PROCLAMATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY BY THE DIRECTOR
OF EMERGENCY SERVICES OF THE CITY OF SALINAS
WHEREAS, Section 11A -6 of the Salinas Municipal Code empowers the Director of Emergency Services to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City Council is not in session; and
WHEREAS, due to an expected severe storm —referred to as “2023 Pineapple Express” which produced a significant amount of rain over several hours causing significant flooding in some localized areas, the Monterey County Department of Emergency Management notified the public that the Monterey County Operational Area Emergency Operations Center increased to a Level 1 (High) Activation; and
WHEREAS, the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services issued a local proclamation because of the March 2023 winter storm/atmospheric river and ordered evacuations in some areas of Monterey County, including the Spreckels area; and WHEREAS, with the increasing levels of the Salinas River the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services has indicated that roads in the warning zone —including Highway 1, Highway 68, and Blanco Road—could potentially be impacted by flood water as peak flows pass through on March 13 through March 14, with more significant rain expected on March 14; and WHEREAS, high levels of water in unincorporated areas of Monterey County, adjacent to the city limits, have resulted in evacuation warnings and orders including the areas of Salinas at Russell Road and San Juan Grade Road (Bolsa Knolls) and the Boronda area; and WHEREAS, heavy rains have caused portions of roadway within the city to be damaged threatening drivers and passengers and have resulted in the closure of city parks in order to protect the public from the threat of falling trees and tree limbs; and WHEREAS, at approximately 12:30 A.M., the Salinas River “over-topped” into the City’s Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant, threatening a critical piece of infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the Director of Emergency Services finds that conditions and threatened conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons or property have arisen within the city of Salinas, caused by the 2023 Pineapple Express, winter storm/atmospheric river; and WHEREAS, these conditions are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City, requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions; and
DocuSign Envelope ID: 94A512B7-9E68-4E3B-A36E-71D7E1AB3F82
WHEREAS, the Director of Emergency Services is identified in Salinas Municipal Code section 11A-5 as the City Manager and is provided powers delineated in Salinas Municipal Code section 11A-5 (to appoint an Assistant Director of Emergency Services) and section 11A-6 (powers and duties during an emergency); and
WHEREAS, this Proclamation of Local Emergency will be ratified by the City Council within seven days of being issued.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED by the Director of Emergency Services for the City of Salinas , that a local emergency exists throughout the city of Salinas and that said local emergency shall be deemed to continue to exist until its termination is proclaimed by the City Council; and
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND REQUESTED that the Governor of the State of California find and proclaim Monterey County (to include all incorporated and unincorporated areas within said county) to be in a State of Emergency; and IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that the Director of Emergency Services, Assistant Director of Emergency Services, who shall be appointed by the Director, are hereby designated as the authorized representatives of the City of Salinas for the purpose of receipt, processing, and coordination of all inquiries and requirements necessary to obtain available state and federal assistance; and
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Proclamation of Local Emergency be forwarded to the State Director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Serv ices with a request that the State Director find the Proclamation of Local Emergency acceptable in accordance with provisions of the California Disaster Assistance Act ; forward this Proclamation to the Governor of California for consideration and action; w aive regulations that may hinder response and recovery efforts; and make all relevant funds available to the City of Salinas and all eligible community members and businesses, including, but not limited to aid provided by the Small Business Administration and aid made available by the California Disaster Assistance Act, to assist the City of Salinas with an appropriate level of response, recovery, and mitigation measures; and
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the existence of said local emergency the powers, functions, and duties of the Director of Emergency Services and the emergency organization of this City shall be those prescribed by state law, charter, ordinances, and resolutions of this City ; and that this emergency proclamation shall expire March 20, 2023, unless confirmed and extended by the City Council of the City of Salinas.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Director of Emergency Services for the City of Salinas, State of California, this 13th day of March 2023.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 94A512B7-9E68-4E3B-A36E-71D7E1AB3F82
APPROVED:
___________________________________ ______________________________ Steven S. Carrigan, City Manager Date
Director of Emergency Services
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________________ ______________________________ Christopher A. Callihan, City Attorney Date
ATTEST:
____________________________________ _______________________________ Patricia M. Barajas, City Clerk Date
DocuSign Envelope ID: 94A512B7-9E68-4E3B-A36E-71D7E1AB3F82 3/13/2023 | 8:58 AM PDT
3/13/2023 | 9:02 AM PDT
3/13/2023 | 9:02 AM PDT