SR-09-24-2013-3FReport
City of City I I
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: September 24, 2013
Agenda Item:3F
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Edward F. King, Director of Transit Services
Subject: Mutual Assistance for Public Transit in Emergency Situations
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a
reciprocal agreement for mutual assistance for public transportation services known as
the California Transit Mutual Assistance Compact (TransMAC).
Executive Summary
TransMAC is an emergency mutual assistance agreement for public transit providers
modeled on the same type of mutual aid agreement used by law enforcement, fire and
utilities. The Agreement is designed to create a formal relationship among public transit
providers in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties to provide
support to each other during a response to and recovery from an emergency. The
TransMAC establishes the framework for activation, withdrawal, member
responsibilities, reimbursement, documentation, legal and liability issues yet allows
members to negotiate terms appropriate to the situation. The TransMAC may eventually
expand to include transit agencies throughout the State. The TransMAC does not
require any member to deplete its own resources to furnish mutual assistance.
Background
In 2010, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Orange County
Transportation Authority, California Emergency Management Agency and the Orange
County Sheriff - Coroner Department met with a small group of transit providers in the
region, including Big Blue Bus, to discuss opportunities for a mutual assistance
arrangement among transit providers. In October 2011, this group hosted a Transit
Agencies Mutual Aid /Assistance Program to introduce the concept to transit providers,
police, sheriff, fire and other emergency providers from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside
and San Bernardino counties. The attendees recognized the benefits to the transit
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sector. Based on the high level of interest in developing a program, the attendees
determined to move the project forward and formed a Steering Committee to pursue the
development of a TransMAC.
Big Blue Bus has participated in the development of the TransMAC since 2011. As part
of the regional development process, Big Blue Bus sought guidance and input from the
City Attorney's Office, Risk Management and the Office of Emergency Management and
forwarded information to the Steering Committee for consideration in developing the
final Agreement.
Discussion
TransMAC and its members have established a formal process to receive and provide
mutual assistance to each other in the form of personnel, services, and equipment as
deemed necessary or advisable in an emergency. The California Transit Mutual
Assistance Agreement (attached), sets forth the terms and conditions under which
members agree to provide or receive mutual assistance.
Participating in TransMAC would enable Big Blue Bus to better respond to and recover
from emergencies and disasters while fulfilling its obligation to provide essential transit
services or assist fellow transit providers. The Agreement facilitates rapid, short-term
deployment of emergency support (personnel, equipment, materials and related
services) prior to, during and /or after an incident or pre - planned major event. The
Agreement establishes the framework for activation, withdrawal, responsibilities,
reimbursement, documentation, legal and liability issues yet provides members the
flexibility to negotiate terms appropriate to the situation.
Mutual assistance shall be given when the providing member, at its sole discretion,
determines that its own needs can be met while providing mutual assistance. Executing
the Agreement does not compel the Big Blue Bus to provide any resources at the time
of an emergency; it merely indicates a willingness to do so and abide by the procedures
set out in the Agreement.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action. Staff will return to Council if specific budget actions are required
in the future.
Prepared by: Joseph Stitcher, Chief Administrative Officer
Forwarded to Council:
Edward F. King Rod Gould
Director of Transit Servic, s City Manager
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Reference:
Agreement No. 9801
(CCS)