SR-03-19-2013-3FC;,Y of City Council Report
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: March 19, 2013
Agenda Item: ,3iF
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ken Semko, Emergency Manager
Subject: Withdrawal from Joint Powers Agreement to Provide Inter - Agency
Cooperation in Major Natural or Man -Made Disaster (Disaster
Management Area A)
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to file a written
Notice of Intention of the City of Santa Monica to withdraw from Disaster Management
Area A pursuant to Joint Powers Agreement to Provide Inter - Agency Cooperation in
Major Natural or Man -Made Disaster (Disaster Management Area A).
Executive Summary
The Joint Powers Agreement was entered into by and among the County of Los
Angeles and the cities in Disaster Management Area A, which includes the cities of
Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Culver City and West Hollywood, to provide for inter-
agency cooperation in natural or man -made disasters. In the past several years new
and more efficient models for inter - agency cooperation in the event of a natural or
manmade disaster within Disaster Management area A have been created.
Coordination of disaster related operations, policies, and information would continue
with the Disaster Management Area A cities and the Los Angeles County Operational
Area even if Santa Monica withdraws from the Joint Powers Agreement.
Background
In 1999, the City of Santa Monica entered into a Joint Powers Agreement with Disaster
Management Area A cities of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Culver City and West
Hollywood to Provide Inter - Agency Cooperation in Major Natural or Man -Made Disaster.
At the time of its creation, the Joint Powers Agreement was the only means to provide
dissemination of emergency preparedness grant funding to the Area A cities, through
Los Angeles County. However, since 1999, the City of Santa Monica has taken
significant steps to ensure its internal disaster readiness and ability to provide inter-
agency cooperation. Furthermore, since 1999, Los Angeles County has developed
1
additional mechanisms for disseminating emergency management grant funding as well
as information sharing outside of the Joint Powers Agreement
Discussion
The Joint Powers Agreement was created at a time when the emergency management
functions in Los Angeles County were in their formative stages. In the past several
years new and more efficient models for inter - agency cooperation in the event of a
natural or manmade disaster within Disaster Management area A have been created.
At this time, it is recommended that the Area A cities continue to work together
regarding emergency management; however, it is staff's recommendation that the Joint
Powers Agreement is no longer necessary to ensure coordination among the respective
parties. The funding of Area A activities will not be affected due to the availability of
Homeland Security funding that did not exist when the Agreement was implemented.
The Joint Powers Agreement provides that any party to the Agreement may withdraw at
any time during the term of the Agreement by filing a Notice of Intention. The Joint
Powers Agreement further provides that a withdrawal will become effective as of July 1
of any given year so long as the Notice of Intention is filed by April 1.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action to withdraw from the Joint Powers Agreement. The funding of
Area A activities will not be affected due to the availability of Homeland Security funding
that did not exist when the Agreement was implemented.
Prepared by: Paul Weinberg, Emergency Services Coordinator
Appr ved: A Forwarded to Council:
Ken gen ko Rod Gould
Eme cy M nager City Manager
2