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<br />Report to Mayor, City Council, City Manager, City Attorney (For the Record) <br />FR: Garry Loeffler, Representative to Association of Bay Area Governments <br />(ABAG) <br />RE: Lessons Learned from Loma Prieta Conference: October 14-15, 1999 <br />Ten years ago, many of us remember what/where/when moments related to the Loma <br />Prieta Earthquake. It was not THE BIG ONE. As I listened to many speakers for two <br />days, I was reminded that since Loma Prieta we have made preparedness progress on <br />some levels: staff training (CSTI), a plan (MOP), retrofitting of some public facilities, <br />seismic analysis of the schools and regional leadership on the home strengthening <br />program. San Leandro is very visible in the ABAG video: "Get Your Home in Shape. <br />Credit goes to our Building Department for pioneering with business our efforts to-date. <br />However, I came away with the belief that our greatest challenge continues to be <br />complacency on a variety of levels and we must continue to be pro-active on <br />preparedness issues with our citizens, schools, businesses and faith community. Experts <br />now predict a 70% probability for a major earthquake in the Bay Area in the next 30 <br />years. <br />The following reflects some of the key points raised by the speakers and my <br />recommendations for the council and community to consider: <br />Disaster Resistant Community: The city of Berkeley has in 10 years approved three <br />bond issues, totally $262 million to up-grade 16 public schools, seven fire stations, <br />Civic center and Main Library, and new Emergency Operations Center. City Office of <br />Emergency Services has a budget of $250,000 with 3.5 staff positions. They have: <br />a. created 5 years ago a Disaster Council Commission who meet monthly <br />b. created a Fire Assessment District <br />c. created an active Neighborhood Emergency Response Training program <br />d. the highest rate of home retrofitting in the area. <br />e. been recognized as FEMA' S 1998 Model Community for the Project Impact <br />Program. <br />Recommendation: City needs to create greater citizen involvement by establishing a <br />Disaster Council Commission to work with Emergency Manager to enhance the city's <br />preparedness. <br />2. Apartment Building Retrofit: After the Northridge earthquake, many of us became <br />aware that we have similar apartment buildings that may be at risk .Five years ago I <br />recall visiting Northridge and seeing the collapsed buildings/crushed cars. Today, I <br />believe we have identified over 300 soft-story apartment buildings that may need a <br />