City of Simi Valley
Staff Report
J
une 22, 2026
To: Cit
y Council
Fr
om: Office of the City Manager
Samantha C. Argabrite, City Manager
Subj
ect: Adoption of a resolution for continuation of the local emergency proclaimed for the Sandy Fire
Sta
ff Recommendation
I
t is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution 2026-34 (Attachment A), finding that conditions continue to exist to warrant continuation of the local emergency proclaimed on May 21, 2026, in response to the Sandy Fire.
Ba
ckground
O
n May 18, 2026, the Sandy Fire ignited in Simi Valley at approximately 10:18 a.m. and burned over 2,183 acres in and around the community before reaching full containment on May 27, 2026. Due to the threat posed to life, property, and infrastructure, the City Manager, acting as the City’s Emergency Services Director, proclaimed a local emergency on May 21, 2026 (Attachment A). The City Council subsequently ratified the proclamation in accordance with Government Code Section 8630 on May 26, 2026.
Di
scussion
U
nder the California Emergency Services Act (Government Code Section 8550 et seq.), a proclamation of local emergency grants the City certain emergency powers and authorities and supports coordination of response and recovery activities.
G
overnment Code Section 8630(c) requires the City Council to review the need for continuing a local emergency at least once every 60 days until the local emergency is terminated.
A
lthough the Sandy Fire has been fully contained, recovery efforts and related emergency management activities remain ongoing. Maintaining the local emergency declaration allows the City to continue coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies; pur sue available disaster assistance and reimbursement opportunities; and address any remaining impacts associated with the fire and affected areas.
Agenda Item No.
Consent (12)
2 2
Additionally, once a local emergency has been proclaimed, the City is afforded certain immunities under Government Code Section 8655 for discretionary actions taken in carrying out duties under the Emergency Services Act.
Based on the ongoing recovery efforts associated with the Sandy Fire, the City Manager recommends that the City Council find that conditions continue to warrant the continuation of the local emergency.
Financial Impact
No additional funding requested.
City Council Priority
This i tem su pports the Public S afety, E xcellent C ity G overnment, an d Reliable Infrastructure Pillars of Excellence.
Suggested Motion
I move to adopt Resolution 2026-34, continuing the local emergency proclaimed on May 21, 2026, in response to the Sandy Fire.
Summary
On May 18, 2026, the Sandy Fire ignited in Simi Valley and ultimately burned more than 2,183 acres before reaching full containment on May 27, 2026. Due to the threat posed to life, property, and infrastructure, the City Manager proclaimed a local emergenc y on May 21, 2026, which was subsequently ratified by the City Council on May 26, 2026.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 8630(c), the City Council must review the need for continuing a local emergency at least once every 60 days until the declaration is terminated. Therefore, the City Manager recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2026 -34, finding that conditions supporting the local emergency proclaimed for the Sandy Fire remain in effect.
Prepared by: Heather Sumagaysay, Deputy City Manager Attachments
Attachment A – Resolution 2026-34
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-34
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SIMI VALLEY CONFIRMING AND RENEWING THE
PROCLAMATION OF THE EXISTENCE LOCAL
EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, Pursuant to California Government Code a Special Meeting of the Cit
y 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 the City is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity; and, WH
EREAS, Government Code Section 8634 empowers the City Council to promulgate orders and regulations to provide for the protection of life and property; and, WH
EREAS, 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 (DES) declared the existence of a Local Emergency , and request ed that the City Council ratify and proclaim the same; and,
WH
EREAS, the City Council on May 26, 2026, in a Special Meeting, ratified the DES’s declaration of a Local Emergency and further proclaimed the same, finding 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, Government Code Section 8630 and Resolution 2026- 19 requires the City Council to review the need for continuing a proclamation of local emergency to be renewed every 60 days until the local emergency is terminated; and WH
EREAS, the aforesaid conditions of extreme peril warrant and necessitate the confirmation and renewal of the proclamation of the existence of a Local Emergency.
NOW
, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIMI VALLEY DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SE
CTION 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.
SE
CTION 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) SE
CTION 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. 3 3
Attachment A
Res. No. 2026-34
SE
CTION 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.
SE
CTION 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.
SE
CTION 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.
SE
CTION 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 22nd day of June 2026.
Atte
st:
Lucy Blanco, City Clerk Dee Dee Cavanaugh,
Mayor
City of Simi Valley, California
Appr
oved as to Form: Approved as to Content:
Algeria R. Ford, City Attorney Samantha C. Argabrite, City Manager 4 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 Exhibit 1
5 5
Res. No. 2026-34
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 6
Res. No. 2026-34