Hi Nikki,
Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed response. I appreciate the clarity you provided regarding the safety features of the BHCC building and the City’s investment in emergency preparedness. It’s reassuring to know the facility was designed with resilience in mind, particularly to serve as an emergency shelter.
You mentioned that "documented BHCC emergency procedures for staff are in place, and staff training will continue to ensure everyone is prepared." Would it be possible to share those procedures with us? When I previously asked staff about the emergency plan, they were unaware of any formal documentation. What I was shown was a map of the building—which, while helpful, did not include emergency routes or detailed protocols. A floor map alone is not sufficient in a real emergency.
In addition, several seniors have raised an important concern: why are individuals with limited mobility assigned to activities on the second floor, while those without mobility issues are on the first? One participant who uses a wheelchair specifically asked what the evacuation plan would be for someone in his situation if he were on the second floor during an emergency. These are critical considerations when planning for inclusive and equitable safety procedures.
As we know, even the most well-designed buildings are only part of the equation. The Titanic was once considered unsinkable—yet it rests at the bottom of the ocean. Nature and emergency situations do not always follow design assumptions. True preparedness means ensuring that everyone, especially our most vulnerable community members, knows exactly what to do when every second counts.
Please keep me informed regarding the date of the evacuation drill, and thank you again for your ongoing commitment to safety and transparency.
Best regards,
Belle Haven Senior and Allies
________________________________
Subject: Re: Request for Update on Belle Haven Campus Safety Plan
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 1:31 PM
Hi Mr. Hernandez,
I understand it is difficult and sad to see the situation in Texas unfold. However, I can assure you that the BHCC building was specifically designed with safety features and procedures and resiliency in mind. It was one of our top priorities to have the building be able to serve as an emergency shelter, and California building codes require strict design and construction methods to ensure it can withstand weather and earthquakes in order to serve that purpose. It was further designed and built so that the first floor elevation is higher than anticipated flood levels, and also has back up power through the electric micro-grid in case of a power outage. We have documented BHCC emergency procedures for staff in place, and will continue to do staff training to make sure everyone is prepared. These are not vague reassurances, but very real steps and investments made to keep the community safe. The City is committed to providing a safe working environment for employees and this commitment is applicable to our community members who use our facilities.
That said, we also want our program participants to feel ready and prepared for an emergency, and our staff had been working on a plan to engage the seniors more on this topic. I know Ms. Tinajero communicated that to you in her June 9 email as well. While she is currently out of the office until sometime later in August, we are working to find an alternative path forward during her absence to conduct an evacuation drill for program participants. We are happy to share a date for the drill once we have it available.
Thank you,
Nikki
[cid:CMP_Email_Logo_100dpi_05d92d5b-e8e3-498f-93a6-d0da509bd602111111111.png]
Nicole H. Nagaya, P.E. (she/her)
Deputy City Manager
City Hall - 1st Floor
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-330-6781
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________________________________
Sent: Wednesday, July 9, 2025 9:02 PM
Subject: Request for Update on Belle Haven Campus Safety Plan
Hi Nikki,
I hope you are doing well. I am reaching out again on behalf of the Belle Haven Seniors and Allies to follow up on the status of the safety plan for the Belle Haven Community Campus (BHCC). In light of the recent tragedies in Texas and the clear lack of adequate preparation by government officials there, we are increasingly concerned about the potential risks to our own community—especially our seniors—should an emergency occur here.
While we understand that not all emergencies can be prevented, many can be mitigated through clear, proactive, and well-communicated planning. You have mentioned on several occasions that the City has a safety plan in place for BHCC, but to date, no details have been shared with community members. At our previous senior center, regular emergency evacuation drills were conducted, giving both staff and participants a strong sense of preparedness and confidence.
Our concern is that without transparent communication and regular drills, the current safety plan may exist only as a document—ineffective in the face of a real crisis. City staff should not be left scrambling to locate procedures during an emergency. And if safety resources are as difficult to find as some materials on the City’s website, those who need immediate assistance could be placed in serious danger.
We want to reduce the risk of a preventable tragedy. Therefore, we are not looking for general statements or football analogies—like those used by state officials in Texas when responding to crises that could have been avoided. What we are asking for is meaningful, actionable prevention. Seniors at Belle Haven have been requesting a real safety plan since the building first opened. These concerns deserve direct, practical responses—not metaphors or vague reassurances.
Could you please share the current safety plan with us and let us know if any drills or training sessions are scheduled for BHCC? We remain committed to supporting a proactive and transparent approach to protecting our community. If needed, we are also prepared to gather petition signatures to further demonstrate community support for this request.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Belle Haven Seniors and Allies
