PASb^^ ^'^^
-7 0
•>( *
(D z<0 0<0 0
^<</ -0^ 0^ ^reo
Agenda Report
January 13, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Office of the City Manager
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL RATIFYING
THE CITY MANAGER'S DECLARATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY -
WINDSTORMS AND FIRES
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the action proposed herein is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption); and
2. Adopt a Resolution ratifying the January 8, 2025 City Manager Declaration of a Local Emergency - Windstorms and Fires.
BACKGROUND:
On January 7, 2025, Pasadena was struck by extraordinarily severe windstorms and destructive fires causing widespread damage to infrastructure, structures, and roads, and caused power outages, downed trees, road closures, and significant debris. A full activation of the City's Emergency Operations Center was initiated.
Winds and dangerous gusts of over 70 miles per hour, along with destructive fires, threatened and continue to threaten structures, businesses, and critical infrastructures in several areas throughout the City. This emergency event necessitated evacuations of Pasadena residents and required multiple sheltering operations. Preliminary information indicates over 7,000 structures either damaged or destroyed.
On January 8, 2025, the City Manager issued a Declaration of Local Emergency in accordance with Chapter 2.370 of the Pasadena Municipal Code ("Declaration"), which authorizes the City Manager, as the Director of Disaster Emergency Services, to issue a Declaration of Local Emergency if the City Council is not in session, provided the City Council takes action to ratify the Declaration within 7 days thereafter.
MEETING OF
01/13/2025
AGENDA ITEM NO.
2 Declaration of Local Emergency
January 13, 2025
Accordingly, the proposed Resolution formally ratifies the Declaration of Local Emergency - Windstorms and Fires as issued by the Director of Disaster Emergency Sen/ices basedon the sustained major damage and extensive impacts on the community.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The proposed action is consistent with the City Council's strategic planning goal to ensure public safety of all those who reside, visit, or work within the City of Pasadena.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The action proposed herein is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the "Common Sense" exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Such is the case with the requested action to declare a local emergency.
Declaration of Local Emergency
January 13, 2025
FISCAL IMPACT:
This action has no direct fiscal impact. The Declaration may allow for State and/or Federal reimbursement, depending on those entities making funds available. If made available, reimbursement may cover staff costs, overtime, debris removal, repairs of public facilities and related costs.
Respectfully submitted,
/-.BRENDA HARVEY^/VIJ/LIAMS
Assistant City Manager
Concurrence:
MICHELE BEAL BAGNERIS
City Attorney/City Prosecutor
Prepared by:
oC
Arnold F. Lee
Acting Chief Assistant City Attorney
Approved by:
<RQUEZ
City Manager
Attachments:
Attachment A - City Council Resolution
Attachment B - Declaration of Local Emergency - Windstorms & Fires WNMU78Z10D3AQ9