PREPARED BY: SARAH MAROOF DATE OF MEETING: 06/01/20
SUBJECT:
TITLE
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO DESIGNATING APPLICANT’S AGENT FOR NON-STATE AGENCIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING CERTAIN FEDERAL AND/OR STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DISASTER RELIEF
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
Enhance Community Resilience- (200) Establish Emergency Response and Recovery is an adopted policy item under the adopted FY 2019-21 Council Priority Workplan, as amended May 18, 2020.
CEQA Compliance Statement
This resolution is deemed not a project under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5): Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. If deemed a project, then the approval of the resolution is deemed exempt from CEQA pursuant to the following separate and independent basis: Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that the ordinance has no potential to cause a significant effect on the environment; and Section 15269(c) because adoption of this resolution is to mitigate an emergency.
BACKGROUND
COVID-19 and Declaration of an Emergency
Following declarations of emergency by the State of California, Contra Costa County and the Federal government, the City Council of the City of San Pablo adopted Resolution 2020-034 on March 16, 2020 proclaiming the existence of a local emergency due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Since then, the Governor of California has issued several executive orders in light of COVID-19, including Executive Order N-33-20 on March 19, 2020 directing all residents in the State of California to stay at home except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructure sectors and as designated by the State Public Health Officer as critical to protect the health and well-being of all Californians.
In addition, on March 31, 2020, the Contra Costa Health Services Officer, in conjunction with other Bay Area Health Officers, issued further Shelter-in-Place orders through May 3, 2020 which were subsequently extended through May 31, 2020. Resources can be found at these links: <https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/>; <https://covid19.ca.gov/>.
On April 6, 2020, April 20, 2020, May 4, 2020, and May 18, 2020, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services. A similar action will be before the City Council at its meeting on June 1, 2020.
The City of San Pablo may be eligible for reimbursement under the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) of up to 75% of funds used for “Category B” emergency expenditures, including: (1) purchases of materials and supplies directly related to CalOES Event No. 4482DR-CA (COVID-19); and (2) the cost of overtime hours by non-exempt employees directly attributable to CalOES Event No. 4482DR-CA (COVID-19).
As part of the FEMA project application for Public Assistance for disaster relief funds, the City Council must designate an agent to apply for and receive funds on behalf of the City. The Designation of Applicant’s Agency Resolution for Non-State Agencies (Cal OES Form 130), attached to this staff report, designates the following City Officials to apply for and/or receive such funds on behalf of the City of San Pablo: Matt Rodriguez, City Manager; Reina Schwartz, Assistant City Manager; and Kelly Sessions, Administrative Services Director. This Designation of Applicant’s Agent Resolution is a universal resolution and is effective for all open and future disasters for up to three years following the date of approval.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of this resolution may result in increased revenues received by the City in the form of federal and/or state disaster relief reimbursement funds. However, there are no guarantees given the scope of this disaster and prudent budgeting is still warranted.