Sacramento updates council on urban level flood protection, seeks implementation plans after SB 639 extension

City staff told the Sacramento City Council on Oct. 25 that most levee improvement projects are complete but some work in Natomas and the Beach Lake areas needs more time, and that the legislature is poised to extend deadlines for those subareas.

Remy Mendoza of the Community Development Department presented an overview of flood risk, the regulatory framework and next steps toward achieving the state's urban level of flood protection (200-year standard). She said Sacramento must show compliance by Dec. 31 but that some projects could extend beyond that date without legislative relief.

Staff said the city and regional agencies previously relied on “adequate progress” findings tied to reports from the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA). Because projects in the North Natomas Basin and Beach Lake subareas have experienced unforeseen delays, the city co-sponsored Senate Bill 639 earlier this year to extend the compliance deadline for those subareas; the presenter said SB 639 had passed both houses and was anticipated to be signed by the governor before an Oct. 12 deadline mentioned in staff materials.

Staff recommended the council adopt a resolution accepting the Dry Creek North levee engineers report and make a type 1 finding that the area meets the 200-year urban level of flood protection. Staff said it plans to return Oct. 21 with additional engineers reports for the American River North, American River South and Robla/Creek levee systems and, after SB 639 is signed, will bring adequate progress reports for the areas getting an extension.

Councilmember Katie Kaplan said SB 639’s passage was “positive” but warned SAFCA should not offload unfunded responsibilities onto the city. The council adopted the Dry Creek North engineers report and the related finding, with the clerk recording the vote in the meeting minutes.