DATE: September 10, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Jean M. Rousseau, County Administrative Officer/Emergency Services Director
SUBJECT: Proclamation and Ratification of the existence of a Local Emergency - 2020 Creek Fire
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Resolution proclaiming and ratifying a Local Emergency, as a result of the 2020 Creek Fire.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will ensure that the local emergency status proclaimed by the Emergency Services Director on September 5, 2020, remains in effect and allows for the potential recovery of eligible costs.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
No viable options are available.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommended action is necessary to ensure specific liability protection, emergency powers of the Emergency Services Director, and potential recovery of eligible costs, if any, from State and Federal emergency funds.
DISCUSSION:
California Government Code (GC), section (§) 8630 authorizes proclamation of a local emergency by your Board or by an official so designated by ordinance when your Board is not in session and cannot immediately be called into session. Fresno County Ordinance Code, Chapter 2.44, designates the County Administrative Officer as the Emergency Services Director. Pursuant to County Ordinance, your Board is requested to confirm the proclamation of a local emergency within seven days by ratifying the proclamation and adopting the resolution.
Commencing on September 4, 2020, the Creek Fire adversely impacted the residents, visitors, businesses, utility infrastructure and natural resources within the mountain communities of Big Creek, Huntington Lake, and Shaver Lake areas of the County. The magnitude and rapid rate of growth of this wildfire is unprecedented in the County of Fresno.
Pursuant to GC, §8630 and County Ordinance, Chapter 2.44 on September 5, 2020, due to the rapid rate of growth of the wildfire, the Emergency Services Director proclaimed the existence of a local emergency. On September 6, 2020, the Governor of the State of California proclaimed a state of emergency to exist in Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa Counties as a result of the Creek Fire.
County Ordinance, Chapter 2.44 requires your Board to review the need to continue the local emergency at least once every 30 days until terminated. The local emergency must be terminated at the earliest possible date when conditions warranting the proclamation have ended.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution
On file with Clerk - Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency
CAO ANALYST:
Raul Guerra