City toasts FEMA fund ‘godsend’

Some of the city’s most ardent Republicans toasted Dianne Feinstein Friday night, acknowledging what Democrats thought all along: the senator has clout.

City officials learned earlier in the day that Feinstein’s efforts on behalf of the city’s quest for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for landslide repairs were successful. FEMA announced it would authorize substantial funding for the city, thought to be $10.4 million.

“I never thought I would be toasting Dianne Feinstein, but she absolutely deserves our gratitude for making people at FEMA understand the needs of our community,” Design Review Task Force Chair Matt Lawson said.

Even virtual teetotaler Cheryl Kinsman hoisted a glass of bubbly to celebrate the news.

“For Dianne, I will drink,” Kinsman said.

The news got even better on Tuesday. FEMA clarified its commitment of a total of $12,546,303 and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services announced the state would reimburse the city $3.5 million for emergency repairs and permanent restoration of public infrastructure in Bluebird Canyon, devastated by a landslide June 1.

Federal and state funding will total approximately $16.7 million, depending on the final costs of the restoration, estimated at $16 to $18 million.

“This federal and state disaster assistance is a godsend for our community,” Mayor Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider said. “On behalf of the city I would like to thank everyone who has helped in this effort, especially Senator Dianne Feinstein, and the staffs at FEMA and OES.”

Feinstein made a personal visit to the landslide site at the invitation of the city’s dyed-in-the-wool Republican mayor and vowed to help Laguna get desperately needed financial assistance, which FEMA originally denied. FEMA subsequently reversed its decision after being contacted by Feinstein and pressured by state officials.

“I had tremendous faith that Dianne would do everything possible to help the city,” Democrat Marion Jacobs said. “She has a lot of influence.”

Feinstein’s assistance manifested itself in a federal transportation bill in November into which she worked a $2 million grant to repair Flamingo Road. Pearson-Schneider said the city will ask Feinstein to reallocate the money to fund projects elsewhere because FEMA will cover the road repairs.

“I was jubilant Tuesday,” City Manager Ken Frank said. “The news was definitely a relief.”

FEMA and OES funding will have no effect on the timetable or extent of the Bluebird Canyon projects, Frank said.

“We are doing what needs to be done to restore Flamingo Road, complete the drainage project and protect adjacent properties from potential slides,” Frank said. “We should know more about the total cost in a month and maybe in six weeks be ready to award bids.

“Between the FEMA and OES funding and sales tax increase revenue, my best guess is we will be able to complete the whole project without using general fund money.”

The council can reduce the life of the tax increase, but cannot extend it.

An oversight committee, created to keep tabs on the spending, will meet 5 p.m., Monday in City Hall, 505 Forest Ave. The public is invited.