MEETING DATE:
September 8, 2026
SUBJECT:
Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-9656 - ADOPTION OF THE DISCOVERY STREET LEVEE SYSTEM EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
Body
Recommendation
Recommendation
ADOPT a resolution adopting the Discovery Street Levee System Emergency Response Plan for the San Marcos Creek District Infrastructure Capital Improvement Program CIP Projects
Body
Board or Commission Action
Not applicable
Executive Summary
The purpose of this Emergency Response Plan is to define monitoring, communication, inspection, and emergency-response procedures for the Discovery Street Levee System and associated nearby interior drainage facilities along the San Marcos Creek for the San Marcos Creek District Infrastructure Capital Improvement Program CIP Projects. Formal adoption of the plan is necessary to obtain FEMA levee accreditation.
Discussion
As part of the San Marcos Creek District Infrastructure CIP Projects (CIP #88263, 88264, 88265, 88505, 88507, 88529) (“Project”) the City designed and implemented a levee that paralleled the San Marcos Creek and Discovery Street. The levee protects the adjacent roadway and community between Bent Avenue and Via Vera Cruz from flooding as it had in the past. Because the levee functions as a flood control structure, the City must maintain and monitor the levee into the future.
The City is in the process of closing out the Project. As part of that work, the City will be garnering required approvals from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to have the levee accredited. Additionally, the City is seeking to remove adjacent properties from the floodplain, as they will no longer flood as a result of improvements installed by the Project. FEMA requires the City develop and adopt an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) in order to obtain a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) to revise the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) to reflect the completed flood protection improvements installed by the Project.
The Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is a document that defines the monitoring, communication, inspection, and emergency-response procedures for the Discovery Street Levee System and associated interior drainage facilities along the south side of San Marcos Creek between Via Vera Cruz and Bent Avenue. The plan is intended to support FEMA levee accreditation review for the LOMR by addressing emergency preparedness and operation criteria for an accredited levee system. As part of this process the Discovery Street Levee System ERP requires formal adoption by the City.
Environmental Review
The San Marcos Creek District Infrastructure Capital Improvement Program Projects (CIP #88263, 88264, 88265, 88505, 88507, 88529) already obtained prior environmental clearance; therefore, the preparation of this Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is an administrative process. Additionally, as this action is not a “project” as defined under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines, it is not subject to environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15060(c)(3).
Fiscal Impact
Preparation of the Emergency Response Plan was included within the consultant scope of work for the San Marcos Creek District Infrastructure Capital Improvement Program CIP Projects (CIP #88263, 88264, 88265, 88505, 88507, 88529). There is no fiscal impact due to the adoption of this resolution.
Attachment(s)
Resolution
Discovery Street Levee System Emergency Response Plan
Prepared by: Darra Woods, Principal Civil Engineer
Submitted by: Darra Woods, Principal Civil Engineer
Reviewed by: Isaac Etchamendy, Development Services Director
Approved by: Michelle Bender, City Manager