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Report regarding a resolution approving the Updated San Mateo County Operational Area Emergency Services Council Joint Powers Agreement, allowing the City of South San Francisco to continue partnering with the County of San Mateo’s Department of Emergency Management and engage in operational area planning with respect to all phases of emergency management including: preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. (Matt Samson, Fire Chief)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the Updated San Mateo County Operational Area Emergency Services Council Joint Powers Agreement, allowing the City of South San Francisco to continue partnering with the County of San Mateo’s Department of Emergency Management and engage in operational area planning with respect to all phases of emergency management including: preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The City of South San Francisco is a signatory agency to the San Mateo County Operational Area Emergency Services Council Joint Powers Agreement (agreement) last updated on October 17, 2014. The San Mateo County Operational Area Emergency Services Council (ESC) is comprised of all local governments in the County, including special districts, unincorporated areas, and non-governmental entities. ESC’s collective goal is to provide coordinated plans for the protection of people and property based on all phases of emergency management including: preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. The ESC also serves to support public information sharing, emergency notification/alert and warning, and provides ongoing funding for the County’s hazardous materials emergency response program.
The ESC is supported by the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) through the development of regional emergency planning, emergency response support, public information sharing, emergency response training and exercise coordination, regional grant administration, and administration of regionally available disaster response tools and equipment. Through the ESC, DEM provides these services to all local governments in San Mateo County, supporting disaster response through a regionally coordinated approach. This process allows local government entities access to regional planning resources, incident support personnel, and specialized disaster response equipment and supplies.
This updated JPA includes unanimously agreed upon changes that accurately reflect the current responsibilities of DEM and the ESC. The changes include:
• Standardizing of related nomenclature
• Updating agreement language
• Clarifying and defining the roles of the ESC, the ESC Finance Committee, and DEM
The proposed changes were reviewed by Fire Department staff and cooperatively by all fire departments in San Mateo County. Proposed changes by the San Mateo County Fire Service were reviewed and included in the updated document. Fire Department staff support the adoption of the JPA with the included changes.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of this JPA will not alter the current fiscal commitment South San Francisco makes to DEM annually for services including: regional emergency planning, emergency response support, public information sharing, emergency response training and exercise coordination, regional grant administration, administration of regionally available disaster response tools and equipment, and hazardous materials response.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the Updated San Mateo County Operational Area Emergency Services Council Joint Powers Agreement, allowing the City of South San Francisco to continue partnering with the County of San Mateo’s Department of Emergency Management and engage in operational area planning with respect to all phases of emergency management including: preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.