07-09-2025 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO: Mayor Fischer and Members of City Council FROM: Don Smiley, Emergency Management Director DATE: July 9, 2025 RE: Adoption of 2025 Ramsey County Hazard Mitigation Plan ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: Adopt the 2025 Ramsey County, MN Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan. BACKGROUND: A hazard mitigation plan is a federally required document under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000). This law mandates that all states, counties, and communities maintain an approved mitigation plan to be eligible for certain federal disaster assistance. This plan ensures Little Canada’s eligibility for federal disaster mitigation funding while proactively addressing risks to enhance our community’s resilience. The 2025 Ramsey County, MN Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) is updated approximately every five years in accordance with DMA 2000 to use the most recent demographic data, identify priority hazards and mitigation strategies, and evaluate critical infrastructure risks and hazards affecting Ramsey County, including the City of Little Canada. It serves as a framework upon which hazard mitigation projects and strategies can be coordinated across the entire county, and the process ensures that all jurisdictions consider new and emerging hazards, the impacts of growth, development, and social vulnerability on hazards in our area, and considers the impact of real-world events. The revised HMP assesses and ranks major natural, technological, and human-caused hazards based on factors such as frequency of occurrence, economic impact, and potential for deaths and injuries. Mitigation recommendations are based on input from state and local agencies, public feedback, and national best practices. While the primary focus remains on evaluating Ramsey County’s exposure to natural hazards and identifying appropriate mitigation actions, this HMP update also expands the scope to include technological and human-caused hazards and is crafted in compliance with federal mitigation planning requirements. The HMP is a truly multi-jurisdictional plan that applies to all of Ramsey County. In addition to Little Canada, this plan includes participation and input from Ramsey County and the municipalities of Arden Hills, Falcon Heights, Gem Lake, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, North Oaks, North Saint Paul, Roseville, Saint Anthony, Saint Paul, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, and White Bear Township. Each of these municipalities will separately adopt the HMP as their own – meaning that the entire county will now use a single assessment and planning methodology to better coordinate across jurisdictions.