CITY OF EL PASO DE ROBLES
"The Pass of the Oaks"
City Council Special Meeting Agenda
Monday, March 13, 2023, 10:00 AM
Council Chamber 1000 Spring Street, Paso Robles
PASO ROBLES JOINT CITY COUNCIL & DISASTER COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA The City has returned to hybrid public meetings pursuant to AB 361, which allows for a deviation from the teleconference rules required by the Ralph M. Brown Act. Residents now have the option to attend the meeting in person or to participate remotely. To participate remotely, residents can livestream the meeting at www.prcity.com/youtube, and call (805)865-7276 to provide public comment via phone. The phone line will open just prior to the start of the meeting and remain open throughout the meeting to ensure the opportunity to comment on each item heard by the Council.
City Council meetings will be live-streamed during the meeting and also available to play later on YouTube by accessing the following link: www.prcity.com/youtube.
Any writing or document pertaining to an open session item on this agenda which is distributed to a majority of the City Council after the posting of this agenda will be available for public inspection at the time the subject writing or document is distributed. The writing or document will be available for public review in the City Clerk’s Office, 1000 Spring Street, Paso Robles, CA, during normal business hours, and may be posted on the City’s web site at www.prcity.com/agendacenter AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT Any individual, who because of a disability needs special assistance to attend or participate in this meeting, may request assistance by contacting the City Clerk’s Office (805) 237-3960. Whenever possible, requests should be made four (4) working days in advance of the meeting.
Pages
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
City Council: Councilmembers Chris Bausch, Steve Gregory, John Hamon, Fred Strong, and Mayor Steven Martin
Disaster Council: Chair Steve Martin, Vice Chair Ty Lewis, Chief Jonathan Stornetta, and Chief Damian Nord
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment for Special Meetings is limited to agenda items only and an opportunity will be provided for each agenda items when each item is called.
Please see above for how to provide public comments.
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
4.1. Ratification of a Local Emergency Proclamation due to March Rain, Flood, and Windstorm Events
3 - 9
Ty Lewis, City Manager
Recommendation: Approve Resolution 23-XXX ratifying the March 10, 2023 Proclamation of Declaration of Local Emergency.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Council Agenda Report
From: Ty Lewis, City Manager
Subject: Ratification of a Local Emergency Proclamation due to March Rain, Flood, and Windstorm Events
Date: March 13, 2023
Facts
1. The City of Paso Robles and the Central Coast region was significantly impacted by rain, flood, and wind events on Friday, March 10, 2023.
2. The City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has remained activated at a level 3 since the last major storm event in early January.
3. Staff from all City departments provided varying levels of response to the storm, including staffing the EOC, providing field coordination and responses, responding to public safety calls for service, providing support for these activities and continuing to operate regular functions of the City for the public.
4. In preparation for the rain events staff closed roadways, cleared storm drains, cancelled City activities, closed certain City facilities, and coordinated sheltering plans.
5. The Salinas River reached minor flood stage on March 10, resulting in multiple evacuation warnings for individuals at residential and commercial structures adjacent to the river.
6. Public safety staff responded to calls for service requiring water rescues within the Salinas River.
7. Flooding occurred on multiple city streets, requiring full closures of local roadways.
8. Local schools were closed on Friday, March 10, 2023.
9. The Paso Robles Municipal Code Chapter 2.24 empowers the City Manager, acting as the Director of Emergency Services, to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City is exposed to an actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City and the City Council is not in session.
10. Based on the circumstances outlined in Item 10, and conditions within the City during and after the storm events, the City Manager approved a local emergency declaration at 10:00 AM on March 10, 2023.
11. Pursuant to California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) regulations, the disaster proclamation should be issued within 10 days of the incident and ratified by the governing body within 7 days. Renewal of the resolution should occur every 60 days until terminated.
12. Federal, State and County emergency declarations were issued for San Luis Obispo County, recognizing the impacts of the storm events on the region.
Options
1. Take no action;
2. Approve Resolution 23-XXX ratifying the local emergency proclamation; or
3. Provide alternative direction to staff.
Analysis and Conclusions
The proclamation of a local emergency was necessary due to:
The severe rain, wind, and flooding conditions that occurred on Friday, March 10, 2023;
The known and unknown damages sustained to public infrastructure and facilities, as well as private businesses and residences;
The anticipated cost to restore City infrastructure and facilities to pre-storm conditions for the safety and health of the public;
The ability of the City to maximize reimbursement from state and federal sources for eligible costs incurred for storm response;
The potential for private property owners and business owners to obtain insurance reimbursements for damages and/or losses; and
The weather forecast that indicates additional storms may impact the City of Paso Robles within the immediate future.
The ratification of the proclamation is the final step in declaring the local emergency. Staff recommends the emergency remain in place for the foreseeable future, with updates to be provided at future regular City Council meetings.
Staff will provide the City Council with a short presentation on the storm events and the City’s response.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact by ratifying the disaster proclamation as drafted. However, the existence of the local emergency proclamation may assist the City, residents, and businesses in obtaining resources to address damages and complete repairs directly related to the storm events.
The City has implemented several steps to ensure all storm-related costs are captured for future reimbursement, including establishing an internal project code for all storm-related expenditures, tracking all potential damages to City facilities, equipment, and infrastructure, establishing an internal process for receiving damage reports for private property. If the region becomes eligible for federal disaster assistance, staff will communicate this information to residents.
Attachments
1. Resolution 23-XXX - Ratifying Declaration of Local Emergency a. 2023-03-10 - Declaration of Local Emergency - March Storms
Attachment 1
RESOLUTION 23-XXX
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL PASO DE ROBLES PROCLAIMING A LOCAL EMERGENCY REGARDING MARCH 2023 WINTER STORMS AND
RATIFYING THE PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
BY THE ACTING CITY MANAGER AS THE EMERGENCY SERVICE DIRECTOR WHEREAS, conditions of extreme peril to the health and safety of persons in the City of Paso Robles were present as a result of severe storms commencing on or about 10:00 AM on March 10, 2023; and WHEREAS, the City Council does hereby find that the above described conditions of disaster or extreme peril did warrant and necessitate the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency City-wide; WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 8630 and Paso Robles Municipal Code Section
2.24.060(A)(2) empowers the City Manager and City Council to proclaim the existence of a local emergency to protect and preserve public welfare when the City is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity; and WHEREAS, the City Manager acting as the Emergency Services Director did properly proclaim the existence of a local emergency within the City.
WHEREAS, under Government Code section 8630(b) and Paso Robles Municipal Code, Chapter 2.24, a proclamation of local emergency must be ratified by the City Council within seven (7) days to remain in effect; and
WHEREAS, Government Code section 8630 generally requires the City Council to review the need for continuing the local emergency at least every sixty (60) days allowing the City to maintain its emergency in place until terminated by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to declare a local emergency and ratify the proclamation of local emergency by the City Manager.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of El Paso de Robles resolves as follows:
Section 1. Pursuant to California Government Code section 8630 and Paso Robles Municipal Code section 2.24.060(A), the City Council hereby finds and proclaims and ratifies a local emergency caused by severe storms commencing on or about 10:00 AM on March 10, 2023 in the City, which constitutes an extreme peril of health and safety of persons within the territorial limits of the City.
Section 2. The local emergency shall be deemed to continue to exist until its termination is proclaimed by the City Council.
Section 3. The City Manager, acting as the Director of Emergency Services, is hereby authorized to furnish information, to promulgate orders and regulations necessary to provide for the protection of life and property pursuant to California Government Code section 8634, to enter into agreements and to take all actions necessary to obtain State emergency assistance to implement preventive measures to protect and preserve the residents of the City within the scope of the local emergency hereby declared.
Attachment 1
Section 4. The City Council further orders that:
A. The City Manager or Director of Emergency Services pursuant to Paso Robles Municipal Code section 2.24.060(A) is authorized to set the hours of City Hall and all other City buildings, including but not limited to, the Police Department, Community Centers, and Public Libraries during the local emergency including but not limited to closing City Hall, closing City Hall to all non-essential employees, and/or authorizing employees to tele-commute or work from home.
B. Staff is directed to monitor and consult with county, state, and federal officials as needed.
C. Staff shall consistently communicate with the Council and the public frequently through a variety of measures to re-assure the public and keep everyone informed of measures taken to protect public health and safety.
Section 5. During the existence of said local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of this City shall be those prescribed by state law, ordinances, and resolutions of this City of El Paso de Robles.
Section 6. This emergency declaration is effective as of March 10, 2023.
APPROVED this 13th day of March, 2023by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Steven W. Martin, Mayor
ATTEST:
Melissa Boyer, City Clerk
Exhibit A: 2023-03-10 - Declaration of Local Emergency - March Storms
A PROCLAMATION BY THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES OF
THE CITY OF EL PASO DE ROBLES DECLARING THE
EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY
March 10, 2023
WHEREAS, the Paso Robles Municipal Code Chapter 2.24 empowers the City Manager, acting as the Director of Emergency Services, to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City is exposed to an actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City and the City Council is not in session; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager, as Emergency Services Director of the City of El Paso de Robles, does hereby find that:
1. Threatened existence of conditions of extreme peril to the health and safety of persons in the City are present as a result of severe storms commencing on or about 1:00 a.m. on the 10th day of March 2023.
2. The aforesaid conditions of extreme peril warrant and necessitate the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency.
3. As contemplated in the Emergency Service Act contained in Government Code Section 8550 et seq., including Section 8558(c), a local emergency exists because of the existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City caused by the aforesaid conditions which are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel and facilities of the City and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat.
4. At the time of this proclamation, the City Council was not in session.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HERBY PROCLAIMED effective 10:00 AM on March 10, 2023, that a local emergency now exists throughout said city; and IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the existence of said local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of this City shall be those prescribed by state law, ordinances, and resolutions of the City of El Paso de Robles, notwithstanding all otherwise applicable procedures, timelines, and methods of action, and the Emergency Services Director is expressly authorized to take any and all actions in furtherance of emergency powers to address the emergency.
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that a copy of this order and regulation shall be posted in and outside City Hall and shall be made available to the news media and the general public.
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that the City Manager shall request that the City Council ratify this order and regulation by resolution as soon as practicable.
Exhibit A
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that said local
emergency shall continue to exist until terminated pursuant to a resolution approved by the City Council of the City of El Paso de Robles.
By:
Ty Lewis, City Manager
Director of Emergency
Services
ATTEST:
Melissa Boyer, City Clerk
Exhibit A
Exhibit A