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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report Ratifying Emergency ProclamationRatifying Local Emergency Declaration January 15, 2025 Page 1 SCHEDULED ITEM C-1 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER FROM: LUCY DEMIRJIAN, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER DATE: JANUARY 15, 2025 SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA RATIFYING AND DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY RELATED TO THE JANUARY 2025 WINDSTORM AND EATON FIRE BACKGROUND: A Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning was issued by the National Weather Service for Tuesday, January 7, 2025, with reports of a Santa Ana wind event causing hurricane strength winds. As a result of high winds, which ranged upwards of 80-100 mph in certain areas, a series of fires erupted throughout Los Angeles County, with the Eaton Fire threatening several foothill cities along the San Gabriel Mountains, including the City of Azusa. The aftermath of the significant windstorm and fire event has impacted the City of Azusa. The City activated its Emergency Operations Center and responded to extensive fallen trees, vegetation damage, and debris clean-up throughout the City, as a result. The City Manager, acting as the Director of Emergency Services pursuant to Chapter 26 of the Azusa Municipal Code, issued an Executive Order declaring the existence of a local emergency on January 8, 2025. A declaration of a local emergency will assist in a coordinated public safety response to this tree damage, debris and fire threat to protect lives and property of residents. It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2025-C01 ratifying and declaring the existence of a local emergency related to the January 2025 Windstorm and Eaton Fire. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended City Council: 1. Review and adopt the following Resolution No. 2025-C01: Approved City Council January 15, 2025 Ratifying Local Emergency Declaration January 15, 2025 Page 2 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA RATIFYING AND DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY RELATED TO THE JANUARY 2025 WINDSTORM AND EATON FIRE ANALYSIS: The emergency declaration allows the City to take necessary action in response to impacts of the windstorm event and Eaton Fire. The situation is evolving, with additional significant wind events expected this week and potential for further damage in the affected areas and the City of Azusa. California Government Code Section 8630, et seq., and City of Azusa Municipal Code Chapter 26, empower the City Manager to proclaim the existence of a local emergency to protect and preserve public welfare when the City is affected or likely to be affected by an emergency. Under Government Code Section 8630(b), the Proclamation must be ratified by the City Council within seven (7) days to remain in effect. Resolution No. 2025-C01 also provides for several delegations of authority to the City Manager to continue essential government functions regarding this emergency and to minimize any disruption to residents for the duration of the local emergency. The City Manager will provide a verbal report on the City’s ongoing response to the windstorm event and Eaton Fire during the City Council meeting. FISCAL IMPACT: The future costs of responding to the January 2025 Windstorm and Eaton Fire are unknown at this time due to evolving conditions. Local response efforts may be eligible for state or federal reimbursement. The City Council’s ratification and declaration of local emergency is imperative for these efforts. Prepared By: Reviewed and Approved: Lucy Demirjian Sergio Gonzalez Senior Project Manager City Manager Attachments: 1. Ratifying and Declaring the Existence of Local Emergency Resolution No. 2025-C01 2.Proclamation of Existence of a Local Emergency (issued January 8, 2025, by City Manager/Director of Emergency Services) RESOLUTION NO. 2025-C01 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA RATIFYING AND DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY RELATING TO THE JANUARY 2025 WINDSTORM AND EATON FIRE WHEREAS, California Government Code 8630, et seq., and Chapter 26 of the Azusa Municipal Code provide that the Azusa City Council (City Council) may proclaim local emergencies to protect and preserve public welfare when the City is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity; and WHEREAS, on January 7, 2025, and in the days thereafter, a significant windstorm event impacted the City of Azusa and the broader region, with wind gusts reaching 80– 100mph; and WHEREAS, on January 7, 2025, and in the days thereafter, a series of urban and wild land fires broke out across Los Angeles County, with the Eaton Fire impacting the foothills cities; and WHEREAS, on January 8, 2025, the City Manager, acting as the Director of Emergency Services, issued a Proclamation (“the Proclamation”) declaring a local emergency pertaining to the January 2025 Windstorm and Eaton Fire events; and WHEREAS, the City Council has been requested by the City Manager, acting as the Director of Emergency Services, to ratify the Proclamation; and WHEREAS, the significant windstorm and Eaton Fire caused the issuance of the Proclamation, and such conditions continue to constitute a threat throughout the City; and WHEREAS, the City Council does hereby find that the conditions described in the Proclamation continue to support the need for the City Council to ratify and extend the Declaration of Local Emergency; and WHEREAS, a declaration of a local emergency will assist in a coordinated public safety response in order to protect lives and property of the citizens of the City; and WHEREAS, under Government Code Section 8630(b), the Proclamation must be ratified by the City Council within seven (7) days to remain in effect; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to declare a local emergency and ratify the Proclamation. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council that a local emergency now exists in the City of Azusa, as set forth in the Proclamation. IT IS HEREBY FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that the City Council ratifies the Proclamation issued by the City Manager, acting as the Director of Emergency Services, on January 8, 2025. IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that the City Manager, acting as the Director of Emergency Services, is hereby authorized to furnish information, to promulgate orders and regulations necessary to provide for the protection of life and property pursuant to California Government Code Section 8634, to enter into agreements and to take all actions necessary to obtain State emergency assistance to implement preventive measures to protect and preserve the residents of the City within the scope of the local emergency hereby declared. IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that as authorized in Government Code Sections 8630 and Azusa Municipal Code Chapter 26, and based on the foregoing, an “emergency” as defined in Government Code Section 54956.5(a) and City of Azusa Municipal Code Chapter 26, and a “local emergency” as defined in Government Code Section 8558(c), hereby exist within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Azusa and are deemed to continue to exist until their termination is proclaimed by the City Council. IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that in accordance with the California Disaster Assistance Act and the Stafford Act, a copy of this proclamation be forwarded to the Director of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services requesting that the Director find it acceptable in accordance with State law; that the Governor of California, pursuant to the Emergency Services Act, issue a proclamation declaring an emergency in Los Angeles County; that the Governor waive regulations that may hinder response and recovery efforts; that recovery assistance be made available under the California Disaster Assistance Act; and that the State expedite access to State and Federal resources and any other appropriate federal disaster relief programs. IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that during the existence of this local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of this City shall be those prescribed by State law, and by the ordinances and resolutions heretofore and hereafter adopted by the City Council. IT IS HEREBY FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the continued threatened existence and actual existence of the local emergency, the powers, functions and duties of the Director of Emergency Services and the emergency organization of the City shall be those prescribed by state law, by ordinances and resolutions of the City and approved by the City Council. IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that said local emergency shall be deemed to continue to exist until its termination is proclaimed by the City Council of the City of Azusa, State of California. PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 15th day of January 2025. ___________________________________ Robert Gonzales Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr. City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF AZUSA ) I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 2025-C01 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Azusa, at a meeting thereof held on the 15th day of January 2025, by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ___________________________________ Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr. City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________________________ Best Best & Krieger, LLP City Attorney