Consent Item 4c
STAFF REPORT
City Council Consent Item
DATE: January 3, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Siana Emmons, City Clerk
THROUGH: Merritt Perry, City Manager
SUBJECT: Ratify the Proclamation Confirming the Existence of a Local Emergency in Response to the Earthquake Damage Caused December 20, 2022 STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Ratify the Proclamation confirming a state of local emergency dated December 21, 2022.
Additionally it is recommended that the City Council review the City’s actions to date to respond to the earthquake and provide input on current and future actions.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
California Government Code section 8630 and Ordinance 97-611 of the City of Fortuna empowers the City Manager (Director of Emergency Services) to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when said city is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity and the City Council is not in session. On December 21, 2022, the City Manager, in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency in the City of Fortuna in response to the earthquake that took place on December 20, 2022. The proclamation was pursuant to Fortuna Municipal Code FMC 2.36.020(B), however, the City Council must ratify that declaration at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting or it shall have no further force or effect.
The Fortuna Municipal Code states that “at least every 21 days after the proclamation of a local emergency and until said local emergency is terminated, the City Council shall review the continuing need for a local emergency.”
The City may require additional assistance in the future, and a formal declaration of emergency allows additional resources to flow to the City in a timely fashion. The declaration of emergency also allows needed flexibility in staffing decisions and steps needed to continue to deliver essential services and to protect the City’s residents. The declaration enables the City to more effectively respond to the outbreak, and potentially obtain reimbursement for the response.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
While there will be costs associated with City’s emergency response to the earthquake, continuing the declaration of a Local Emergency by the City Council has no direct cost impact.
However, it may enable potential external sources for reimbursement to costs associated with the City’s emergency response.
Consent Item 4c
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Ratify the Proclamation confirming the existence of a local emergency to do earthquake damage and approve continuance of the declaration of a local emergency. Consent agenda vote.
ATTACHMENTS:
City of Fortuna Proclamation Declaring a State of Emergency due to Earthquake damage caused December 20, 2022