AGENDA
ITEM
1 CITY COUNCIL
CALEXICO
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: December 29, 2022
Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Diego Favila, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Adopt Resolution of the City Council of the City of Calexico Proclaiming the Existence of a Local Emergency
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Recommendation:
Adopt resolution of the City Council of the City of Calexico Proclaiming the Existence of a Local Emergency.
Background:
During the weekend of December 23, 2022 the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began releasing a substantial number of immigrants seeking asylum into the City through the Calexico West Port of Entry. Following reports of a large group of immigrants gathering at Friendship Park and local shelters at maximum capacity, the City, in conjunction with the County Department of Social Services, began assisting the group by providing temporary housing and arranging transportation to their final destinations. Without this assistance, many of them, including women and children, would have slept on City sidewalks without shelter. Due to rapidly changing immigration policies at the federal level, the City anticipates that many more groups of immigrants will be released into the City by DHS. This rapid influx would exhaust City resources and be detrimental to the health and safety of those seeking asylum in the U.S. The City of Calexico is requesting consideration to receive additional resources and funding at both the State and County levels to assist this large influx of immigrants by providing temporary shelter and arranging transportation to their final destinations.
Discussion and Analysis: AGENDA
ITEM
The City Manager, City Fire Chief and City Attorney have determined that a declaration of local emergency by the City Council may help the City obtain additional funds if the city has to make expenditures related to this rapid influx 1 of immigrant groups seeking asylum in the U.S. Under Chapter 2.36 of the City Municipal Code, a declaration of local emergency also positions the City to act prudently and be prepared.
It is worth reiterating that this declaration of emergency is reactive in nature. The City's emergency operations staff remain in close contact with the Imperial County Department of Social Services and the United States Department of Homeland Security. The City will continue to assess the situation and work alongside our partner agencies.
Fiscal Impact:
The estimated costs in aiding this large influx of immigrants seeking asylum is currently unknown for the City of Calexico at the present,
Coordinated With:
City Manager, Fire Department, and Legal
Attachment:
Resolution 2022-79
2 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-79
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CALEXICO,
CALIFORNIA, PROCLAIMING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY WHEREAS, Government Code Section 8630 and Chapter 2.36 of the Calexico Municipal Code empower the City Council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City of Calexico is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity; and
WHEREAS, the City Fire Chief, who is the Director of Emergency Services, declared an emergency on December 29, 2022 pursuant to the Calexico Municipal Code and is authorized to make certain orders and take certain actions; WHEREAS, the City Council has been requested by the Director of Emergency Services of the City to ratify his declaration and proclaim the existence of a local emergency; and
WHEREAS, the City Council does hereby find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property have arisen within the City of Calexico caused by a sudden and substantial influx of immigrants seeking asylum in the United States through the Calexico West Port of Entry, commencing on the 29th day of December 2022; and
WHEREAS, the City Council does find that the aforesaid conditions of extreme peril warrant and necessitate the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Calexico that it hereby proclaims that a local emergency now exists throughout the City and have existed since December 23, 2022.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the local emergency shall be deemed to continue to exist until its termination is proclaimed by the City Council of the City of Calexico.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that during the existence of said local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the Director of Emergency Services and the Emergency Organization of this City shall be those prescribed by state law, ordinances and resolutions of this City and by the City of Calexico Emergency Plan.
PASSED, ADOPTED, AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Calexico at a special meeting this 29th day of December, 2022.
JAVIER MORENO, MAYOR
ATTEST:
GABRIELA T. GARCIA, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CARLOS CAMPOS, CITY ATTORNEY
STATE OF CALIFORNIA)
COUNTY OF IMPERIAL SS.
CITY OF CALEXICO
1, Gabriela T. Garcia, City Clerk of the City of Calexico, do hereby certify that the above foregoing Resolution No. 2022-79 was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Calexico on this 29th day of December, 2022 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
GABRIELA T. GARCIA, CITY CLERK