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Larkspur declares local emergency after king-tide flooding to preserve aid eligibility
Summary
The City Council adopted a resolution proclaiming a local emergency after unusual king tides flooded low-lying neighborhoods, a step city staff said was needed to pursue state and federal relief and to enable reimbursement of overtime and cleanup costs.
The Larkspur City Council on Jan. 7 adopted a resolution declaring a local emergency after several days of king-tide flooding that inundated low-lying areas of the city.
City staff told the council the declaration would not itself create new spending but would preserve the city's ability to seek grant and reimbursement funding and to allow affected residents to pursue available relief. The emergency declaration was presented as a precautionary and administrative action to keep funding and assistance options open while agencies continue damage assessments.
City manager Dan Schwartz said the County Office of Emergency Services is leading a consolidated application to bundle costs incurred across jurisdictions for a potential federal or state request. He described the city's current costs, including overtime and material repairs, as within existing spending authority but said the declaration helps open additional avenues for recovery.
Public commenters urged the council to prioritize long-term fixes. Ross Asselstein, a resident of San Anselmo, urged that levy maintenance and dredging, part of agreements dating to the 1960s, be emphasized in recovery funding. Resident David Mahler asked that the proclamation explicitly acknowledge rising sea levels from climate change; city staff cautioned that mentioning climate change in the declaration could jeopardize federal assistance and recommended broader phrasing to avoid narrowing eligibility.
Council members discussed whether language in the resolution should say flooding occurred "throughout" the city; staff said broader wording may preserve the ability to claim funds for damage that later proves related to the incident. After discussion the council moved, seconded and voted to adopt the proclamation.
The council adopted the declaration to ensure the city and residents can pursue aid and to position the city for potential reimbursement of municipal costs; staff said they will return with more complete damage assessments and with recommended follow-up actions and potential mitigation items on a future agenda.
