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Item 3AGENDA ITEM NO.3 AGENDA STAFF REPORT City of West Covina I Office of the City Manager DATE: May 3, 2022 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: David Carmany City Manager SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO.2022-39 TERMINATING THE LOCAL EMERGENCY PROCLAIMED ON JANUARY 26, 2022 DUE TO DAMAGES CAUSED BY HIGH WINDS RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the following resolution: RESOLUTION NO. 2022-39 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, PROCLAIMING THE TERMINATION OF THE LOCAL EMERGENCY PROCLAIMED ON JANUARY 26, 2022 DUE TO DAMAGES CAUSED BY HIGH WINDS BACKGROUND: Southern California suffers from high wind conditions know as Santa Ana winds. As a result of heavy winds over the period of January 21, 2022 through January 23, 2022, there were downed power lines, resulting in power outages, and severe damage to trees throughout the City, causing damages to homes, vehicles, roadways, fences, and other structures. On January 26, 2022, the City Manager, acting in his capacity as the City's Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed a local emergency as authorized by Government Code section 8630 and West Covina Municipal Code section 8-7(a)(1), due to the damage caused by the high winds on January 21, 2022 through January 23, 2022. The City Council ratified the local emergency proclamation on February 1, 2022. The City Council determined there was a need to continue the local emergency on March 1, 2022 and April 5, 2022, in accordance with Section 8-7(a)(2) of the West Covina Municipal Code. Government Code Section 8630(d) requires the City Council to proclaim the termination of the local emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant. DISCUSSION: The City is seeking reimbursement for wind damage related expenses through the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). Staff believes all claims for damages and requests for reimbursement have been received, such that it is no longer necessary to continue the local emergency. Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council adopt the proposed resolution to proclaim the termination of the local emergency. LEGAL REVIEW: The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the proposed resolution and approved it as to form. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options: 1. Approve staffs recommendation; or 2. Provide alternative direction. Prepared by: David Carmany, City Manager Attachments Attachment No. 1 - Resolution No. 2022-39 CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES: Protect Public Safety Achieve Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Stability ATTACHMENT NO.1 RESOLUTION NO.2022-39 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, PROCLAIMING THE TERMINATION OF THE LOCAL EMERGENCY PROCLAIMED ON JANUARY 26, 2022 DUE TO DAMAGES CAUSED BY HIGH WINDS WHEREAS, the California Emergency Services Act (Government Code section 8550 et seq.), authorizes the City Council, or an official designated by ordinance of the City Council, to proclaim a local emergency when the City is threatened by conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City that are, or are likely to be, beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City; and WHEREAS, if the City Council is not in session, West Covina Municipal Code section 8- 7 empowers the City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services, 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 which is, or is likely to be, beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City, requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat; and WHEREAS, starting on January 21, 2022, and continuing through January 23, 2022, the City of West Covina experienced high winds; and WHEREAS, the high winds caused widespread power outages and severe damage to, among other things, trees, homes, schools, businesses, vehicles, sidewalks and roads; and WHEREAS, on January 26, 2022, the City Manager, as the City's Director of Emergency Services, declared a local emergency as authorized by Government Code section 8630 and West Covina Municipal Code section 8-7(a)(1), through Proclamation 2022-01, due to the damage caused by the high winds; and WHEREAS, on February 1, 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-16, ratifying the City Manager's proclamation as required by Government Code section 8630(b) and West Covina Municipal Code section 8-7(a)(1); and WHEREAS, Section 8-7(a)(2) of the West Covina Municipal Code empowers the City Manager to request that the City Council review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 30 days until the City Council terminates the local emergency; and WHEREAS, on March 1, 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-22, determining there was a need to continue the local emergency; and WHEREAS, on April 5, 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-31, determining there was a need to continue the local emergency; and WHEREAS, Government Code section 8630(d) requires the City Council to proclaim the termination of the local emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the conditions of extreme peril presented by the damage caused by the high winds that occurred on January 21, 2022 through January 23, 2022 have been abated to such a degree as to warrant the termination of the local emergency. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council hereby proclaims the termination of the local emergency that was declared on January 26, 2022 by the City Manager, which was ratified by the City Council on February 1, 2022, relating to the damages caused by the high winds that occurred on January 21, 2022 through January 23, 2022. SECTION 2. This resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption. SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of May, 2022. APPROVED AS TO FORM Thomas P. Duarte City Attorney Dario Castellanos Mayor ATTEST Lisa Sherrick Assistant City Clerk I, LISA SHERRICK, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK of the City of West Covina, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2022-39 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of West Covina, California, at a regular meeting thereof held on the 3rd day of May, 2022, by the following vote of the City Council: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Lisa Sherrick Assistant City Clerk