City of Simi Valley
Staff Report
May 26, 2026
To: City Council
From: Office of the City Manager
Samantha C. Argabrite, City Manager
Subject: Consideration of a resolution proclaiming a local emergency and ratifying the City Manager’s proclamation of a local emergency
Staff Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution 2026-19 (Attachment A) proclaiming existence of a local emergency and ratifying the City Manager’s proclamation of a local emergency issued May 21, 2026.
Background
On May 18, 2026, the Sandy Fire ignited in Simi Valley at approximately 10:18 a.m. and as of May 21, 2026, burned over 2,114 acres in and around Simi Valley. A state of local emergency was proclaimed by the City Manager on May 21, 2026, at approximately 4:00 p.m. (Attachment B).
Discussion
Under the State Emergency Services Act and the City’s local implementing ordinance, declaring a state of local emergency when a crisis situation exists provides emergency powers and authorities to the City and provides some additional liability protections for the City. In many cases, this local proclamation is the first step in seeking State and Federal declarations that provide the reimbursement of financial assistance.
Government Code Section 8630 requires that a proclamation of a state of local emergency that is made by the City Manager rather than the City Council be confirmed by a resolution of the City Council within seven days of the proclamation. The proclamation was executed by the City Manager as the Director of Emergency Services on May 21, 2026, for the Sandy Fire. Unless the City Council adopts a resolution confirming the state of local emergency by May 28, 2026, the state of local emergency will terminate. Because proclaiming a state of local emergency provides extraordinary powers to the City, if confirmed by the City Council, the City Council must re- confirm the state of local emergency every 60 days thereafter.
Under the California Emergency Services Act (Gov’t Code (“GC”) Sec. 8550 et seq.) and City law, a proclamation of local emergency provides certain emergency powers and authorities to the City. Among those powers are that the Director of Emergency Services,
Agenda Item No.
2A
if delegated by the City Council, may promulgate orders and regulations necessary to provide for the protection of life and property, including orders or regulations imposing a curfew within designated boundaries when necessary to preserve the public order and safety (GC Sec. 8634). Such delegation is provided in the attached draft resolution. The DES can further provide and receive mutual aid to any affected area in accordance with law (GC Sec. 8631).
Onc
e a state of local emergency has been proclaimed, cities have immunity against claims for the performance or failure to perform any discretionary function or duty by any agency, officer or employee in carrying out duties under the Emergency Services Act (GC Sec. 8655).
Fina
ncial Impact
No ad
ditional funding requested.
Cit
y Council Priority
Thi
s item supports the Public Safety, Excellent City Government, and Reliable Infrastructure pillars of excellence.
Sugge
sted Motion
I m
ove to adopt Resolution 2026 -19 proclaiming existence of a local emergency and ratifying the City Manager’s proclamation of a local emergency issued May 21, 2026.
Summa
ry
On M
ay 18, 2026, the Sandy Fire ignited in Simi Valley at approximately 10:18 a.m. and as of May 21, 2026, burned over 2,114 acres in and around Simi Valley. A state of local emergency was proclaimed by the City Manager on May 21, 2016 at approximately 4:00 p.m. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution 2026-19 proclaiming existence of a local emergency and ratifying the City Manager’s proclamation of a local emergency issued May 21, 2026.
Pr
epared by: Samantha C. Argabrite, City Manager
Atta
chments:
Atta
chment A – Resolution 2026-19
Attachment B – City Manager’s Proclamation of Local Emergency 2 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-19
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SIMI VALLEY PROCLAIMING THE EXISTENCE OF A
LOCAL EMERGENCY AND RATIFYING THE CITY
MANAGER’S PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
W HEREAS, Pursuant to California Government Code a Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Simi Valley was properly noticed and convened; and, WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 8630 empowers the City Council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a Local Emergency when City is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity; and, W
HEREAS, Government Code Section 8634 empowers the City Council to promulgate orders and regulations to provide for the protection of life and property; and, W
HEREAS, p ursuant to Section 4- 5.01 et seq. of the Simi Valley’s Municipal Code, on May 21, 2026 at approximately 4:00 p.m., the Director of Emergency Services has declared the existence of a Local Emergency, and requests that the City Council ratify and proclaim the same; and,
W
HEREAS, t he City Council does hereby find that conditions of extreme peril and a crippling disaster which severely impairs the safety of persons or property have arisen within the City caused by the Sandy Fire; and,
WHEREAS, the aforesaid conditions of extreme peril warrant and necessitate the proclamation of the existence of a Local Emergency.
NO
W, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIMI VALLEY DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
S
ECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Simi Valley hereby proclaims the existence of a local state of emergency in the City of Simi Valley, pursuant to California Government Code Section 8630 and all other applicable law.
S
ECTION 2. The Proclamation and Order of a Local Emergency made on May 21, 2026, by the Director of Emergency Services is hereby ratified. (Exhibit 1) S
ECTION 3. During the existence of this Local Emergency, the powers, functions and duties of the Director of Emergency Services shall be those prescribed by state law, by the existing ordinances and resolutions of the City of Simi Valley , this resolution and any subsequent emergency orders of the City Council, and any other local, state or federal laws providing powers, immunities or duties in such emergency.
S
ECTION 4 . During the existence of said Local Emergency, City shall follow and impose all directives, mandates, Executive Orders and any other emergency related restrictions issued by the State of California and/or the County of Ventura. 3 Attachment A
RES. NO. 2026-19
SECTION 5. To the extent permitted by law, City goods and services procurement requirements are stayed during this Local Emergency, as necessary to procure and respond to the Local Emergency, and the Director of Emergency Services is empowered to exercise all powers granted by any local, state or federal emergency laws, rules and regulations, and such procurements made by the DES are hereby ratified.
SECTION 6. To the extent permitted by law, this declaration of a Local Emergency is intended to satisfy any local, state or federal law or regulation requiring such a declaration as a prerequisite or requirement for mutual assistance, reimbursement or other cooperation with any other local, state or federal entity.
SECTION 7. The Director of Emergency Services, if delegated by the City Council, may promulgate orders and regulations necessary to provide for the protection of life and property, including orders or regulations imposing a curfew within designated boundaries when necessary to preserve the public order and safety , per Government Code Sec. 8634.
SECTION 8. This Local Emergency shall continue until it is terminated by proclamation of the City Council. Pursuant to Section 8630 of the Government Code, the City Council shall proclaim the termination of a local emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant. The need for continuing this local emergency shall be reviewed every sixty (60) days by the City Council.
SECTION 9. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall cause a certified resolution to be filed in the Office of the City Clerk.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 26th day of May 2026.
Attest:
Lucy Blanco, City Clerk Dee Dee Cavanaugh,
Mayor
City of Simi Valley, California
Approved as to Form: Approved as to Content:
Algeria R. Ford, City Attorney Samantha C. Argabrite, City Manager
4 PROCLAMATION AND ORDER BY DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY
SERVICES OF THE CITY OF SIMI VALLEY DECLARING A STATE OF A
LOCAL EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4 -5.06 of the Simi Valley Municipal Code, the Director of Emergency Services may proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a Local Emergency when the City of Simi Valley ("City") is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity and the City Council is not in session, subject to ratification by the City Council; and, WHEREAS, the Director of Emergency Services of the City does hereby find that:
(a) The Sandy Fire ignited on Monday, May 18, 2026, at or about 10:18 a.m. on Sandy Avenue in Simi Valley; and
(b) As of May 21, 2026, over 2,114 acres have burned and the conditions of the Sandy Fire created extreme peril to the health and safety of persons and property within the City and are, or are likely to be, beyond the control and capacity of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the City; and (c) That the City Council of the City of Simi Valley is not in session and cannot immediately be called in to session; and
WHEREAS, the aforesaid conditions of extreme peril warrant and necessitate the proclamation of the existence of a Local Emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED AND DECLARED by the Director of Emergency Services that:
1. A Local Emergency now exists throughout the City; and
2. During the existence of said Local Emergency the powers, functions and duties of the emergency organization of the City shall be those prescribed by state law, by ordinances and resolutions of the City, and the Director of Emergency Services is designated as the City Manager under Section 4 -5.05 of the Municipal Code; and
3. During the existence of said Local Emergency, City shall follow and impose all directives, mandates, Executive Orders and any other emergency related restrictions issued by the State of California and/or the County of Ventura, including evacuation orders; and
4. To the extent permitted by law, City goods and services procurement requirements are stayed during this Local Emergency, as necessary to procure and respond to the Local Emergency, and the Director of Emergency Services is empowered to exercise all powers granted by any local, state or federal emergency laws, rules and regulations; and
Docusign Envelope ID: 350F44FB-8D66-8CE1-83B1-98628D9B1915 5 Attachment B
5. To the extent permitted by law, this declaration of a Local Emergency is intended to satisfy any local, state or federal law or regulation requiring such a declaration as a prerequisite or requirement for mutual assistance, reimbursement or other cooperation with any other local, state or federal entity; and
6. This Local Emergency shall continue for no more than seven (7) days unless this proclamation is ratified by the City Council pursuant to Section 8630 of the Government Code.
Attest: Approved as to Content:
_____________________________
Lucy Blanco, City Clerk Samantha C. Argabrite,
Director of Emergency Services
City of Simi Valley, California
Approved as to Form:
Algeria R. Ford, City Attorney
Docusign Envelope ID: 350F44FB-8D66-8CE1-83B1-98628D9B1915 6