Title
Introduction of Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Adding Section 2.24 to Article II of Chapter II Related to Emergency Organization to Create the City of Alameda Disaster Council as Required by State Law to Obtain Legal Recognition as an Official Emergency Organization. (City Manager 2110)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Elizabeth D. Warmerdam, Interim City Manager
Re: Introduction of an Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Adding Section 2.24 to Article II of Chapter II Related to Emergency Organization to Create the City of Alameda Disaster Council as required by State Law to Obtain Recognition as an Official Emergency Organization.
BACKGROUND
In 1947, the City of Alameda established the City of Alameda Disaster Council and formally adopted it through Ordinance No. 1029 in 1951. The Alameda Disaster Council Ordinance was updated through Ordinance No. 1676 in 1972, replacing Ordinance No. 1029.
On March 15, 2011, staff presented Agenda Item No. 6B, “Introduce an Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Repealing Article II (Boards and Commissions) of Chapter II (Administration) in Its Entirety and by Repealing Subsection 30-65.7 (Public Art Commission) of Chapter XXX (Development Regulations) in Its Entirety and Adding a New Article II (Boards and Commissions)”. Staff reviewed and analyzed all existing Boards, Commissions, Committees, and other advisory bodies in an attempt to identify opportunities to improve governance efficiencies.
At that time, ten advisory bodies were identified in the Alameda Municipal Code (AMC), one of which was the Alameda Disaster Council. In the review of the City Charter and AMC, it was assumed that the Alameda Disaster Council had been replaced by the City’s Emergency Management Plan. Although the Disaster Council is identified in the City Emergency Management Plan, the plan does not replace the need for having an ordinance recognizing a Disaster Council as required by the State of California.
On April 6, 2011, the City Council approved the amendment of Article II of the Alameda Municipal Code and approved Ordinance No. 3029 to revise the composition of City Boards, Commissions, Committees and other advisory bodies. This action eliminated the Alameda Disaster Council.
The repeal of the Alameda Disaster Council during this action was an inadvertent mistake which impeded the City’s ability to be legally recognized by the State of Califonia as an official emergency organization. A city is required to have an Accredited Disaster Council (ADC) that complies with rules and regulations established by Cal OES as stated in Government Code Sections 8585.5, 8610, and 8612 in order to participate in the Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Program (DSWVP).
DISCUSSION
Adoption of this ordinance will reinstate the Disaster Council to the City of Alameda, bolstering the City’s disaster planning efforts.
The City Manager serves as the Director of Emergency Services and Chair of the Disaster Council. The composition of the Disaster Council also includes an Assistant Director of Emergency Services who serves as Vice-Chair and the Emergency Manager who serves as Assistant to the Vice-Chair. Both the Assistant Director/Vice Chair and the Emergency Manager/Assistant Vice-Chair are appointed by the City Manager.
The Disaster Council is empowered to develop and recommend to the City Council the adoption of emergency and mutual aid plans and agreements, as well as related ordinances, resolutions, and rules and regulations, which will benefit the City’s preparedness efforts in response to emergencies and disasters that may strike the City.
Having an “Accredited Disaster Council” will allow the City to swear in citizen volunteers as California Disaster Service Workers (DSW). This will relieve the City of workers’ compensation liability in the event that a DSW volunteer is hurt or killed while assisting during a declared disaster or while participating in official disaster related training exercises. Volunteers sworn in as DSW’s are covered under the State of California’s workers’ compensation insurance plan.
Volunteers eligible to be sworn in as California DSW’s are spontaneous volunteers, individuals impressed into service by police or fire personnel, or affiliated volunteers, such as Alameda Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members, Volunteers in Policing (VIP), and HAM (amateur) radio operators.
The Disaster Council will allow the City’s emergency organization to obtain legal recognition by the State of Califonia as an official emergency organization. The City’s Emergency Management Plan will reference this ordinance and is in alignment with its language. The Emergency Mangement Plan also provides more detailed guidance and management procedures for the emergency organization to follow when planning, preparing, and training.
In order to be eligible for accreditation with the State of California, the following documents and components must be provided to the California Office of Emergency Services:
1) Disaster Council Ordinance.
a) The ordinance must provide for a Disaster Council.
• City action: This proposed Ordinance creates a Disaster Council.
b) A chairperson of the Disaster Council must be specified.
• City action: The City Manager is the recognized chairperson for the City of Alameda Disaster Council.
c) The emergency organization must be recognized.
• City action: This is the City staff assigned to work in the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) per the City Emergency Management Plan.
2) Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Resolution must be adopted.
• This allows the City to swear in volunteers, such as Alameda CERT members, as affiliated California Disaster Service Workers (DSW), relieving the City of worker’ compensation liability of volunteers when there is a declared disaster or official disaster related training exercise. The State of California covers DSW volunteers through the state workers’ compensation insurance plan.
• City Action: A separate City Council action is to approve a resolution for Disaster Service Worker Volunteers regarding workers’ compensation benefits.
3) Master Mutual Aid Agreement must be signed
• Council action: The City of Alameda signed the original Master Mutual Aid Agreement December 19, 1950, which is still in effect.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from the adoption of this ordinance.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
Chapter II (Administration), Article II (Boards and Commissions).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines section 10561(b)(3) as there is no possibility that this action may have a significant effect on the environment.
RECOMMENDATION
Introduce an Ordinance amending the Alameda Municipal Code by adding Section 2.24 to Article II of Chapter II related to emergency organization to create the City of Alameda Disaster Council.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Haun, Interim Assistant City Manager
By,
Captain Sharon Oliver, Disaster Preparedness Coordinator
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director