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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem a - Emergency DeclarationDATE:
TO:
FROM:
January 13, 2025
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager
By: Justine Bruno, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7616 RATIFYING AND DECLARING THE EXISTENCE
OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY FOR THE JANUARY 2025 WINDSTORM
AND EATON FIRE
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Ratify and Adopt
SUMMARY
On January 7, 2025, and in the days thereafter, a significant windstorm and fire event
impacted the City of Arcadia. As a result of high winds, which ranged upwards of 80-100
mph in certain areas, a series of fires erupted throughout Los Angeles County, with the
Eaton Fire threatening the City of Arcadia’s urban-wildland interface. This area was
previously impacted by the winter rain events of 2021 as well as the 2020 Bobcat Fire.
Arcadia has suffered extensive fallen trees, vegetation damage, and debris clean-up
throughout the City, as a result of the wind event. Preliminarily, fire impacts appear to be
limited to a storage structure, fences, retaining walls, and ornamental vegetation in the
same urban-wildland interface area of the City.
A declaration of a local emergency will assist in a coordinated public safety response to
this tree damage, debris and fire threat to protect lives and property of the residents of
Arcadia. It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7616 ratifying and
declaring the existence of a local emergency regarding the January 2025 Windstorm and
Eaton Fire.
DISCUSSION
California Government Code Section 8630, et seq., and City of Arcadia Municipal Code
Section 2211.2, empower the City Manager to proclaim the existence of a local
emergency to protect and preserve public welfare when the City is affected or likely to be
affected by an emergency. Under Government Code Section 8630(b), the Proclamation
must be ratified by the City Council within seven (7) days to remain in effect.
Reso. 7616 Ratifying Local Emergency Declaration
January 13, 2025
Page 2 of 2
Resolution No. 7616 also provides for several delegations of authority to the City Manager
to continue essential government functions regarding this emergency and to minimize
any disruption to residents for the duration of the local emergency.
The City Manager and several Department Directors will provide a verbal report on
Arcadia’s response to the windstorm event and Eaton Fire at this City Council meeting.
This update will detail a timeline of events, major efforts, and next steps in the coming
weeks.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), per Section 15269(c) of the CEQA Guidelines, specific actions
necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency.
FISCAL IMPACT
The future costs of responding to the January 2025 Windstorm and Eaton Fire are
unknown at this time due to evolving conditions. Local response efforts may be eligible
for state or federal reimbursement as a result of the City Council’s ratification and
declaration of local emergency. Additionally, future winter storms may increase the level
of damage in the affected areas.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine this action does not constitute a project
under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and adopt Resolution No. 7616
ratifying and declaring the existence of a local emergency for the January 2025
Windstorm and Eaton Fire.
Attachments: Resolution No. 7616
Proclamation of Local Emergency
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RESOLUTION NO. 7616
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA
RATIFYING AND DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL
EMERGENCY FOR THE JANUARY 2025 WINDSTORM AND EATON
FIRE
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 8630, et seq., and City of
Arcadia Municipal Code Section 2211.2 empower the City Council to proclaim the
existence of a local emergency to protect and preserve public welfare when the City is
affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity; and
WHEREAS, on January 7, 2025, and in the days thereafter, a significant windstorm
event impacted the City of Arcadia and the broader region, with wind gusts reaching 80
– 100mph; and
WHEREAS, on January 7, 2025, and in the days thereafter, a series of urban and
wild land fires broke out across Los Angeles County, with the Eaton Fire impacting the La
Cañada Flintridge, Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Arcadia areas; and
WHEREAS, on January 8, 2025, the City Manager, as the acting Director of
Emergency Services, issued a Proclamation (“the Proclamation”) declaring a local
emergency pertaining to the January 2025 Windstorm and Eaton Fire events; and
WHEREAS, on January 8, 2025, the Assistant City Manager, as the acting Director
of Emergency Services, issued an amended Proclamation (“the Proclamation”) declaring
a local emergency pertaining to the January 2025 Windstorm and Eaton Fire events; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has been requested by the City Manager, as Director
of Emergency Services, to ratify the Proclamation; and
WHEREAS, the significant windstorm and Eaton Fire caused the issuance of the
Proclamation, and such conditions continue to constitute a threat concerning fire damage,
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the deposit of additional debris, damaged structures, and burnt vegetation into the along
the Arcadia’s urban-wildland interface and throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council does hereby find that the conditions described in the
Proclamation continue to support the need for the City Council to ratify and extend the
Declaration of Local Emergency; and
WHEREAS, a declaration of a local emergency will assist in a coordinated public
safety response to this debris and mud flow emergency in order to protect lives and
property of the citizens of the City; and
WHEREAS, under Government Code Section 8630(b), the Proclamation must be
ratified by the City Council within seven (7) days to remain in effect; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to declare a local emergency and ratify the
Proclamation.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council that a local
emergency now exists in the City of Arcadia, as set forth in the Proclamation.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that the City Council
ratifies the Proclamation issued by the City Manager and Assistant City Manager, as the
acting Directors of Emergency Services, on January 8, 2025.
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that the City Manager, acting as
the Director of Emergency Services, is hereby authorized to furnish information, to
promulgate orders and regulations necessary to provide for the protection of life and
property pursuant to California Government Code Section 8634, to enter into agreements
and to take all actions necessary to obtain State emergency assistance to implement
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preventive measures to protect and preserve the residents of the City within the scope of
the local emergency hereby declared.
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that as authorized in Government
Code Sections 8630 and Arcadia Municipal Code Section 2211, and based on the
foregoing, an “emergency” as defined in Government Code Section 54956.5(a) and City
of Arcadia Municipal Code Section 2211.1, and a “local emergency” as defined in
Government Code Section 8558(c), hereby exist within the territorial jurisdiction of the
City of Arcadia and are deemed to continue to exist until their termination is proclaimed
by the City Council.
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that in accordance with the
California Disaster Assistance Act and the Stafford Act, a copy of this proclamation be
forwarded to the Director of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
requesting that the Director find it acceptable in accordance with State law; that the
Governor of California, pursuant to the Emergency Services Act, issue a proclamation
declaring an emergency in Los Angeles County; that the Governor waive regulations that
may hinder response and recovery efforts; that recovery assistance be made available
under the California Disaster Assistance Act; and that the State expedite access to State
and Federal resources and any other appropriate federal disaster relief programs.
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that during the existence of this
local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of this
City shall be those prescribed by State law, and by the ordinances and resolutions
heretofore and hereafter adopted by the City Council.
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Passed, approved and adopted this 13th day of January, 2025.
____________________________
Mayor of the City of Arcadia
ATTEST:
___________________________
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________
Michael J. Maurer
City Attorney
PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, City of Arcadia Municipal Code Section 2211.1, et seq. empowers 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 and
the City Council is not in session; and
WHEREAS, on January 7, 2025, and continuing, a significant windstorm and
wildfire event impacted the City of Arcadia, causing significant structural damage to
homes and businesses, property damage, and street and sidewalk debris, impacting all
of the City; and
WHEREAS, hundreds of trees, signage, traffic lights, and structures were
damaged and displaced, requiring immediate repair and clearance for emergency access
and evacuations; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the event, hundreds of residents were evacuated due to
wildfire risk, threat to structures, extensive power loss and live wires, all of which are
projected to continue for several more days; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Emergency Services of the City of Arcadia does hereby
find that the windstorm and wildfire events, and the foregoing conditions, constitute an
extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City of Arcadia, and an
extreme financial and service burden on the City due to all the foregoing conditions; and
WHEREAS, these conditions are or are likely to be beyond the control and the
current capacity of the City of Arcadia to provide services, personnel, equipment, and
facilities to address this emergency;
WHEREAS, on January 7, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a
State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions
already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state
with ongoing responses to the recent events; and
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED, that a local emergency now
exists in the City of Arcadia; and
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the existence of said
local emergency the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of the
City of Arcadia shall be those prescribed by State law, and by ordinance and by
resolutions of the City of Arcadia; and that this emergency proclamation shall expire 7
days after issuance unless confirmed and ratified by the governing body of the City of
Arcadia; and
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that in accordance with the
California Disaster Assistance Act and the Stafford Act, a copy of this proclamation be
forwarded to the Director of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
requesting that the Director find it acceptable in accordance with State law; that the
Governor of California, pursuant to the Emergency Services Act, issue a proclamation
declaring an emergency in Los Angeles County; that the Governor waive regulations that
may hinder response and recovery efforts; that recovery assistance be made available
under the California Disaster Assistance Act; and that the State expedite access to State
and Federal resources and any other appropriate federal disaster relief programs.
Dated: __________________ By: __________________________________
Director of Emergency Services
Printed Name: __________________________
Address: ______________________________