Item No.
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: DAN HURLOCK, FIRE CHIEF
DATE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF A LETTER OF RESPONSE TO THE EARTHQUAKE
SAFETY READINESS GRAND JURY REPORT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider approving a letter to the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles regarding Downey’s response to the Earthquake Safety Readiness Grand Jury Report Recommendation. Los Angeles County’s Earthquake Preparedness Committee (Committee) developed a report that provided information about studies, projects, and maps related to earthquakes. The report ended with recommendations for public agencies and cities to better prepare for earthquakes. The City of Downey Fire Department was listed among the public agencies required to respond to the Recommendations contained in the report. The Fire Department reviewed the report, and confirmed that the City’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training program aligns with the recommendation in the Report. The letter to the Grand Jury confirms Downey’s commitment to continue those activities.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
1.Approve the response letter to the Earthquake Safety Readiness Grand Jury Report;
2.Authorize the Fire Chief to execute the letter; and
3.Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute any and all amendments to the letter as deemed necessary.
BACKGROUND
The City of Downey Fire Department, among other public agencies and cities within Los Angeles County, was served with a Los Angeles County Grand Jury Report entitled “Earthquake Safety Readiness.” The report was released to the public on June 28, 2024.
APPROVE CITY OF DOWNEY’S RESPONSE LETTER TO EARTHQUAKE SAFETY READINESS GRAND JURY REPORT.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
PAGE 2
The report contains findings and recommendations to which written responses are required by several public agencies, including the City of Downey. Specifically, Downey is required to respond to Recommendation No. R15.16, which provides:
R15.16 All Fire Departments within the county should grow their CERT training so that one out [of] every 2,000 residents in their jurisdiction is trained each year. Repeat this level of training for at least three years. Attempt to conduct 30% of the training in languages other than English. Add "refresher" classes for those who were previously trained. (When responding, please indicate the languages that would be included.) By August 1 each year, report the number of trainees and the language in which they were trained during the previous 12 months to the County's Chief Sustainability Office (in the Department of the County CEO). The Department of Sustainability should include this information in their annual reports.
Under state law, Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05(b), written responses must be provided within 90 days of the report publication date, or by September 26, 2024. They are required to be furnished by the “governing body,” therefore, the proposed letter must be approved by the City Council before it can be sent to the Grand Jury as an official response.
The proposed letter confirms Downey’s existing CERT Program aligns with the Report’s recommendation.
ANALYSIS
Annually, the Downey CERT Program already conducts 3-4 trainings a year; three classes in English and a fourth in Spanish. Downey has a population of 114,355 (per the United States Census 2020), and per the recommendation, approximately 58 individuals should be trained in CERT each year. Downey exceeds the recommendation, graduating approximately 90-110 students a year. Additionally, the City provides monthly refresher trainings for CERT graduates.
In the past years, several attempts have been made to provide the CERT Class in Spanish (second-most spoken language in the City). A Spanish class was offered in 2018 with 14 graduates. Classes were offered in 2019 and 2022, but failed to garner enough students for a class (less than 5 students). CERT Classes (English and Spanish) were cancelled from 2020- 2021 due to the COVID Pandemic. Efforts will continue to be made to offer CERT Classes in Spanish.
The City’s existing CERT program already aligns with Recommendation No. R15.16. The City will report the required training information to the County’s Chief Sustainability Office on an annual basis per the Report.
APPROVE CITY OF DOWNEY’S RESPONSE LETTER TO EARTHQUAKE SAFETY READINESS GRAND JURY REPORT.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
PAGE 3
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
Public Engagement
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: City of Downey Earthquake Safety Readiness Letter Attachment B: Earthquake Safety Readiness Grand Jury Report
September 10, 2024
Presiding Judge
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
210 W. Template Street, Thirteenth Floor, Room 13-303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
RE: Response to Earthquake Safety Readiness Grand Jury Report Recommendation Dear Presiding Judge:
Please accept this letter as the City of Downey’s response to Recommendation No.
R15.16 contained in the Earthquake Safety Readiness Grand Jury Report by the 2023- 2024 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury. Recommendation R15.16 provides the following:
R15.16 All Fire Departments within the county should grow their CERT training so that one out [of] every 2,000 residents in their jurisdiction is trained each year.
Repeat this level of training for at least three years. Attempt to conduct 30% of the training in languages other than English. Add "refresher" classes for those who were previously trained. (When responding, please indicate the languages that would be included.) By August 1 each year, report the number of trainees and the language in which they were trained during the previous 12 months to the County's Chief Sustainability Office (in the Department of the County CEO).
The Department of Sustainability should include this information in their annual reports.
The City of Downey’s existing CERT program already meets the recommendation in the report. Annually, the Downey CERT Program conducts 3-4 trainings a year; three classes in English and a fourth in Spanish. Downey has a population of 114,355 (per the United States Census 2020), and per the recommendation, approximately 58 individuals should be trained in CERT each year. Downey exceeds the recommendation, graduating approximately 90-110 students a year. Additionally, the City provides monthly refresher trainings for CERT graduates.
In the past years, several attempts have been made to provide the CERT Class in Spanish (second-most spoken language in the City). A Spanish Attachment A
Earthquake Safety Readiness
September 5, 2024
class was offered in 2018 with 14 graduates. Classes were offered in 2019 and 2022, but failed to garner enough students for a class (less than 5 students). CERT Classes (English and Spanish) were cancelled from 2020- 2021 due to the COVID Pandemic.
Efforts will continue to be made to offer CERT Classes in Spanish.
The City will continue to implement Recommendation No. R15.16 and will report the required training information to the County’s Chief Sustainability Office on an annual basis.
Sincerely,
CITY OF DOWNEY
Fire Department
Dan Hurlock
Fire Chief
Attachment B