DATE: September 15, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute an Agreement with Alameda County to Continue Hayward Fire Department’s Participation in the Alameda County Operational Area Emergency Management Organization From 2026 through 2035
RECOMMENDATION
That Council adopts the attached resolution (Attachment II) authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement to continue Hayward Fire Department’s participation in the Alameda County Operational Area Emergency Management Organization from 2026-2035.
SUMMARY
After the 1991 East Bay Hills Firestorm, the State passed legislation that established a “Standardized Emergency Management System”, or SEMS to create a framework for responding to and managing emergencies involving multiple jurisdictions or agencies. Part of the SEMS is the local Operational Area. Alameda County established an Operational Area in 1995, which the City of Hayward joined and renewed commitment to in 2005 and 2016. The County is now asking local agencies in Alameda County, including the City of Hayward, to adopt a resolution to continue participation in the Operation Area through 2035.
FISCAL IMPACT
This action does not have any fiscal impact. The County provides the emergency operations center that is the site for the Operational Area Emergency Management Organization. The County also provides the support staff for the center and supplies during actual activations, drills, and exercises. Hayward may assign staff representatives for decision making and training exercises, which would be absorbed into the Fire Department’s operations budget.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
After the 1991 East Bay Hills Firestorm, the State passed legislation that established a standardized emergency management system, or SEMS. The purpose of SEMS is to ensure a unified and coordinated effort between state and local government agencies to facilitate mutual aid and to ensure the effective and efficient use of regional and local resources in the event of a catastrophe. The Agreement establishes an Operational Area Emergency Management Organization (Organization) consisting of the following persons or their designees: certain County elected and appointed officials; representatives of professional associations for emergency managers, fire chiefs, and law enforcement chiefs; one city manager representative each from north, south, and east county cities; a general manager of a special district; a general manager of a regional district; the Alameda County Superintendent of Schools; and representatives of non-profit organizations and private entities who are members of certain existing emergency management organizations in Alameda County.
The State legislation also established Operational Areas, which are the intermediate level of the SEMS organization and consist of a county and all political subdivisions within the county area. In response, Alameda County established an Operational Area in 1995, which the City of Hayward joined a few months later. In 2005, Council authorized the City Manager to renew the Agreement for participation for an additional ten years, through 2015, and the Hayward Fire Department is requesting a new extension to this agreement through 2035.
In 2016, the County Board of Supervisors approved a new Agreement for Participation for an additional ten years, through 2025. The language in the new agreement (Attachement III) is the same as the prior agreement. The agreement facilitates the exchange of disaster intelligence, mutual aid requests, and resource requests in emergencies. In addition, the agreement facilitates cooperative training and exercises.
The County is now asking local agencies in Alameda County, including the City of Hayward, to adopt a resolution to continue participation (Attachment II). Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution to continue Hayward’s participation in the Organization. Upon adoption of the Agreement, the City Manager is required to identify a line of succession of officials empowered to represent the City to the Organization, and to provide staff to attend training provided by the County.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This agenda item relates to the Strategic Priority, “Enhance Community Safety & Quality of Life.”
NEXT STEPS
If Council approves staff’s recommendation, the City Manager will negotiate and execute an agreement with Alameda County to continue participation in the Organization.
Prepared by: Lauren Dekas, Management Analyst
Recommended by: Ryan Hamre, Fire Chief
Approved by:
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Jennifer Ott, City Manager