Carson Planning Commission recommends amending General Plan to incorporate 2024 hazard mitigation plan

Senior Planner Gerard Coleman presented a proposed general plan amendment to incorporate the City of Carson’s 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and recommended that the Planning Commission forward the amendment to the City Council for adoption.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation would amend the safety element of the general plan to replace the existing link to the earlier hazard mitigation plan with a link to the 2024 plan. Coleman told the commission that the California Office of Emergency Services approved the plan in mid‑2024 and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the plan on 01/27/2025, pending the city’s formal adoption. Coleman also said, “the local hazard mitigation plan 2024 is located on the public safety department on our website in its entirety.”

Why it matters: adoption of the general plan amendment is a prerequisite for the city to formally adopt the updated mitigation plan and thereby maintain eligibility for certain state and federal grant funds tied to disaster response and mitigation. Coleman and the City Attorney explained that the Planning Commission’s role under the city charter is to recommend general plan amendments to the City Council; final adoption rests with the council.

The staff report and recommendation note that the proposed text change is limited to updating the link in the Community Services, Education and Safety element to reference the 2024 plan. The City Attorney clarified the scope, saying the commission’s action is “to recommend approval of the necessary general plan amendment to the city council” because the general plan currently references the older plan and must reference the updated plan to ensure grant eligibility. The attorney added that FEMA and Cal OES have already deemed the 2024 plan sufficient, subject to the city’s formal adoption.

Commissioner Carlos Guerra asked whether potential reductions in federal disaster funding would affect this action; staff responded that they were not aware of any such effect on the commission’s recommendation and reiterated that compliance with the mitigation planning process is required to maintain eligibility for assistance. Commissioner Monteclaro asked who within the city participated in preparing the plan; staff replied that a committee process with public outreach and online meetings took place throughout 2024 and that a representative from the public safety division was present at the meeting.

The commission voted to adopt the attached recommendation (attached resolution) moved by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Vice Chair Diaz. The motion passed, recorded as eight affirmative votes and no negatives or abstentions. The manager and staff noted that adoption by the City Council is the next step and that incorporating the plan into the general plan is required under state and federal mitigation grant rules, including benefits tied to Assembly Bill 2140.

The staff report also notes that the proposed general plan amendment is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Guidelines sections 15060(c)(2) and 15061(b)(3) because the amendment is limited to a link update and has no potential for direct physical change to the environment.

Less-critical items at the same meeting included a manager announcement seeking applicants to serve on a newly forming Brownfields committee; no action on that item was taken during the hearing. Several commissioners offered brief remarks of thanks and local updates after the vote.

Votes at a glance: Motion to recommend that the City Council adopt the general plan amendment to incorporate the City’s 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (attachment 3 to the staff report / draft resolution number 25,2884). Mover: Commissioner Johnson. Second: Vice Chair Diaz. Outcome: approved (8–0).