FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM #5.h
MEETING DATE April 2, 2025
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Heather Abrams, Town Manager
SUBJECT Adopt a Resolution Thanking and Retiring the Community Emergency Preparedness Committee
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Town Council adopt a resolution to formally thank and retire the Community Emergency Preparedness Committee (CEPC) due to redundancy with the existing Citizen’s Disaster Council and ongoing challenges with volunteer participation and quorum maintenance.
BACKGROUND
The CEPC was created by Council Resolution No. 21-11 in May 2021 to enhance emergency preparedness through community engagement and coordination with local organizations, including the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Firewise, and Neighborhood Response Groups (NRG).
The committee was structured to include seven appointed members and liaisons from the Town Council and Ross Valley Fire Department.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS
Since its formation, the CEPC has faced challenges in sustaining volunteer engagement. The committee has struggled to maintain a quorum, and its last meeting was in January 2024. Meanwhile, the Citizen’s Disaster Council has been active when called to meet and fulfills a similar role in coordinating emergency preparedness activities.
During the Town Council retreat in February 2024, the Council reviewed the function and effectiveness of the CEPC and determined that its duties could be absorbed by the Citizen’s Disaster Council without loss of service to the community. The Council concluded that thanking and retiring the CEPC would streamline operations.
The two remaining members of the CEPC have been made aware of this transition and thanked for their service and participation.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution to Retire the Community Emergency Preparedness Committee 2 RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FAIRFAX
THANKING AND RETIRING THE COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE WHEREAS, the Town Council established the Community Emergency Preparedness Committee (CEPC) in May 2021 to enhance emergency preparedness; and WHEREAS, the CEPC has struggled with volunteer participation and quorum maintenance, with its last meeting held in January 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Citizen’s Disaster Council continues to fulfill a similar role, making the CEPC redundant; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council reviewed the CEPC’s effectiveness in February 2024 and determined its duties could be absorbed without loss of service; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax formally retires the Community Emergency Preparedness Committee and thanks its members for their service.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of April, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST
_________________________________ _________________________________
LISEL BLASH CHRISTINE FOSTER
MAYOR DEPUTY TOWN CLERK