CITY COUNCIL: Resolution Adopting Carmel Emergency Operations Plan

Meeting Date: December 2, 2008
Prepared by: George E. Rawson

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Consideration of a Resolution adopting the Carmel Emergency Operations Plan.

Description: The City’s emergency plan must be updated to conform with the mandates of the Federal National Incident Management Standards (NIMS). The new plan, entitled “Carmel Emergency Operations Plan” (CEOP), includes compliance to the guidelines of the State of California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS). City Council is asked to review the CEOP as proposed, and approve the plan by Resolution.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: $ 3,800 to $4,000

Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends the City Council review the proposed CEOP for discussion, and adopt the proposed Resolution.

Important Considerations: Adoption of the new CEOP will assure compliance with Federal disaster response guidelines. The new plan will ensure the City is eligible to receive reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for costs related to disaster management or hazard mitigation.

Decision Record: Resolution 2006-46, adopting NIMS as the official regulatory guidance for emergency response and management.

Reviewed by:

______________________________ _________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date

TO: MAYOR McCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
THROUGH: RICH GUILLEN, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: GEORGE E. RAWSON, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY
DATE: DECEMBER 2, 2008
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CARMEL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
_________________________________________________________________
I. RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Adopt the Resolution.

II. BACKGROUND:
Government Code § 8610, contained within the California Emergency Services Act, requires the City to have an Emergency Operations Plan. The purpose of the plan is to provide legal framework to manage emergencies and to provide guidance for the conduct of business in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). In 1979, Carmel-by-the Sea established Chapter 2.64 within the Carmel Municipal Code. Chapter 2.64, titled “Emergency Organization,” defines the authorities and process of how the City will manage disasters.

In 1981, the City developed an emergency plan, which was supplemented in 1993, by the “Carmel-by-the-Sea Management Operations Plan (MOP). The MOP was developed as a result of the State Office of Emergency Services (OES) establishing Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) as the standard for managing disasters.

Following the 2001 terrorist acts, the Federal government issued a response mandate known as the “National Incident Management System” (NIMS), to address disaster management. In 2006, the City Council adopted a Resolution approving NIMS as the official regulatory guidance for emergency responses. Although SEMS meets the intent of NIMS, it is important the City’s emergency operations plan be updated in a manner to assure full compliance with the policies and requirements of both SEMS and NIMS.

III. STAFF REVIEW:
Staff contracted with Harry Robins, the former Director of Monterey County Office of Emergency Services, to assist in revising the Carmel Emergency Operations Plan (CEOP). Mr. Robins is well versed on developing emergency operations plans and has extensive experience in assisting cities with emergency preparedness. His knowledge and familiarity with local resources in Monterey County makes him ideal to assist the City with this project.

The Carmel Emergency Operations Plan (CEOP) was revised to conform with State and Federal standards. The CEOP is organized in a format containing general information related to authorities, responsibilities, and operations. The contents of these sections are largely dictated by Federal and State guidance. The CEOP utilizes the Incident Command System (ICS) and is compliant with NIMS/SEMS. The CEOP also contains “Annexes” that dictate functional structure and operation of the Carmel Emergency Operations Center (CEOC), all of which incorporate other related or existing emergency information and/or policies into one comprehensive document. Carmel Municipal Code 2.64.030 now designates the Mayor as the Director of Emergency Services. Due to extensive training requirements imposed by NIMS and SEMS, however, it is necessary to amend Chapter 2.64 to reflect the City Administrator as the Emergency Services Director. The Director of Public Safety or the Assistant City Administrator may be designated as Assistant Director of Emergency Services. Staff is seeking approval to draft the appropriate municipal code amendment(s) for adoption at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting.

The CEOP includes a training plan for those City staff members who must accomplish specified training mandated by NIMS and SEMS. Finally, the plan provides implementation timelines and guidelines for periodic updating. The CEOP is a plan both for today and the future that will complement the City’s long- standing commitment to effective emergency services management and disaster preparedness.

IV. FISCAL IMPACT:
Total project work is estimated at $3,700 to $4,000. Payment for this expense will be charged to the Fire Department, account #72600 - Emergency Response.

V. SUMMARY:
The new CEOP is comprehensive and provides clarification on how the city’s Emergency Operations Center will operate. The new plan is NIMS/SEMS compliant and ensures Carmel’s eligibility for federal reimbursement in the event of a disaster.


CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 2008-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA ADOPTING THE CARMEL
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN

WHEREAS, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea Disaster Plan established City policy and objectives for emergency management and response in accordance to California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS); and

WHEREAS, the City adopted Resolution No. 2006-46 in August 2006 approving the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as the official regulatory guidance for emergency response; and

WHEREAS, it was necessary to update the City’s Disaster Plan to incorporate the provisions and guidelines of NIMS; and

WHEREAS, a new, comprehensive plan has been developed under the title of “Carmel Emergency Operations Plan” (CEOP) to replace the existing City Disaster Plan.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA DOES:

1. Adopt the Carmel City Emergency Operations Plan as the basis for responding to and managing all types of disaster, natural or otherwise.

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA this December 2nd, 2008 by the following roll call vote:

AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:

SIGNED:

_____________________
Heidi Burch, City Clerk

ATTEST:

________________________
SUE McCLOUD, MAYOR