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Agenda Report
January 17,2025
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TO: hlonorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Public Health Department
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE HEALTH OFFICER'S
DECLARATION OF LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCY DUE TO IMPACTS
OF CRITICAL FIRE EVENTS AND WINDSTORM CONDITIONS IN THE
CITY OF PASADENA
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the action proposed herein is not a "project" subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 21065 and within the meaning of Section 15378(b); and
2. In accordance with Health and Safety Code section 101080, adopt a Resolution ratifying the January 15, 2025, Health Officer Declaration of a Local Health Emergency due to impacts of critical fire events and windstorm conditions in the City of Pasadena.
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BACKGROUND:
On January 7, 2025, Pasadena was struck by catastrophic windstorms and destructive fires causing widespread damage to infrastructure, structures, and roads, and caused power outages, downed trees, road closures, and significant debris. Winds and dangerous gusts of over 70 miles per hour, along with destructive fires, threatened 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.
The fire disseminated ultra-fine particulate matter through the air, degraded air quality, and distributed ash and debris across the city. These impacts pose a significant potential immediate and future risk to health, safety, and the environment. The local i
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MEETING OF.01/17/2025AGENDA ITEM NO.4
RESOLUTION RATIFYING HEALTH OFFICER DECLARATION OF A LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCY January 17, 2025
health emergency is intended to highlight the impact of the fire on public health, support the pursuit of resources to equip residents with information and supplies that can reduce their exposure to toxic substances, provide access to mutual aid, and facilitate access to county, state, and federal public health resources and programs that will be critical to the recovery process.
On January 15, 2025, the Health Officer issued a Declaration of Local Health Emergency in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section 101080, which authorizes the Local Health Officer to declare a local health emergency when the city is affected by hazardous waste that poses an imminent threat to the public's health.
If the declaration is to remain in effect longer than seven days, City Council ratification of a local health emergency is required and the local health emergency must be reviewed at least every 30 days to continue the local health emergency until it is terminated.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The proposed action is consistent with the City Council's strategic planning goal to ensure public safety by sustaining and enhancing the City's ongoing response to the critical fire events and windstorm conditions to protect the health and safety of Pasadena residents.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
CEQA excludes, from environmental review, actions that are not "projects" as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 21065 and within the meaning of Section 15378(b).
Sections 21065 and 15378(b) define a project as an action which may cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Section 15378 excludes from the definition of "project" administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. The actions proposed herein, a resolution ratifying the hlealth Officer declaration of a local health emergency, is an administrative activity, and therefore is not a "project" as defined by CEQA. Since the action is not a project subject to CEQA, no environmental document is required.
RESOLUTION RATIFYING HEALTH OFFICER DECLARATION OF A LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCY January 17, 2025
FISCAL IMPACT:
The future costs of responding to the critical fire events and windstorm conditions are unknown at this time due to evolving conditions. Until there is a final determination on potential reimbursement, all expenditures will be recorded and tracked in the Health Fund and/or General Fund using existing appropriations.
Respectfully submitted,
MANUEL CAR1VIONA, MPH, MPA
Acting Director
Department of Public Health
Approved by:
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MIGLtEt: MARQUEZ
City Manager