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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 06101997 - C33 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM. PHIL BATCHELOR, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Costa County June 2, 1997 y.,.. DATE: cu SUBJECT: LEGISLATION: OPPOSE EFFORTS TO REORGANIZE THE STATE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES SPECIFIC REOUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: ADOPT a position in OPPOSITION to efforts by Senator Quentin Kopp to reorganize the State Office of Emergency Services, reassigning its programs to other State agencies and abolishing the Office. BACKGROUND: We have been advised that one of the Senate Budget Subcommittees, chaired by Senator Kopp, has voted to reorganize the State Office of Emergency Services, moving the Fire Branch to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Urban Search and Rescue Training to the State Fire Marshal, the Law Branch to the California Highway Patrol and distributing the functions of the Disaster Assistance Office to the Controller, Franchise Tax Board and Department of Finance. Breaking up the State Office of Emergency Services would be counterproductive to the efforts which have been underway for the past several years to integrate and coordinate response functions in case of a disaster. This would severely impact the ability of the State to provide consistent and coordinated support to local governments before, during and after disasters. The Governor opposes this move. The State Sheriffs' Association opposes this change. Locally, the Sheriff's Office has indicated its opposition, as has the Health Services Director. 7 CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIc.:NATURE: v RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER +� SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON __ APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED x OTHER une , VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED June 10, 1997 Contact: PHIL BATCHELOR.CLERK OF THE BOARD OF CC: SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR See Page 2 BY J DEPUTY C. 33 The attached document outlines the role of State OES in Mutual Aid in case of a disaster. This County has found State OES of tremendous assistance in coordinating response to disasters and in providing resources and training to staff. We are, therefore, urging the Board to oppose this effort. cc: County Administrator Sheriff-Coroner Health Services Director Director, Office of Emergency Services Les Spahnn Heim, Noack, Kelly & Spahnn 1121 L Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814 -2- kY. 16. 1997 1 14P OES CO REOC 510-286-0853 NO. 0393 P. 2/9 0 E S " CALIFORNIA 7k Coastal Region PEM,=Ncrav&ro, May 16, 1997 Coastal Region Emergency Managers: On Monday evening,the Senate Budget Sub-Committee,Chaired by Senator Quentin Kopp,voted to reorganize the Office of Emergency Services,removing the Fire and Law Mutual Aid Systems. The Sub-Committee proposed moving the Fire Branch to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection(CDF),Urban Search and Rescue Training to 'the State Fire Marshall,and the Law Branch to the California Highway Patrol_ In addition,the Sub-Committee recommended distributing the functions of the Disaster Assistance Division among the Controller's Office,the Franchise Tax Board,and the Department of Finance. The recommendations of the Sub-Committee would decentralize disaster preparedness, disaster support and recovery functions,and would seriously impact the ability to provide consistent and coordinated support to local governments before,during and after disasters. At a time when California has raised the level of effectiveness of its emergency management system through the implementation of SEMS,which emphasized the integration and coordination of response functions,it seems particularly counter- productive to compartmentalize disaster response functions within separate agencies. The Governor,Director Andrews,the California Police Chief s Association,the California Sheriffs Association,and numerous other groups representing the emergency management profession oppose the recommendations of the Sub•Committee:.Please contact your State Legislators,particularly your Senator, to Iet them know. -the negative impact that their proposal will have on your ability to respond to disast&. Sincerely, c ' RICHARD K. EISNER, FAIA Regional Administrator 1300 Clay Street • Suite 400 4 Oakland California 94612-1425 (510)286-0895 FAX(510)286-0853 MAY. 16. 19979. 1 : 14POES CO REOC 510-286-0853 N0. 0393 P. 3/9 I TM UES ROLE N MUTUAL AEE 0 The Emergency Servicbl s Act{ESA) builds upon Constitutiona Powers of the Governor as detailed in Article V Section 1 of the const udon, It describes whd is in cLwge during emergencies and who provides support. Basically,local juri!.r'actions are in charge; state age" cies and unaffected jurisdictions provide support through mutual aid systems that the Office of Emergency,Somees(OES) oversees on behalf of the Govamor.Effective emergenpy management requires seamless integrmion of government and privam resources ti om many disciplines and from all levels (Iocal, state and federal), coordinated and directed in the service: )f local government. The OES Mission is to ensure this end result in California through: • Planning and operating the Mutual Aid systems • Developing and maint8lning the Standardized Emergency Management System(SEMS) • Interfacing with the Federal Government • Coordinating and brokering resources from all sources I tAY. 16. 19978 1 : 15PM GOES CO REOC 510 286-0853 N0, 0393 P. 4/9 f'.j/4 • Evaluating the throat I Developing& #aiaing the State Emergency Plan • Responding to and sup�orting local government through established i procedures and protocols The LSA assigns these responsibilities to OES on behalf of the i Governor : §8550 " . , , To i�,sur'e that prep=tions within the state will be adequate to deal with(natural,manmade, or war-caused injuries), it is hereby declared necessary: . . (d) To provide for the rendering of mutual aid by the state government., (e) To authorize the establishment of such organizations and the taking Of such actions as are necessary and proper to cavy out the provisions of this chapter." While they provide significant resosrces to support the mutual aid systems, The California Highway Patrai (CHP) and The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection(CFFP) do not have the multi- agency, ultiagency, multi-fumctiotW responsibility thza the OES Director and the Governor have under the ES�- CHP was able to absorb the State Police because they are similar fundtions; i.e. both are law enforcement first responders. Law and fire m*al aid systems include coordination with many agencies outside CDF's and C I P's first responder rote. Law mutual i i MAY. 16. 19979 SPtIgm 0OES CO REOC 510-286-0853 NO. 0393 P. 5/9 .,...".....i„ ... P.4i4 ir aid involves coordination wrth lova,1 jooIYG�.dtpaxtmexgs, wildemaess search and rescue operations, and county coroners. Fire mutual aid involves fine departments, urban search at d rescue teams,and local environmental health departments involved with hazardous materials. OES coordinates state resources through assigning missions to state i departments. For example,OES assigns missions to departments with sworn peace officers, includi`g but not limited to, CB?. The Departmeht of i • ' Fish and Game, Parks and Recreation,tae Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Justice. The OES is the central,indeptndeat arbiter of the mutual aid system It manages all mutual aid umt er the direct authority of the Governor and ensures that the response of all discipline: is coordinated, including,but not limited to law and fire.'This premise b 2r served Califortua through major historic emergencies and is seen by cots states as the model for how I emergency management should be accomplished in a high-risk state. Now that SEMS is operational, it would be a serious step backwards to separate i the law and fire mutual aid systems from the overall coordination function performed by OES. I 1 4 I CSTIMAY 16 '97 09=4301 SCC OESiEOC I B805) 549-3535 5/15/97O 3:35 PP.-1/1 1/t STATE OF CALIFORNIA PETE WILSON,GOVERNOR GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES 0 - Y C&Ufornia Specialized Training Institute P.O.Box 812.3 San Luis Obispo,California 93403-8123 Phone: (805)349-3535 Fsa: (805)544-7103 May 15, 1997 IWORTANT MESSAGE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Sub-Committee Q of the California State Senate Budget Cm nittee, Chaired by Quentin Kopp is in the process of recammmding to the State Senate the total reorganization of the mutual aid system by transferring the OES Law Branch to the California Highway Patrol(CHP), the Fire Branch to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection(CDF� and the Urbaa Search and Rescue 7rahung to the State Fire Marshall, effective January 1, 1998. This would decentralize the disaster support function and potentially reduce the coordinated support to meet local governments needs in an emergency and disaster. The Governor, the Director and all of us in the Emergency Management CQzuz= ily, feel that this move is vaunter productive to our achievements for California's disaster preparedness. Please aantact your State Legislators and, in particular,your State Senators and let them know the significance of such a proposal on the support you need and expect from the State. JOHN MIROLLA, Director California Specialized Training Institute �-1 -•1 yy/ I U:U/MI.I r I!UM MUI-<AU-1 F'U/F'LAIViV 1 IVh n I YJ --i/o z6t)o P_ I Town of Moraga Police Department. Facsimile Transmission Cover Sheet To: eek Date: 6-1517 Fax#: Phone#: Pages, including the cover sheet: From: Return Fax (510) 376-2850 Reference: af OAY�) Message: -o fad The doc-aa.at being traasaitted is intended only for the use of tba individual or entity to which It is addressed, +wd may Contain inforsKtion that is privileged, confidential and/or exempt frac disclosure under applicable lav, if the reader of thisfaessage is not the intended recipient, or U%o wWlayoe or agent r+syonsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are bereby notified that any dissewInation, dlstribution or co77ylaq of this eoasaaniaation is strictly prohibited. if you have received this communication in error, pleasv notify ai inamodiately by telophona (510-376-2515) and return the original awesJrge via the United States Postal Service to NMACA POLICE DEPARTKaTr, 350 Rhe Blvd.. Horaga, Ca. 96556. Tbawk you. V • � yb/ 1 V_I: 7GHM r F(UI•I IIU'tNlsH rL//rL11VIV 1 IVh >I U � o �u.�e.i - AY-14-97 WED 05:32 PH CPOA FAX NO. 916 2636090 P. 02/04 CPCA ALERT In a surprise move, a subcommittee of the Senate Budget Committee, chaired by Senator Kapp, voted to fund the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) for only the last six months of 1997, and effective January 1, 1998, to transfer all operational, financial and management responsibilities to other State agencies thus eliminating OES_ Specifically, law enforcement mutual aid would be transferred to the CHP, fire mutual aid would be transferred to CDF, and financial aid and other programs would be transferred to various other State agencies. This effort is being put forth under the guise of streamlining State government. The process of passing the measure included only short and superficial information in support of the proposed action provided by the Office of the Legislative Analyst and from the full-time professional lobbyistrepresenting the California Association of Highway Patrol Officers. The extremely short notice given OES (four hours)on the law enforcement issue did not allow for the inclusion of any outside opinion on the merit of the issue. With no other input, uicl ding that of the-prof essional law enforcement community,the measure was swiftly put to a vote and unanimously adopted by the three voting members. If passed by the full Budget Committee, this action will reorganize the present Law Enforcement Mutual Aid System with certain very questionable consequences. OES isExecutive Agency reporting directly to ithe Governor, which enabz to coordinate local and state resources with complete impartiality. OES Law Enforcement Branch does not have any officers to be deployed itself, which positions OES Law Enforcement Branch as an impartial arbiter of statewide law enforcement resources. Such a substantive change, after nearly 5 years of successful system coordination is bound to cause confusion in authority, responsibility, and potential conflict with local agencies' independence and sovereignty. • ��1 yy I U UGHL1 r IiUfl f•1UKHhH rU/rLHIVIV 11V1..+ 7 I lJ � O LG�YJ r• J ,IY-14-97 WED 05:33 PM CFOA FAX NO. 916 2535090 F.03/04 Finally,the relocation of the Law Enforcement Mutual Aid coordinator responsibilities to the California Highway Patrol would extract the law enforcement discipline from the rest of the disaster and emergency response disciplines. Just as we are entering into the full use of the Standardized Emergency Management System, it seems counter productive to separate the law enforcement discipline from all other emergency response agencies as it relates to Mutual Aid. Attached are the members of the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees. We are requesting that all CPCA members immediately write_ letters expressing opposition to this effort and supporting the full funding of OES. The Commissioner of the CHP and the OSSA are also opposed to this effort. e • i—1 y�/ I VJ:t7Gsa1•'1 r KU`I 1'+)L/K1al,aH .+Y-14.97 WED 05:33 Pn CPOA FAX NO. 916 2636090 F. 04/04 SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE Mike Thompson, Chair Cathie Wright,Vice Chair Jim Brulte Steve Peace Tun Costa Richard Polanco Rob Hurts Adam Schiff Quentin Kopp Byron Sher Ken Maddy Hilda Solis Jack O'Connell Diane Watson ASSEMBLY BUDGET CO Denise Duch=y, Chair Gary Miller, Vice Chair Barbara Alby Fred Keeley Roy Ashburn Wally Knox Tun Battin Lynn Leach Debra Bowen Ted Lernpert Robert Campbell Jinn Morrissey Tony Cardenas Jack Scott Denise Cardoza Virginia Strom-MaTtin Jim Cunneen Bruce Thompson Susan Davis Tom Torlakson Martha Escutia Antonio Villaraigosa Liz Figueroa Rod Wright, Chair of Sub#4 Martin Gallegos George House