Yes on P to Protect and Keep Laguna Beach Fire Safe, supported by Mayor Boyd and Council Members Whalen and Zur Schmiede

Laguna Canyon Conservancy October 15, 2018

A Common-Sense Local Solution

YES on Measure P

Why Measure P?"Wildfires in California aren’t going away, and we have to do everything possible to prevent them.” Governor Brown in signing SB 901

Undergrounding is not a new concern in Laguna!

• 1995 Safety Element of the General Plan recommends undergrounding in impaired access neighborhoods.

• In 2015, the 19 members of the Laguna Canyon Road Task Force strongly recommended undergrounding Laguna Canyon Road.

• Since 2015, City and fire officials have met with the California Public Utilities Commission, SCE and SDGE to push for utility accountability. The PUC has designated Laguna Beach eligible for priority assistance for safety improvements.

• At City’s request, in 2016, Senator John Moorlach carried Senate Bill 1463 unanimously approved by both the houses, but unfortunately vetoed by Gov. Brown.

•City has budgeted nearly $3 million to expand fuel modification zones in the last 5 years

•City has committed $2.5 million per year of existing revenues to the undergrounding program - 30% of the total projected costs

•The City has purchased Utility Undergrounding credits at a discount to fund undergrounding projects

Measure P is the logical next step

Measure P is needed to complete the task

The Facts About Measure P

Measure P will provide dedicated funding to:•Move dangerous utility poles and electrical wires underground

to make hillside neighborhoods, schools, Laguna Canyon Rd and other key evacuation routes accessible in case of emergency

• Implement additional fire safety measures

• Improve 911 emergency response times

•Make Laguna Beach safer in emergencies and prepared for natural disasters

Local Control & Fiscal Accountability

Measure P authorizes a one-cent sales tax dedicated to undergrounding utilities and fire safety measure.It does NOT increase property tax or authorize any bonds.

• By law, all Measure P funds must be spent only on utility undergrounding and fire safety measures

•Groceries, prescription medications and other essential items are exempt from sales tax

• Every penny is required by law to remain in the City of Laguna Beach and cannot be taken by Sacramento

Benefits of Measure P

Fire SafetyEarthquake Safety

Traffic SafetyProtects Evacuation Routes in Disasters

Ensures Access for First RespondersImproves Insurability of Homes and Businesses

Beautification

Fire Safety

• CalFire Investigations: California 2017 – utilities caused 17 wildfires, 190,000 acres, 3,264 structures, 22 lives lost

• Utility lines and equipment have caused devastating wildfires throughout the State

Overhead Electrical Utilities Are the #1 Cause of California 2017 Wild Fires

CAL FIRE reports that power lines were the leading cause of recent devastating fires that burned 180,000 acres, destroyed 3,000 structures, and took 18 lives.

Fire Safety

• Laguna: 90% in highest risk classification: Very High Fire Hazard Severity zone per CalFire

• 6 utility caused fires in Laguna Beach in the last 10 years

Fire Safety

• History of destructive fires -1993 Fire resulted in personal displacement, business interruption, years of neighborhoods under reconstruction, loss of home insurance and tax revenue.

Skyline neighborhood Nov 1993Looking North on PCH Oct 27, 1993

• 441 homes lost • 17,000 acres burned • $528 million in damages

Fire Safety

July 3, 2015 fire caused by tree falling on power lines, Laguna Canyon Rd. at Canyon Acres, blocked entrance and egress to Canyon Acres.

• Additional fire safety measures • Fuel modification • Improved fire apparatus • New technology for fire

detection

• Severe Santa Ana wind conditions occur every year here threatening fires caused by above ground Utilities

Earthquake Safety and Traffic Safety

Earthquake Safety• A significant earthquake will

occur in the City • Fallen Utility poles and lines

block evacuation routes, impeding first responders and evacuations

Traffic Safety• 59 vehicle vs. pole accidents on

Laguna Canyon Road in 10 yrs • Many closed the road for

extended periods

Oct 15, 2017 pole downed by auto collision near 2600 Laguna Canyon Rd., road closed for 17 hours

Protect Evacuation Routes

• Only 3 routes in & out of City • Ensures Laguna Canyon Rd

is not blocked by downed utility lines

• Protects evacuation routes for hillside neighborhoods and schools • TOW, Temple Hills, Arch Beach

Heights, Bluebird

“We support fire safety measures that help save lives and improve safety in Laguna Beach.  Undergrounding utilities on critical evacuation

routes is a positive step towards providing improved safety for the residents, visitors, and first responders.” – Laguna Beach

Firefighters, represented by IAFF Local 3631

LAGUNA BEACH FIREFIGHTERS ENDORSE MEASURE P

• “Downed power lines have caused past fires in Laguna Beach and will cause future fires unless we act now. Measure P addresses fire risk and is vital to the safety of our entire community.” – Laguna Beach Police Chief, Laura Farinella, and Laguna Beach Fire Chief, Mike Garcia

• “The LBPEA supports moving forward as quickly as possible to underground the dangerous overhead utility lines along Laguna Canyon Road and other critical “lifeline” routes that are vital to emergency access and evacuation in major brushfires and other critical incidents. Utility undergrounding would significantly improve public safety for both residents and visitors in Laguna Beach.” – Laguna Beach Police Employee Association

Ensures Access for First Responders

•Major fires cause loss of insurance coverage

• Laguna residents experienced this after 1993 fires

• In a letter to the City dated September 11, 2018, the Personal Insurance Federation of California* stated

• Undergrounding is viewed in “positive light by our members”

• An Undergrounding effort is “timely, highly appropriate and an excellent example of self-reliance to abate a known threat that endangers residents, visitors, schools and businesses”

*PIFC is an Association of large property/casualty insurers (State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, Mercury, Nationwide)

Improved Insurability of Homes and Businesses

BeautificationLaguna Canyon Road

BeautificationLaguna Canyon Road at Big Bend

• “When extreme fire conditions - such as high winds - present a clear danger to the public, we may shut off power in high fire risk areas.”*

*quote from an August letter from SCE to Laguna Beach customers entitled “Protecting Against the Threat of Wildfires”

UNDERGROUNDING is a much smarter approach

The Utility’s Safety Solution? Power Shut-Off

• “Aggressively pruning trees and vegetation adjacent to power lines” on your property!*

• “SCE will inspect all trees within 200 feet of its electric facilities and remove or prune trees that could strike its equipment.”** *quote from an August letter from SCE to Laguna Beach customers entitled

“Protecting Against the Threat of Wildfires” **quote from SCE Sept. 10, 2018 news release on Grid Safety

The Utility’s Safety Solution? Vegetation Management

UNDERGROUNDING is a much smarter approach

The Utility’s Safety Solution? “Hardening the System”*

• Harden existing infrastructure with insulated wire and other features.

• Only 60% as effective as undergrounding as a fire mitigation measure.

• “Underground conversion used as the reference baseline for mitigation effectiveness because it removes all exposures related to overhead power lines.”

*statements from SCE application 18-09-002 filed with the PUC on Sept.10, 2018

UNDERGROUNDING is a much smarter approach

The Utility’s Safety Solution? No Help for Laguna*

• $582 million requested from ratepayers to harden the system

• $ 0 for undergrounding • $ 0 earmarked for Laguna Beach *statements from SCE application 18-09-002 filed with the PUC on Sept.10, 2018

and SCE October 9, 2018 presentation to City Council.

UNDERGROUNDING is a much smarter approach

•Creates the need for additional public safety personnel and services

•Measure P requires visitors to pay their fair share to help protect our residents, homes and businesses

•A significant portion of Measure P dollars will be paid for by visitors

*2016 Study conducted by Visit Laguna

Over 6 million visitors come to Laguna Beach each year*

Measure P A Smart Solution that puts Residents FIRST

Other Business, Community Leaders, your neighbors & friends support Measure P…. Gregg and Kathy Abel, Lea Abel-Stone, John Albritton, Kristin Allison, Nicole Anderson, Joe Andras, Roger C. Armstrong, Carolyn Aufhammer, Donna Ballard, Kathleen Barker, Dan Bassett, Madeline Bell, Walter Bell, Erin and Dustin Beutin, Gary and Nancy Beverage, Bill Blackburn, Michelle Boyd, Chris Cloud Bradley, Ketta and Jeb Brown, Dan and Jenifer Burge, Jonathan Burke, Cindi Busic, Lee and Doreen Butler, Jamie Cailouette, MD, Anne Calof, Aejandro Camacho, David Campbell, Sandra Jones Campbell, Rod and Wendy Caufield, Suzi Chauvel, Dan Christian, Barbara Clarence, Rita and Howard Conn, Ray Cruz, Jason de Brettville and Family, Peg Donner, Cleo Dougherty, Heidi Draper, Genny Boccardo-Dubey and Frank Dubey, Dennis Eastman, Paula Tomei and David Emmes, Leanne and Howard Englander, Cody and Deborah Engle, Hugh and Kristin Fast, Michael Fimin, Cindy and Jim Fletcher, Britt Fredensburg, Chase Fredensburg, Holly Fredensburg, Ben and Dee Frydman, James Galindo, Keith and Julie Gallo, Jean Gambino, Tom and Nancy Gibbs, Joan Gladstone, Rick Graves, Glen and Katheryn Gray, Ken Greengard, Lynn Gregory, Betty Haight, John Hamil, Paul Hamilton, Joe and Jane Hanauer, Ron and Ellen Harris, Tracy Hartman, Lori Hathaway, Tad Heitmann, Mike and Linda Hogan, Kiku Teras and Paul Holms, Larry Holtz, Mo Honarkar, Jerry and Rene Hornbeak, Chris and Lynn Hunt, Joe and Sue Jahraus, Gary Jenkins, Jon and Molly Jennet, Anne and Marv Johnson, Kevin and Holly Johnson, Kathy and Mike Jones,……..continued

Laguna Beach City Council members: Kelly Boyd, Toni Iseman, Bob Whalen, Rob Zur Schmiede; Laguna Beach Firefighters; Orange County Firefighters Association; Retired

Laguna Beach Fire Chief, Jeff LaTendresse; Former Mayor: Elizabeth Pearson; Former School Board Members: El Hathaway, Betsy Jenkins, Bill Landsiedel, Theresa O’Hare, Susan Mas

Laguna Beach Community Leaders support Measure P

….there’s more….Hallie Jones, Dan and Julia Kelly, Mike and Kathryn KellyAnne and Marv Johnson, Kevin and Holly Johnson, Kathy and Mike Jones, Hallie Jones, Dan and Julia Kelly, Mike and Kathryn KellySue Kempf, Karen Klammer,, Diane and Cort Kloke, Pat Kollenda, Cathy and David Krinsky, Tom and Vicki Lamb, Helen Lambros, Alexis Lanz, Peter and Karen Lawrence, Matt and Mary Lawson, Rebecca Lyles, Greg and Barbara MacGillivray, Lisa and John Mansour, Kathleen Marcus, Susan and Vicente Mas, Sophie and Tony Mastor, Christian Mastor, Andriana Mastor, Jim and Kelly Mazzo, Maura McDonald, Anne McErlane, Roger and Sharon McErlane, Anne and Robert McGraw, Jeff and Carla Meberg, Susanne Mellor, Nancy and Steve Milby, Penny Milne, Sands Mintor-Palumbo, Meg Monahan, Gary and Leslie Monroe, Scott Moore, Mia and Jon Moore, John Morcos, Debbie Mulligan, Ellie Murphy and Family, Sonny Myers, Larry Nebel, Mike and Stephanie Nelson, Vicki Novak, Richard and Kelly Nye,, Theresa O’Hare, Mark and Dora Orgill, Derek and Natalia Ostensen, Lauren and Richard Packard, Patti Patterson, Karyn Phillipsen, Phyllis Phillips, Deana Pink, Troy and Sian Poeschl, Elizabeth Hanaeur and Paul Pohoresky, Mark Porterfield, Chris Prelitz, Charlie and Anne Quilter, Chris Quilter, Colman Raffo, Pat O’Brien and Chris Reed, Michelle Reinglass, Louis Rohl, Lewis Rosensitto, Ali and Robin Rounaghi, Mary Kate and Kirk Sanders, Francine and Daniel Scinto, Yank and Rickie Sefton, Kathy and Jim Selevan, Evan Senn, Lynda Sharp, Arlene Shevitski, Mariella Simon, Paul Sjule and Family, Mark and Jill Skaist, Phyllis Snyder, Brian Solo, Ivan Spires, Maj. Robert Sternfels, Zeda Stone, Inma Strombon, Keith Swayne, Cheryl Sykes, Rick and Martha Talt, Laura Tarbox, Scott Tenney, John Thomas, Jeff and Diana Tomei, Liz Toomey, Charlene Torrierro, Larry Ulvestad, Rosaura Ulvestad, Katie Sternfels Ulvestad, Erik Ulvestad, Patty Unger, Linda Vian and Family, Becky Visconti, Malcolm and Sara Warner, Kristen Weaver, Meghan MacGillivray Weil, Louis Weil, Kirsten Whalen, Gabrielle White, Dennis and Carol White, Susan Whitin, Anne and Kurt Wiese, Kari Nies and Jim Wogulis, Peggy and Josh Wolff, Robin Zur Schmiede, ….partial list.

Support Measure P

A Smart Solution that puts Residents FIRST

By Mail or on November 6, Vote YES on Measure P

www.UndergroundLagunaNow.org