Ukiah ratifies local emergency, authorizes emergency contract after Western Hills mudslide

The Ukiah City Council on an expedited agenda ratified a local emergency and approved an emergency procurement and contract to repair a mudslide near a city water tank in the Western Hills.

The action, introduced by city staff, covers a resolution proclaiming a local emergency caused by recent atmospheric rivers and a contract award to Diamond D Construction LLC for $30,042 to perform immediate stabilization and debris removal at the slide site. The council voted in support at consecutive roll calls; the emergency procurement resolution that authorizes direct contracting under public contract code section 22050 also requires periodic council review while the emergency work continues.

City staff described the slide as occurring along an engineered cut made during earlier construction of the tank project. Deputy City Manager Shannon Riley said the city has not identified direct structural damage to the tank itself but that the slope failure exposed material and required immediate removal and shoring to protect water infrastructure and public safety. Riley said the city is pursuing multiple funding paths, including filing a property insurance claim that could limit city losses to a $25,000 deductible and seeking state and federal assistance through Cal OES and FEMA if eligible.

Tracy Boyle, the city's emergency manager, told the council that some nearby road sections remain inaccessible and that additional damage from continuing storms may yet be discovered, reinforcing the need for a standing emergency declaration. The city explained that emergency procurement allows timely contracting for specialized construction services that cannot wait for the standard public-bid timeline.

Council members moved and seconded the items and approved the ratification and contract award by roll call. Staff said the emergency procurement authority requires the city manager to return to council at regular intervals — typically every council meeting — to report on continued emergency expenditures and procurements until the work is complete.

The council also discussed whether repeated slides could occur in the area and noted that the particular failure is associated with engineered fill near the tank rather than a wholly natural, unnamed slope failure. Staff said they will continue to monitor the hillside and return with updates and additional requests as needed.

No timeline for the full stabilization work was published at the meeting; staff said additional work and costs remain possible as assessments continue.