REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 5, 2024
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Post-Event Memorandum of Agreement for Emergency Mutual Aid
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve a Post-Event Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Los Angeles and San Bernardino County for emergency mutual aid from September 17, 2024, through September 24, 2024.
(Presenter: Crisanta Gonzalez, Director of Emergency Management, 356-3988)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The recommended Post-Event Memorandum of Agreement (PEMOA) between the County and the City of Los Angeles establishes a contractual agreement under which the County will compensate the City of Los Angeles for mutual aid emergency management services it provided during the Bridge and Line Fires. The estimated cost of these services is expected to be less than $20,000. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the Office of Emergency Services (OES) 2024-25 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On September 5, 2024, a vegetation fire, referred to as the Line Fire, occurred within the boundaries of the County, posing a threat to lives, property, and the environment within County communities. Prompting the County Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator to issue evacuation warnings and orders. On September 7, 2024, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), acting as the Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency. On September 10, 2024 (Item No. 87) the Board ratified the action taken by the CEO.
On September 8, 2024, another vegetation fire, known as the Bridge Fire, began to rapidly spread within Los Angeles County adjacent to the County’s border. On September 10, 2024, the Bridge Fire crossed into the County near the community of Wrightwood, posing an immediate threat to lives, structures, property, and the environment within County communities. Prompting the County Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator to issue evacuation warnings and orders. On September 10, 2024, the CEO, acting as the County Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency. On September 12, 2024 (Item No. 1), the Board ratified the action taken by the CEO during an emergency Board meeting.
As a result of the Line Fire and Bridge Fire, the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) requested geographic information system (GIS) personnel support from surrounding jurisdictions. From September 17 to September 24, 2024, the City of Los Angeles provided emergency management personnel with expertise in GIS and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. dashboards to support the County’s EOC. This support significantly enhanced the County’s ability to understand, track and manage fire-related data, allocate resources efficiently, and maintain a countywide operational overview.
This Item recommends approval of the PEMOA to formalize the mutual aid request process allowing the County to fulfill its emergency management.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 21, 2024; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on October 21, 2024; Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) October 22, 2024.