in the FEMA Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) training program. The City of Palm Desert offered two CERT Course in
2018, and 2022. The city is planning to have two CERT training courses in 2023 and 2024. The
city has a fully equipped Mass Shelter Response Trailer to assist with community response and
recovery following a major earthquake, flood, or other disaster.
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The City of Palm Desert participates with the Riverside County Emergency Management
Department to provide training and support to CERT volunteers. The use of CERT-trained
volunteers helps mitigate the effects of a major earthquake, flood, fire, public health emergency,
terrorism-related event, or other community emergencies.
The Economic Development Program promotes economic growth in Palm Desert to
support the City’s economy and improve opportunities for community members. It also
conducts marketing and promotion activities for Palm Desert. The program can assist with
mitigation measures related to business growth and other improvements to the local
economy and act as a liaison between the City and local businesses.
The Community Development Department is responsible for planning- and building-related
activities in Palm Desert, including issuing permits, conducting environmental reviews,
preparing planning documents, and addressing housing issues. Mitigation activities related
to planning and building can be implemented by this department.
The Building Code specifies how new structures can be built. It includes the California
Building Code and any amendments made by the City. Mitigation actions may involve
amending the Building Code to improve a building’s safety or structural stability.
The City’s General Plan outlines long-term direction for development and policy in the City.
There are opportunities to coordinate local hazard mitigation actions with policies within
the boundaries of the City as governed by the General Plan.
City staff have been trained in CPR/AED, First Aid, and Stop the Bleed. Staff have also
been trained in the proper use of fire extinguishers and response to active shooter events.
In the training, staff learned to:
• Control severe bleeding.
• Manage airways.
• Care for patients going into shock.
• Use an automatic external deflator (AED)
• Extinguish small fires.
• Steps for safety during an active shooter event
• Evacuation and safety techniques
HOA MEETINGS/BUSINESS AND HOTEL ROUNDTABLE/RADIO COMMUNICATION
The City of Palm Desert has held numerous emergency preparedness trainings for local HOA,
and disaster preparedness groups (i.e., CVDPN), and may emulate a neighboring jurisdiction’s
family and neighborhood emergency planning program called PREP (People Responding with
Emergency Preparedness) to complement existing CERT training. The PREP Program teaches
residents how to meet and develop their own neighborhood emergency response plan to
implement before a large earthquake, flood, or other community emergency. Having Palm Desert
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neighborhoods prepared to respond in their own areas to take care of injuries and utility problems
will greatly lessen the impacts of an earthquake or other community disaster. It will also take the
load from our first responders who will be able to concentrate on the most serious city issues.
The city has also hosted roundtables on emergency preparedness with local hotel/businesses.
Palm Desert has developed a relationship with members from the Riverside County RACES and
has radio equipment installed in its EOC for exclusive use by their liaison. In addition, the City has
partnered with a local communication vendor, to make EOC communication possible between the
City and various homeowner associations. Recent upgrades to the communications within the
EOC have allowed for digital communications with the OA, neighboring jurisdictions, city staff, and
the Amateur Radio Clubs active during a disaster.
The ability to obtain information on the condition of these neighborhoods will allow first responders
and emergency responders to determine those areas in need of resources and support, as well
as convey this information to the County Operational Area.
6.5 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Table 6.1- The City of Palm Desert has grant opportunities for Mitigation
Grant Name Agency Purpose Contact
Resilience Grant
(BRIC)
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security,
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency
To support states, local communi�es, tribes, and
territories as they undertake hazard mi�ga�on projects,
reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural
hazards.
FEMA 500 C. Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
Phone: (202) 646-4621
www.fema.gov
Hazard Mi�ga�on
Grant Program
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security,
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency
To prevent future losses of lives property due to
disasters; to implement State of local hazard mi�ga�on
plans; to enable mi�ga�on measures to be
implemented during immediate recovery from a
disaster; and to provide funding for previously
iden�fied mi�ga�on measures to benefit the disaster
area.
FEMA 500 C. Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
Phone: (202) 646-4621
www.fema.gov
Flood Mi�ga�on
Assistance (FMA)
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security,
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency
To help States and communi�es plan and carry out
ac�vi�es designed to reduce the risk of flood damage
to structures insurable under the NFIP.
FEMA 500 C. Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
Phone: (202) 646-4621
www.fema.gov
Emergency
Management
Performance
Grants (EMPG)
U. S. Department of
Homeland Security;
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency
To encourage the development of comprehensive
emergency management at State and local levels and to
improve emergency management planning,
preparedness, mi�ga�on, response, and recovery
capabili�es.
FEMA 500 C Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20472
Phone (202) 646-4621
www.fema.gov
Community
Development
U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban
Development
To develop viable urban communi�es by providing
decent housing and a suitable living environment.
Principally for low-to moderate income individuals.
HUD 451 7th Street, S.
W. Washington, DC
204107000 Phone:
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Grant Program
(CDBG)
(202) 708-3587
www.hud.gov
Public Assistance
Program (PA)
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security,
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency
To provide supplemental assistance to States, local
governments, and certain private nonprofit
organiza�ons to alleviate suffering/hardship resul�ng
from major disasters or emergencies declared by the
President. Under Sec�on 406, Public Assistance funds
may be used to mi�gate the impact of future disasters.
FEMA 500 C Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20472
Phone (202) 646-4621
www.fema.gov
Emergency
Watershed
Protec�on
U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Natural
Resource
Conserva�on
Service
To provide emergency technical/financial assistance to
install or repair structures that reduce runoff and
prevent soil erosion to safeguard life and property.
NRCS PO BOX 2890
Washington, DC 20013
Phone: (202) 720-3527
www.nrcs.usda.gov
Land and Water
Conserva�on Fund
Grants
U. S. Department of
the Interior,
Na�onal Park
Service
To acquire and develop outdoor recrea�on areas and
facili�es for the general public, to meet current and
future needs.
NPS PO Box 37217
Washington DC
200137127 Phone:
(202) 565-1200
www.nps.gov
Disaster Mi�ga�on
and Technical
Assistance Grants
U.S. Department of
Commerce,
Economic
Development
Administra�on
To help States and locali�es to develop and /or
implement a variety of disaster mi�ga�on strategies.
EDA Herbert C. Hoover
Building Washington,
DC 20230 Phone: (800)
345-1222 www.eda.gov
Watershed Surveys
and Planning
U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Natural
Resource
Conserva�on
Service
To provide planning assistance to Federal, State, and
local agencies for the development of coordina�on
water and related land resources programs in
watersheds and river basins
NRCS PO Box 2890
Washington, DC 20013
Phone: (202) 720-3527
www.nrcs.usda.gov
Na�onal
Earthquake
Hazards Reduc�on
Program (NEHRP)
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security,
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency
To mi�gate earthquake losses that can occur in many
parts of the na�on providing earth science data and
assessments essen�al for warning of imminent
damaging earthquakes, land use planning, engineering
design, and emergency preparedness decisions.
FEMA 500 C Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20472
Phone (202) 646-4621
www.fema.gov
Assistance to
Firefighters Grant
U. S. Department of
Homeland Security,
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency
Compe��vely awarded project grants to provide direct
assistance, on a compe��ve basis, to fire departments
to protect the health and safety of the public and
firefigh�ng personnel against fire and fire-related
hazards.
FEMA 500 C Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20472
Phone (202) 646-4621
www.fema.gov
Fire Management
Assistance Grants
U. S. Department of
Homeland Security,
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency
To provide project grants and the provision of
specialized services for the mi�ga�on, management,
and control of fires that would cons�tute a major
disaster.
FEMA 500 C Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20472
Phone (202) 646-4621
www.fema.gov
Engineering for
Natural Hazards
Na�onal Science
Founda�on
Supports fundamental research that advances
knowledge for understanding and mi�ga�ng the impact
of natural hazards on constructed civil infrastructure.
Na�onal Science
Founda�on Phone:
(703) 292-7024
htps://www.nsf.gov
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US Homeland
Security
Emergency
Opera�ons Center
Funding (EOC)
U. S. Department of
Homeland Security,
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency
Improve emergency management and preparedness
capabili�es by suppor�ng flexible, sustainable, secure,
strategically located, and fully interoperable EOCs with
a focus on addressing iden�fied deficiencies and needs.
FEMA 500 C Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20472
Phone (202) 646-4621
www.fema.gov
The City of Palm Desert has the same funding opportunities as Riverside County Operational
Area.
SECTION 7.0 - MITIGATION STRATEGIES
The mitigation strategy for the City of Palm Desert is based on informed assumptions, recognizing
both mitigation challenges and opportunities, with the ultimate mission of creating a disaster
resistant and sustainable community for the future. The mitigation strategy is derived from an in-
depth understanding of possible deficiencies between potential vulnerabilities and existing
capabilities, with the mitigation objectives in mind. The mitigation strategy builds upon the previous
mitigation actions identified by the City of Palm Desert 2017 LHMP and was expanded to consider
current needs.
7.1 MITIGATION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In order to improve the process of identifying mitigation measures, the City has developed
mitigation goals and objectives. These goals and objectives are in line with the City's mission to
create a disaster-resilient, sustainable community, while also adhering to the Operational Area.
The City of Palm Desert is located in an area that is prone to environmental hazards. The following
goals and policies demonstrate the City's commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens in the
event of natural or man-made hazards.
Goal 1: Maximize the delivery of public safety services by proactively mitigating any potential risks
to human life and property.
Objective 1.1 – Work with the fire and police departments to identify new public safety needs
to account for population growth.
Objective 1.2 - Require new development to conform with the City's Particulate Matter (PM)
Ordinance as a condition of issuance of grading permits. Evaluate the need for permanent
control devices in particularly windy areas to be installed before project grading.
Objective 1.3 - Enforce the Floodplain Management Ordinance, which outlines specific
standards for development in flood-prone areas, to mitigate flood hazards.
Objective 1.4 - Monitor and periodically update the Master Plan of Drainage to reflect changes
in local and regional drainage and flood conditions.
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Objective 1.5 - Monitor the Capital Improvement Plans for drainage management, and control
shall be developed, updated, and maintained.
Objective 1.6 - Evaluate the need for an upgrade from a 25-year on-site retention to 100-year
on-site retention in crucial northern portions of Zone 4.
Goal 2: Enhance community emergency preparedness through effective response and education
to reduce loss of life and property damage from disasters and public safety emergencies.
Objective 2.1 – Ensure a viable Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) program by
hosting a minimum of three CERT classes per year.
Objective 2.2 – Expand cardiopulmonary resuscitation/automated external defibrillator
(CPR/AED) and fire safety training available for residents and businesses as needed.
Objective 2.3 - Train the Emergency Operations Center and general City staff in the
Emergency Operations Plan and the California Standardized Emergency Management System
(SEMS), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and the Incident Command
System (ICS).
Objective 2.4 – Gather the support of Church, Civic, Business, and Community Groups,
including Homeowners Associations, to support and promote CERT and individual
preparedness in the city.
Goal 3: Prevent damage to life and property resulting from seismic and seismic-induced hazards
to the greatest extent possible.
Objective 3.1 - Ensure seismic safety of buildings by promptly adopting and strictly enforcing
California's latest building code standards.
Objective 3.2 - Develop a program for reducing structural hazards (per Section 8875 of the
Government Code) in seismically unsafe buildings.
Objective 3.3 - Maintain a program by which all potentially hazardous structures that pose a
threat due to inadequate seismic design, engineering, or construction are identified,
inventoried, and strengthened.
*Note: This list of mitigation strategies is based on currently available funding. Identified mitigation
projects are not guaranteed to be completed if funding is no longer available.
7.2 MITIGATION ACTIONS
The 2017 Palm Desert annex had a mitigation strategy based on “goals and objectives” instead
of fully formed mitigation actions with the kind of detail that would truly make them actionable.
Due to the lack of detailed information, we are listing the mitigation actions we know to have been
completed over the past 5 years.
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Below are the proposed mitigation actions in 2017 that have been completed.
Completed Mi�ga�on Projects Overview Type of Mi�ga�on
Emergency Opera�ons Center
and general city staff in our
Emergency Opera�ons Plan and
the California Standardized
Emergency Management System
(SEMS), the Na�onal Incident
Management System (NIMS),
and the Incident Command
System (ICS)
City staff are required to
complete ICS Training 100, 200,
and 700 during the proba�onary
period.
Outreach
Enlist the support of Church,
Civic, Business, and Community
Groups including Homeowners
Associa�ons to support and
promote CERT and individual
preparedness in the city.
Ongoing promo�on of ci�zen-
based disaster preparedness and
emergency response through
Riverside County’s Community
Emergency Response Team
(CERT) training and cer�fica�ons.
Outreach
Backup Energy Sources The City has backup generators
for the following loca�ons:
Palm Desert City Hall, Palm
Desert Corpora�on Yard, and
The Joslyn Center.
Planning
The City of Palm Desert has identified its high-priority hazards and has listed mitigation actions
accordingly. To better facilitate the process of identifying mitigation measures, mitigation goals
and objectives have been established. These goals and objectives are aligned with the City's
mitigation mission of creating a disaster-ready, disaster-resilient, and sustainable community while
remaining in accordance with the Operational Area. Palm Desert is in a geographical area that is
vulnerable to environmental hazards at times. The following goals and policies reflect the City's
commitment to providing a safe environment for its citizens in the event of natural or man-made
hazards.
Earthquake
Ensure that all those who live, work, and play in Palm Desert are safe by providing public safety
through a community-based approach that focuses on preventing problems and timely
response. A community better informed about safety preparedness will enable residents to be
more self-reliant not only before emergency services are deployed but also following a disaster
for up to 10 days.
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- Ensure a viable Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) program by hosting
CERT classes and examining program needs annually based on population & community
interest.
Flood
The City's Floodplain Management Ordinance specifies construction standards for all areas of
flood hazards. All new construction and improvements must be constructed using methods
and practices that minimize flood damage and provide adequate drainage.
Extreme Heat
To reduce the potential impacts of extreme weather, the City of Palm Desert encourages public
participation and usage of the Nixle emergency notification system. This system notifies
residents in advance of any hazards and impending severe weather events in their area
(earthquake, flood, fire). The City also encourages the residents to visit the City’s website to
learn steps to reduce personal risk.
Reduce potential impacts of extreme temperatures by increasing public awareness of extreme
temperatures, including shelter locations and cooling/warming stations.
Drought
Decrease water usage on public and private parcels through the existing Water Conservation
Program implemented by the Coachella Valley Water District. Encourage residents to
participate in CVWD programs that help conserve water; programs such as the Turf Rebate.
Encourage contractors for residential and commercial developments to offer options promoting
partnering agencies’ programs.
General Plan Goals and Policies:
• Hazard Information: Establish and maintain a database containing maps and
other information that identifies and describes community hazards.
• Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP): Maintain and regularly update the City’s
LHMP as an integrated component of the General Plan, in coordination with
Riverside County and other participating jurisdictions, to maintain eligibility for
maximum grant funding. Riverside County Emergency Management Department
oversees this program.
• Hazards Education: Consult with agencies and partners to provide public
education materials on safe locations and evacuation routes in case of
emergency or hazardous event. No funding is available. Riverside County
Emergency Management Department oversees this program.
• Seismic Retrofits to Existing Building Stock: Create a phased program for
seismic retrofits to existing public and private unreinforced buildings to meet
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current requirements. This would fall under the planning and building
department. Currently, no funding is available. Looking at FEMA pre-disaster
grants
• Flood Risk in New Development: Require all new development to minimize flood
risk with siting and design measures, such as grading that prevents adverse
drainage impacts to adjacent properties, on-site retention of runoff, and
minimization of structures located in floodplains.
• Fire Preparation: Maintain optimal fire readiness and response service in
coordination with Riverside County and other agencies.
7.3 ON-GOING MITIGATION STRATEGY PROGRAMS
Inventory Worksheet includes the CREWS system, Palm Desert CERT, and various drainage
improvements. The City’s LHMP review team will continue to review and prioritize mitigation
tasks for the next five years and may likely see this list increase. This list will include an
implementation process, a funding strategy, and a responsible agency.
The city procured the Matrix Consulting group in 2021 to assess the emergency services provided
by CAL Fire. Their findings included a recommendation to plan and construct a fourth fire station
at the intersection of Gerald Ford Drive, just north of Frank Sinatra Drive.
In October 2022, staff advertised an RFP for the design of fire station 102 (FS 102) and building
assessment of fire stations 33 and 71. Staff requests approval of the design and building
assessment contract at the end of January 2023. FS 102 still needs to be designed, but it is
estimated to be 9,718 square feet and includes 3 Apparatus bays, dormitories, offices, living
quarters, and a gym. Additionally, FS 102 is being designed to allow for future expansion. The
goal of the building assessments of FS 33 and 71 is to inform city staff of the status of the fire
stations and their assets and provide an in-depth analysis of renovations vs rebuild costs.
Current Mitigation Projects:
The Capital Projects Department is responsible for the delivery of some of the City’s most complex,
diverse, and large-scale Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). Many aspects included in the delivery
of these CIPs include feasibility studies, site design, document preparation, construction
management and inspection of various capital projects. Projects can include improvements to
infrastructure such as roadways, traffic control devices, bridges, flood control facilities, and other
such major city public infrastructure improvements.
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Figure 7.1 – City of Palm Desert Budget / Projects
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Figure 7.2 – City of Palm Desert Capitol Improvements Projects
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7.4 FUTURE MITIGATION
• Continue to pursue securing funding to complete the projects identified in the Capital
Improvement Plan.
• Actively pursue mitigation items listed in the General Plan.
• Incorporate the 2023 Updated LHMP into the General Plan during the next update.
• Ensure civic engagement and public participation through effective communication and
continue implementing City services as prescribed by the City Council.
The City of Palm Desert’s mitigation strategies include:
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• Contact and establish working relationships and strategies with Coachella Valley Water
District, Southern California Edison, Imperial Irrigation District, Southern California Gas
Company, Verizon, and other appropriate agencies to strengthen or relocate utility facilities
and take other appropriate measures to safeguard major utility distribution systems to the
greatest extent practical.
• Continue to train and educate the public and business community in Palm Desert CERT
and initiate other education programs, including pet owners and those with special physical
or functional needs (with neighbors/business associate support).
SECTION 8.0 - PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE
PROCESS
The requirement 201.6(c) (4) (i) states “The plan maintenance process shall include a section
describing the method and schedule of monitoring, evaluating, and updating the plan in a 5-year
cycle.
The City of Palm Desert plan maintenance process includes a schedule for monitoring and
evaluating the Plan annually and producing plan revision every five years. The City of Palm Desert
government may incorporate the mitigation strategies outlined in this Plan, in existing planning
mechanisms such as the City’s General Plan and Capital Improvement Plan.
The City’s Risk Manager will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of plan action
items and undertaking the formal review process. The City Manager will assign representatives
from City departments, including, but not limited to, the Public Safety, Building, Planning, Public
Works, Finance, and the Public Safety Commission to a LHMP Review Team Committee. These
committee meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss the progress of the action items and
maintain the partnerships that are essential for the mitigation plan.
The City Council will adopt the LHMP, and the City Manager (or designee) will serve as convener
to facilitate the Committee meetings. Plan implementation and evaluation will be a shared
responsibility among all the Committee members. While the implementation of the plan lies with
the City Manager. The City Manager will assign specific mitigation strategies to appropriate
departments to lead. This will ensure effective implementation occurs.
The goals and action items in the mitigation plan may be achieved through activities recommended
in the City’s Capital Improvement Plans (CIP). Various City departments participate in the
development of the CIP plan, which is reviewed on an annual basis. Upon annual review of the
CIP, the review team will work with the City departments to identify action items in the Natural
Hazards Mitigation Plan consistent with CIP planning goals and integrate them where appropriate.
Upon presentation of the LHMP for formal adoption, the recommendations listed above will be
recommended for incorporation into the process of existing planning mechanisms at the City level.
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The City Municipal Code takes cues from state and federal regulations as well as historical events
in the City in promulgating regulations and guidance. As new regulations are passed at the state
and federal level, Department staff are aware of the new requirements draft updates to the Palm
Desert Municipal Code for City Council approval. Changes and ordinances are presented before
the City Council by way of a public hearing during which comments are sought and considered
and recommendations made. The City of Palm Desert City Manager’s Office will oversee the
LHMP. In coordination with other City Departments, we will monitor and evaluate our LHMP on an
ongoing and annual basis for the 5-year cycle as required.
On an ongoing basis, the following will be considered:
• Funding source opportunities to include grants.
• New development entitlement and construction that provide opportunities for improvements
to infrastructure and communication.
• Jurisdiction trends including population growth, demographics, and build-out patterns.
• Opportunities for hazard mitigation through interagency cooperative agreements.
• The annual review will assess whether:
• The goals and objectives are relevant to current and expected conditions.
• Risks identified have changed or new types have been identified.
• The current resources are appropriate for implementing the plan.
• There are implementation problems, such as technical, political, legal, or coordination
issues with other agencies.
• The outcomes occurred as expected (a demonstration of progress).
• The agencies and other partners participated as originally proposed.
SECTION 9.0 - INCORPORATION INTO EXISTING PLANNING
MECHANISMS
The City of Palm Desert is aware of the hazards that face its community, as historic incidents
prove that disasters continue to evolve as a common occurrence in this area. The City will
continue to strive toward protecting the life, property, and economy of the City of Palm Desert.
Palm Desert also supports an all-hazard approach, encouraging information sharing between
City Departments to incorporate into other planning efforts. As other plans are developed, the
LHMP information will be leveraged and incorporated when other plans could benefit from a
better understanding of hazards and the potential mitigation measures that can be taken. Palm
Desert has several planning mechanisms which the 2023 LHMP will be incorporated into, they
are the:
• General Plan Emergency Preparedness Element
• Emergency Operations Plan
• Capital Improvements Plan
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• Palm Desert Strategic Plan
• Environmental Sustainability Plan
The City of Palm Desert will be incorporating the LHMP into the City’s update to the General
Plan Safety Element. As opportunities present themselves, the City will make every effort to
incorporate the new LHMP information into other plans where appropriate. In the meantime, the
LHMP will be utilized to assess future developments in accordance with the General Plan. In
addition to reviewing future development against relevant land use and zoning regulations,
building codes and fire codes, and environmental and engineering standards, it will also be
reviewed against the LHMP. Proposed development projects will be assessed to determine
exposure (or risk) to community hazards. The LHMP will also serve as a reference for suggested
mitigation measures to reduce and/or eliminate risk from those hazards.
The City of Palm Desert has a Safety Element in its General Plan that includes a discussion of
earthquakes, wind erosion, flooding, fire, climate change, landslide hazards and human-caused
hazards. The City also participates in the National Flood Insurance Program which aims to
reduce losses through flood plain management.
SECTION 10.0 - CONTINUED PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
The City is dedicated to involving the public directly in review and updates of the LHMP. The LHMP
Review Team Committee members are responsible for the annual review and update of the plan.
The public will also have the opportunity to provide feedback about the Plan, as a copy of the Plan
will be available at the City Clerk’s office. The existence and location of available copies will be
publicized through one or more of these methods:
1. Notice on the City’s social media with links to the website.
2. On the City’s Website
3. At various emergency preparedness meetings with the community.
Any notice will also contain an email address and phone number to which people can direct their
comments and concerns. In addition, the plan will be presented for review at a public meeting of
the Public Safety Commission after each evaluation.
The City of Palm Desert will organize and/or participate in a variety of meetings/events to share
and exchange information about mitigation with stakeholders and the public. The City will use its
social media platforms and when appropriate, leverage stakeholder and community social media
platforms to announce the meetings/events. This City will also continue to provide public forums
which gives the public and local emergency managers the opportunity to collaborate and
coordinate prior to an emergency occurring.
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APPENDIX A – PUBLIC NOTICES AND MAPS
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Figure A - Survey on City Services, City of Palm Desert Website
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Figure B: Wind Erodibility Rating (2014)
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Figure C: Fire Hazard Severity (2014)
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Figure D: Fault Type (2014)
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March 2024
Figure E : FEMA Flood Zones (2014)
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