Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 6.B
Meeting Date: September 10, 2025
From: Michael A. Contreras, Fire Chief
Title: Updated Cathedral City Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) RECOMMENDATION:
To adopt the updated Cathedral City Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
BACKGROUND:
On November 13, 2024, the City Council awarded a contract to the firm Jacob Green and Associates (JGA) to update the City’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Staff worked closely with JGA to bring the EOP current and ready for City Council adoption.
The Cathedral City Emergency Operations Plan is required by the City’s Municipal Code Chapter 2.20.080 Emergency Plan and California Government Code Chapters 8569 and 8610. The plan has been developed consistent with the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) guidance and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101. Having a City Council adopted EOP will enable the city to coordinate disaster response more effectively with other levels of government and receive or share emergency resources when needed.
DISCUSSION:
In 2024, Cathedral City reaffirmed its commitment to emergency preparedness by initiating the update of its emergency planning and preparedness frameworks, consistent with council priorities and city manager initiatives. These updates reflect the city’s evolving hazard profile and align with state and federal planning requirements.
Like other California desert cities, Cathedral City faces a range of hazards—including extreme heat, wildfires, flooding, and seismic activity that demand a coordinated and adaptive emergency response. An updated emergency plan ensures the City has a meaningful and relevant strategy to address extraordinary emergencies and disasters, reflecting both local risk conditions and evolving best practices.
The updated plan supports the effective mobilization and use of emergency resources, enabling departments to operate cohesively under extraordinary circumstances. It also provides staff with clear procedures to navigate the complexities of disaster scenarios, from initial response through initial recovery. Moreover, maintaining a current emergency plan is not only operationally essential, it is required under state and federal preparedness mandates, including California Government Code Sections 8569 and 8610 and FEMA’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no impact on the operating budget.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal E: Safety
Action E-4: Strengthen the City’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters by reviewing and updating the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and through annual training sessions and tabletop exercises.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Updated Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) ver. September 2025
2. EOP Appendix A
3. EOP Appendix B
4. EOP Appendix C
5. EOP Appendix D
6. EOP Appendix E
7. EOP Appendix F