HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Public Safety Power Shutoff Local Emergency____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: 10/29/2019
Disposition: Resolution 14734
Agenda Item No: 1.
Meeting Date: October 29, 2019
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: City Clerk
Prepared by: Lindsay Lara, City Clerk
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFF LOCAL EMERGENCY
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION RATIFYING AND MODIFYING THE CITY MANAGER/DIRECTOR
OF EMERGENCY SERVICES’ PROCLAMATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A
LOCAL EMERGENCY
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution ratifying and modifying the proclamation of the existence of a local
emergency.
BACKGROUND:
On Wednesday, October 23, 2019, PG&E issued a red flag alert for parts of Marin County and
an alert of forecasted high winds on Monday through Thursday of the following week. Given the
severity of the situation City staff began preparing for an anticipated Public Safety Power Shutoff
(PSPS).
On Friday, October 25, 2019, PG&E issued a formal notice of potential PSPS due to increased
fire risk from forecasted severe weather conditions including high temperatures, high winds and
low humidity. On October 26, 2019 Marin County and City staff partially activated the Emergency
Operation Center in response to the liklihood of a PSPS. On Saturday, October 26, 2019 at
approximately 5:30 PM PG&E began to de-energized significant portions of all of Marin.
At approximately 6:00 AM on Monday, October 28, 2019, PG&E announced an ‘all clear’ and
planned to begin restoration, which could take 24-48 hours. At the time of this report (9:00 AM
October 28, 2019) grid power had not been restored to San Rafael. A second PSPS event is
likely to begin on October 29th.
ANALYSIS:
Pursuant to Government Code section 8630 and City of San Rafael Municipal Code Section
7.12.020 the City Manager/Director of Emergency Services issued a proclamation of local
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
emergency due to the conditions created by PG&Es de-energizing the electrical system in the
San Rafael and the associated impacts to public safety and service delivery.
Adoption of the recommended ratifying Resolution ratifies the proclamation of a local emergency
issued by the Director of Emergency Services on October 26, 2019 and modifies it to include
additional language requesting state assistance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter:
1. Adopt the resolution
2. Adopt resolution with modifications.
3. Do not adopt the resolution. (The City Council may choose to not adopt the recommended
Resolutions. Under this alternative the City may be limited in its ability to recover costs
should the State make an official declaration of emergency and reimbursement funds
become available.)
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a Resolution ratifying and modifying the proclamation of the existence of a local
emergency.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ratifying Resolution
2. Declaration of Local Emergency
RESOLUTION NO. 14734
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, COUNTY OF
MARIN, RATIFYING AND MODIFYING THE CITY MANAGER/DIRECTOR OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES’ PROCLAMATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL
EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, Section 7.12.020 of the San Rafael Municipal Code empowers the City
Manager/Director of Emergency Services of the City to proclaim the existence of a local
emergency if the City Council is not in session, and requires that the City Council shall
take action to ratify the proclamation within seven days thereafter; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby finds that conditions of disaster or extreme peril to
the safety of persons and property have arisen within the City of San Rafael caused by
PG&E de-energizing the electrical system associated with a Public Safety Power
Shutoff (PSPS) commencing on or about the 26th day of October 2019, at which time
the City Council of the City of San Rafael was not in session; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby finds that the above-described conditions of
extreme peril did warrant and necessitate the proclamation of the existence of a local
emergency in the City of San Rafael; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager acting as the Director of Emergency Services did
proclaim the existence of a local emergency within the City on the 26th day of
October 2019 at 5:30 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, a second PSPS event is likely to begin on October 29 th; and
WHEREAS, it has now been found that local resources are inadequate to cope with
the sustained impacts of the local emergency from the PSPS;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of San Rafael
that the Proclamation of Local Emergency, as issued by the City Manager/Director of
Emergency Services, is hereby ratified and confirmed; and
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the existence of this 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, by
ordinances and resolutions of this City, and by the City of San Rafael Emergency
Operations Plan in order to mitigate the effects of this emergency; and
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that all City officials and employees
cooperate and coordinate efforts with officials and employees of other political
subdivisions and officials and employees of the state and federal government in
bringing the present condition of local emergency under control; and
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that a copy of this Resolution be
forwarded to the Governor of California with the request that he proclaim the existence
of a State of Emergency throughout the City of San Rafael and/or to the Director of the
State Office of Emergency Services with a request for State aid to the City of San
Rafael; and
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager/Director of Emergency Services is
hereby designated as the authorized representative of the City of San Rafael 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 PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that this local emergency shall
be deemed to continue to exist until its termination is declared by the City Council of
the City of San Rafael.
I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, California, hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a special
emergency meeting of the Council of the City of San Rafael held on the 29th day of
October 2019, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Colin, Gamblin & Mayor Phillips
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: McCullough
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk