Safety Element

The purpose of the Safety Element is to eliminate and minimize risks associated with natural and human-generated hazards such as floods, earthquakes, and hazardous materials. By assessing and preparing for levels of risk, the city can endure the range of safety hazards and adapt to changes over time.

This element works in tandem with other elements of the General Plan, such as the Public Services Element, which has goals and policies related to police, fire, and health services; emergency planning; and resiliency.

The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) for the City of Santa Ana planning area was developed in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) and followed FEMA’s 2011 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan guidance. The LHMP incorporates a process where hazards are identified and profiled, the people and facilities at risk are analyzed, and mitigation actions are developed to reduce or eliminate hazard risk. The implementation of these mitigation actions, which include both short and long-term strategies, involve planning, policy changes, programs, projects, and other activities.

Public health and safety and protection from the risks of natural and human-induced disasters, emergencies, and hazards are vital to establish a safe and healthy environment for Santa Ana’s residents, visitors, and workers.

An interconnected system of channels and basins and other stormwater management facilities protect the city from flooding. The City provides local stormwater management, and the Orange County Flood Control District is responsible for regional flood control. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers and maintains Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which show areas according to their risk of flooding, such as 100-year or 500-year flood zones.

The Orange County Fire Authority is the City’s hazardous materials response team. The County of Orange maintains an inventory of hazardous materials stored, handled, and used within its jurisdiction to ensure all emergency response agencies can respond safety and appropriately in the event of a major emergency.

While there are no known active fault lines running through the city, all of southern California is a seismically active area, and shaking from nearby faults could result in significant damage. Other geologic hazards can occur during seismic or flood events, such as subsidence or liquefaction. The City enforces state building codes and other local and state regulations to ensure the risks of earthquakes and other seismic events are minimized.

Through the community engagement process for this General Plan, participants identified numerous safety considerations and values that they believe should form the basis of and be addressed by this element. Specifically, participants highlighted the following topics, areas of concern, and community strengths:

• Mitigation of environmental vulnerabilities
• Planning and protection from flooding and seismic hazards
• Responsible use and disposal of hazardous materials

Protect life and minimize property damage, social and economic disruptions caused by flood and inundation hazards.

• Policy S-1.1
  Regional Collaboration
  Continue to consult with agencies to maintain the most current flood hazard and floodplain information; use the information as a basis for project review and to guide development in accordance with regional, state, and federal standards.
  
• Policy S-1.2
  Climate Change
  Evaluate the need to expand the capacity of flood control facilities to minimize flood hazards to people, property, and the environment based on changing weather conditions associated with climate change.
  
• Policy S-1.3
  Storm Drain Infrastructure
  Update the Drainage Master Plan to prioritize improvements to existing system deficiencies, and plan for infrastructure needs that support the General Plan land use vision.
  
• Policy S-1.4
  Critical Infrastructure
  Design, construct, and retrofit critical public facilities and utilities located in flood-prone areas to maintain their structural and operational integrity during floods.
  
• Policy S-1.5
  Flood Awareness
  Promote education of flooding hazards and bring awareness to resources and programs that assist property owners, residents, and businesses to protect their homes and property from flood damage.
  
• Policy S-1.6
  Alternative Flood Control Methods
  Explore and encourage natural flood control infrastructure and techniques that create new open areas to capture storm water, recharge aquifers, prevent flooding, and expand recreation opportunities.
  
• Policy S-1.7
  Surface Water Infiltration
  Encourage site drainage features that reduce impermeable surface area, increase surface water infiltration, and minimize surface water runoff during storm events on private and public developments.
  
• Policy S-1.8
  Development in Flood Zone
  Continue to implement federal, state, and regional requirements related to new construction in flood-plain areas to ensure that future flood risks to life and property are minimized.
  

Protect residents and environmental resources from contaminated hazardous material sites and minimize risks associated with the use, production, storage, transport, and disposal of hazardous materials.

• Policy S-2.1
  Regional Collaboration
  Consult and collaborate with federal, state, and regional agencies to identify and regulate the use, storage and disposal of hazardous materials, prevent the illegal transportation and disposal of hazardous waste, and facilitate the cleanup of contaminated sites.
  
• Policy S-2.2
  Hazardous Waste Generators
  Collaborate with appropriate agencies to identify and inventory all users and handlers of hazardous materials to proactively mitigate potential impacts. Promote transparency and accountability by publishing city, regional, and state data and resources on toxic spills, water pollution, illegal discharges, industrial and commercial air violations on a dedicated Santa Ana Environmental Quality webpage.
  
• Policy S-2.3
  Transportation and Storage
  Coordinate with the County of Orange, the California Department of Transportation, and other relevant parties to enforce state and local laws regulating the storage and transport of hazardous materials within the City of Santa Ana, and limit truck routes through the city to arterials streets away from natural habitats and sensitive land uses.
  
• Policy S-2.4
  Planning and Remediation
  Determine the presence of hazardous materials and/or waste contamination prior to approval of new uses and require that appropriate measures be taken to protect the health and safety of site users and the community.
  
• Policy S-2.5
  Education and Best Practices
  Promote public awareness of best practices for and participation in household hazardous waste management and disposal.
  
• Policy S-2.6
  Existing Sensitive Uses
  Partner and collaborate with property owners, businesses, and community groups to develop strategies to protect and minimize risks from existing hazardous material sites to existing nearby sensitive uses, with priority given to discontinuing such uses within environmental justice area boundaries.
  

Provide a safe environment for all Santa Ana residents and workers while minimizing risk of injury, loss of life, property damage, and social and economic impacts caused by geologic and seismic hazards.

• Policy S-3.1
  Hazard Identification
  Explore opportunities to identify and encourage the upgrade of structures and facilities that are at risk from seismic hazards.
  
• Policy S-3.2
  Seismic and Geotechnical Standards
  Ensure that all new development abides by the current City and state seismic and geotechnical requirements and that projects located in areas with potential for geologic or seismic hazards prepare a hazards study.
  
• Policy S-3.3
  Key Public Facilities and Systems
  Coordinate with relevant utility service providers to ensure that major utility systems remain resilient in the event of a major earthquake and are seismically upgraded.
  
• Policy S-3.4
  Multiagency Education Campaign
  Develop cooperative partnerships and strengthen communication among public agencies, residents, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and businesses to promote sharing of educational information regarding seismic and geologic hazards and safety.
  

Protect the safety of the general public from aircraft hazards.

• Policy S-4.1
  Structures Above 200 Feet
  For development projects that include structures higher than 200 feet above existing grade, the City shall inform the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) and submit materials to the ALUC for review. Proposed projects that would exceed a height of 200 feet above existing grade shall be required to file Form 7460-1 with the Federal Aviation Administration.
  
• Policy S-4.2
  Federal Aviation Regulation Part 77
  Do not approve buildings and structures that would penetrate Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 77 Imaginary Obstruction Surfaces, unless consistent with the California Public Utilities Code Section 21240, such building or structure is determined by FAA to pose “no hazard” to air aviation. Additionally, under this policy, applicants proposing buildings or structures that penetrate the 100:1 Notification Surface will be required to file a Form 7460-1 Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration with FAA and provide a copy of the FAA determination to the City and the ALUC.
  
• Policy S-4.3
  Light, Glare, and Other Interference
  Minimize hazards to aeronautical operations by ensuring land uses do not emit excessive glare, light, steam, smoke, dust, or electronic interference in compliance with FAA regulations and the John Wayne Airport Environs Land Use Plan.
  
• Policy S-4.4
  Heliport/Helistop Approval and Requirements
  Any proposals for heliports/helipads within the City shall be submitted through the City to the Airport Land Use Commission for a consistency determination. Approve the development of a heliport or helistop only if it complies with the Airport Environs Land Use Plan for heliports. Ensure that each applicant seeking a conditional use permit or similar approval for the construction or operation of a heliport or helistop complies fully with the state permit procedure provided by law and with all conditions of approval imposed or recommended by the FAA, by Orange County Airport Land Use Commission, and by Caltrans/Division of Aeronautics. This requirement shall be in addition to all other City development requirements.
  
• Policy S-4.5
  Referral to ALUC
  Prior to the amendment of the City’s general plan or a specific plan, or the adoption or approval of a zoning ordinance or building regulation within the planning boundary established by the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC), and pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 21676, the City shall first refer the proposed action to the ALUC.
  
• Policy S-4.6
  Deed Disclosure Notice
  Provide notice of airport in the vicinity where residential development is being proposed within the 60 dBA CNEL noise contours for the John Wayne Airport.
  

An implementation plan is a coordinated series of actions the City desires to take in the future that are intended to advance, over the long term, the City’s Shared Vision, Core Values, and the General Plan goals and policies. An implementation plan is thus a follow-up measure for this element. Taken as a whole, these programs represent the City’s best thinking today on what actions should be taken to address the considerations and concerns of the community and make sure that the plan’s aspirations are achieved.

Implementation is in large part contingent upon adequate funding. Many of these actions can be pursued through initiatives already underway. Other programs will require additional resources. Therefore, the exact mix and timing of programs the City may pursue will in part be opportunity driven, dependent on the availability of funding, staffing, and other necessary resources. The Time Frame in the Implementation Table below is the target for completion of the Action.

This element may be implemented by amendments to existing plans, ordinances, development standards and design guidelines; capital investments/projects; and interagency/interjurisdictional coordination. The following table identifies the implementation action, the responsible City agency, and targeted timeline for accomplishment.