REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the City's Response and Authorize the Mayor to Sign the Letter in Response to the 2014-2015 Santa Clara Civil Grand Jury Final Report, "A Slow Rising Emergency - Sea Level Rise"
Report
BACKGROUND
On June 17, 2015, the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) released a report titled, "A Slow Rising Emergency - Sea Level Rise" (Attachment 1). The report details the findings and recommendations from the Grand Jury's investigation into a complaint questioning the sufficiency of local planning, coordination, and community information regarding the expected sea level rise (SLR) impacts as a result of global climate change.
EXISTING POLICY
California Penal Code 933(c): No later than 90 days after the Grand Jury submits a final report on the operations of any public agency to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency shall comment to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to the matters under the control of the governing body.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The submittal of this response to the Grand Jury does not require environmental review because it is an administrative activity that will not result in a direct or indirect physical change to the environment. (CEQA Guidelines 15061(b)(3), 15378(b)(5).)
DISCUSSION
The Grand Jury concluded that current flood protection systems are "not adequate to prevent flooding with expected SLR" and that there is inconsistency across local agencies with regard to addressing the issue, resulting in a "disjointed approach." The Grand Jury investigation resulted in five findings and recommendations, with only one finding and recommendation for the City of Sunnyvale. Finding 1 concludes, "The cities of Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale want to retain control of Sea Level Rise related efforts within their jurisdictions, but would like to have an organization assume responsibility for coordinatin...
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