Council Adopts Hazard Plan to Shield City From Disaster Costs

San Pablo's City Council, operating at a bare three-member quorum, moved to protect the city from potentially millions in future disaster recovery costs and began reshaping its Public Works leadership pipeline — all while signaling that a looming structural budget deficit will dominate the weeks ahead.

• Hazard mitigation plan integrated into General Plan, eliminating the city's 6.25% local share of disaster recovery costs under state law

• Ordinance advanced to drop the engineer requirement for the Public Works Director position, broadening the search for a permanent hire after the late director's passing

• City Manager warns of structural deficit driven by stagnant casino revenue and rising costs; two virtual budget meetings set ahead of a June 1 public hearing

• Rent Review Program workshop announced for May 28, previewing a proposed ordinance regulating rent increases above a set threshold

• Council honors late Public Works Director Alan Panganiban with a moment of silence and proclamation during National Public Works Week

Why it matters: Without this step, San Pablo would be on the hook for 6.25% of disaster recovery costs every time FEMA assistance is triggered. In a major earthquake or flood, that could mean millions out of the city's general fund.