1 25-87242
AGENDA ITEM
CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
Report: Ratification of the Proclamation of the Director of Emergency Services Declaring a Local Emergency Related to the 2025 Late December Storms.
1. Resolution Ratifying the Proclamation of the Director of Emergency Services Declaring a Local Emergency
COUNCIL ACTION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Manager, acting as the Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed a local emergency on December 26, 2025 related to the 2025 Late December Storms. State law requires ratification of a local emergency proclamation within seven days.
Item Type: Special Meeting
Approved forJanuary 2, 2026 calendar
1 25-87242
2 RECOMMENDATION
City staff respectfully requests Council consideration of approval of the Resolution to ratify the proclamation of local emergency by the Director of Emergency Services.
ANALYSIS
Beginning December 24, 2025, as a result of a series of atmospheric river systems, the City of Glendale has been impacted by substantial precipitation, closure and damage to roads, motorways, and fire roads, evacuation warnings in areas impacted by burn scars, potential for significant debris flows, urban flooding, hillside oversaturation, and widespread power outages. The storm caused widespread power outages and severe damage to, among other things, trees, homes, businesses, vehicles, sidewalks, and roads. Coordination, collaboration, and the combined forces of different jurisdictions are imperatively needed to effectively respond to and recover from these severe winter storms which are forecasted to continue through the first week of January.
On December 24, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Shasta Counties due to the 2025 Late December Storms. On December 26, 2025, the City Manager, in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed a state of local emergency since the City Council was not in session and could not be called into session (Exhibit 1). The Proclamation was necessary because the conditions were beyond the control of normal services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the City. State law provides that in periods of local emergency, cities have full power to receive mutual aid to any affected area in accordance with local ordinances, resolutions, emergency plans or other agreements to provide personnel, equipment and financial assistance for the cost of extraordinary services. State law requires that the City Council ratify such proclamation within seven days and review such declaration at least once every 14 days thereafter in order to reevaluate the need to continue the state of local emergency. The hazardous conditions referenced above threatened to overwhelm the City's resources to the point where it will be necessary to again seek mutual aid and State and Federal assistance. The Resolution will ratify the action of the Director of Emergency Services as of December 24, 2025. It is necessary to take these actions to provide the City with the authority to obtain funds or assistance from the State, the Federal government and from neighboring local agencies.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
N/A.
FISCAL IMPACT
Ratifying the state of local emergency has no direct financial impact. However, the costs associated with the 2025 Late December Storms’ abatement and other emergency efforts will continue to be incurred. State and Federal assistance is anticipated to address this issue. The amount of such assistance is undetermined at this time.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
The emergency proclamation and ratification of same, and the actions taken thereunder, are taken to prevent or mitigate an emergency and are therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Public Resources Code section 1 25-87242
3 21080(b)(4).
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1. Not approve the resolution.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Michael J. Garcia, City Attorney
Prepared by:
Michael J. Garcia, City Attorney
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
1. Proclamation of Local Emergency Dated December 26, 2025