Title
Sheriff's Office recommending the Board approve Final Passage (Second Reading) of Ordinance 5072 amending Chapter 2.21 regarding emergency operations and functions. (Cont. 12/5/17, Item 34)
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
1) Approve the Introduction (First Reading) of Ordinance 5072 amending Chapter 2.21 regarding emergency operations and functions; and
2) Waive full reading, read by title only and continue this matter to December 12, 2017 for Final Passage (Second Reading).
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
At their meeting of December 5, 2017 (Item 34) the Board approved Ordinance 5072 and Continued to December 12, 2017 for Final Passage (Second Reading).
Board policy A-3 - Ordinances - New or Amended, requires ordinance amendments to be presented to the Board of Supervisors for conceptual review and authorization to prepare the ordinance amendment. On November 15, 2016, the Board gave conceptual approval to amend County Ordinance, Chapter 2.21-Emergency Organization and Functions relating to the Office of Emergency Services and the Disaster Council structure and responsibilities.
The County's Office of Emergency Services and the Disaster Council are established by ordinance in order to comply with the state Emergency Services Act. Compliance with this state law allows the County to request state assistance in emergencies and provides workers compensation coverage to disaster workers when they are called to assist in an emergency.
The Disaster Council held a number of meetings and workshops over the last couple of years to review the structure of the Council and identify best practices with regard to structure and roles and responsibilities of the Council. The Disaster Council is tasked with developing emergency operations plans and mutual aid agreements for adoption by the Board of Supervisors. This is specialized work that requires the expertise of emergency management professionals. The Sheriff's Office and the members of the Disaster Council that participated in the workshops recommend restructuring the Council to ensure that members have the proper skills, knowledge, and experience.
Under the current ordinance, the Council's membership includes one qualified person from each supervisorial district to be appointed by the supervisor representing that district, one qualified person from each incorporated city within the County to be appointed by the Board of Supervisors upon the recommendation of the mayor of each such city; and the following ex officio members, without a vote: Deputy Director of Emergency Services or his or her assistant, County Counsel or deputy, Sheriff or deputy, Director of Department of Transportation, and Director of Health Services or deputy. The membership as proposed under the amended ordinance would be:
A. The Director of the Office of Emergency Services (the Sheriff) or designee shall be Chair.
B. The El Dorado County Operational Area Fire & Rescue Coordinator or designee shall be Vice Chair. This position is appointed by the El Dorado County Fire Chiefs' Association.
C. One representative or designee from each incorporated city within the County, to be appointed by the respective City Managers.
D. The Chief Administrative Officer of the County, or designee.
The Council will continue to collaborate with the agencies formerly listed as ex officio, non-voting members, in addition to community groups and non-governmental organizations as part of their planning efforts. The proposed amendment reduces the number of required meetings from four to two per year, with the understanding that much of the Council's work will be done by staff, with public meetings for the purpose of review and discussion of proposed plans and agreements. The Council may hold more meetings than the required minimum, subject to noticing in accordance with open meeting laws.
Other proposed amendments include changing the Director of the Office of Emergency Services from the Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to the Sheriff. This change will better reflect actual past practice, as the Sheriff has normally executed the duties of the Director as enumerated in the ordinance, in his capacity as Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency Services. The authority to declare a local emergency has and still rests with the Board. The amended ordinance would eliminate the position of Deputy Director of Emergency Services, and assign those duties to the Director. The Sheriff, in his capacity as Director, would delegate operational tasks as necessary, rather than designating one Deputy Director.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve this recommendation, which would result in no change to the current ordinance or Disaster Council structure.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Disaster Council
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve, noting that the countywide emergency management organization includes many different agencies (Sheriff’s Office, Health and Human Services - Emergency Preparedness Division and Ambulance Services Environmental Management, Fire Districts, CHP, City Police, etc.). Coordination among these agencies, as well as community groups and non-governmental agencies, is critical to successful management of a disaster or emergency. The CAO plans to review current policies and organizational structures related to emergency preparedness and management in order to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance, Public Safety
CONTACT
Randy Peshon, Undersheriff