Item No. 5.
| MEETING DATE: 04/19/2021 |
|
| TO: | HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS |
| FROM: | JIM SADRO, CITY MANAGER By: Adam Foster, Interim Chief of Police |
| SUBJECT: | APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER, OR CHIEF OF POLICE, OR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF ORANGE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINATION EFFORT, PERTAINING TO MUTUAL AID ASSISTANCE, PROVIDED UNDER THE ORANGE COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA AGREEMENT |
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
A. Approve and authorize the City Manager, or Chief of Police, or Director of Finance, or designee to execute a Mutual Aid Agreement with the County of Orange for the COVID-19 Vaccination Effort, pertaining to mutual aid assistance, provided under the Orange County Operational Area Agreement; and
B. APPROVE AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. ____ ENTITLED: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR CHIEF OF POLICE OR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, OR DESIGNEE TO SERVE AS THE CITY’S AGENTS TO EXECUTE FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA ANY ACTIONS NECESSARY FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RELATED TO COSTS INCURRED IN STAFFING COVID-19 VACCINATION POD SITES.
DISCUSSION:
The spread of the COVID-19 virus has created a world-wide pandemic and caused significant health and economic impacts across the globe. On February 25, 2020, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that community spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was likely. On February 26, 2020, the Orange County Health Officer declared a Health Emergency, and that same day, the Chair of the Emergency Management Council issued a Proclamation of Local Emergency pursuant to the requirements of the California Emergency Services Act, which was ratified by the Orange County Board of Supervisors on March 2, 2020.
On March 4, 2020, the Governor of the State of California proclaimed a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act. On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States issued a Major Disaster Declaration for California (FEMA-4482-DR-CA) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to section 501 (b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the “Stafford Act”). This action made the State of California, local and Indian tribal governments, and certain private non-profit (PNP) organizations eligible to apply for reimbursement from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Program.
On March 16, 2020, acting in his capacity as the City of La Habra's Director of Emergency Services, City Manager Jim Sadro proclaimed a declaration of a local public health emergency, and in accordance with La Habra Municipal Code 2.52.060(a)(1), took action necessary for the City to respond to the public health emergency. That declaration was duly ratified by the City Council that same day, and in accordance with Government Code 8550, et seq., including section 8558(c), the City Council has reaffirmed the existence of a public health emergency at 60-day intervals.
On December 31, 2020, the County of Orange (County) launched Operation Independence with the goal of facilitating the vaccination of all willing community members by July 4, 2021. To accomplish this goal, an Incident Management Team was assigned to organize the operations of mass vaccination sites, known as Points of Dispensing (PODs). Because PODs provide mutual benefit to all community members across the County, regardless of the City in which they live or work, the County requested each local jurisdiction provide PODs staffing support. Staffing goals for each jurisdiction are determined upon the proportion of community members living in their jurisdiction.
FEMA has determined that staffing costs expended on the PODs are eligible for reimbursement. FEMA and California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) have requested that PA reimbursement requests from local jurisdictions be submitted electronically through the County. The County will serve as the aggregator and administrator of claims for all jurisdictions acting in support of the larger vaccination effort. The County shall then reimburse the requesting jurisdiction based on what has been approved for reimbursement by FEMA and Cal OES and upon receipt of federal reimbursement funding.
To accomplish this cycle of reimbursement requests and disbursements, mutual aid agreements are required between the County and each requesting jurisdiction. The County Board of Supervisors approved the standard Mutual Aid Agreement for the COVID-19 Vaccination Effort (AGREEMENT) on March 9, 2021 (Attachment 1). City Council approval of the Mutual Aid Agreement would allow the City of La Habra to seek reimbursement for mutual aid costs incurred for the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccination Effort. As a Mutual Aid responding agency, the City of La Habra incurred expenses in staffing COVID-19 Vaccination POD sites. Approval of the agreement provides a means for the City to potentially recover these expenses.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the agreement, as well as authorize by Resolution (Attachment 2), the City Manager, Chief of Police, Director of Finance or designee to execute any actions necessary for the purposes of obtaining federal financial assistance related to this Agreement, provided those actions do not materially change the terms or amount of the City of La Habra’s commitment as it is reflected in the above-referenced agreement.
On March 4, 2020, the Governor of the State of California proclaimed a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act. On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States issued a Major Disaster Declaration for California (FEMA-4482-DR-CA) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to section 501 (b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the “Stafford Act”). This action made the State of California, local and Indian tribal governments, and certain private non-profit (PNP) organizations eligible to apply for reimbursement from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Program.
On March 16, 2020, acting in his capacity as the City of La Habra's Director of Emergency Services, City Manager Jim Sadro proclaimed a declaration of a local public health emergency, and in accordance with La Habra Municipal Code 2.52.060(a)(1), took action necessary for the City to respond to the public health emergency. That declaration was duly ratified by the City Council that same day, and in accordance with Government Code 8550, et seq., including section 8558(c), the City Council has reaffirmed the existence of a public health emergency at 60-day intervals.
On December 31, 2020, the County of Orange (County) launched Operation Independence with the goal of facilitating the vaccination of all willing community members by July 4, 2021. To accomplish this goal, an Incident Management Team was assigned to organize the operations of mass vaccination sites, known as Points of Dispensing (PODs). Because PODs provide mutual benefit to all community members across the County, regardless of the City in which they live or work, the County requested each local jurisdiction provide PODs staffing support. Staffing goals for each jurisdiction are determined upon the proportion of community members living in their jurisdiction.
FEMA has determined that staffing costs expended on the PODs are eligible for reimbursement. FEMA and California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) have requested that PA reimbursement requests from local jurisdictions be submitted electronically through the County. The County will serve as the aggregator and administrator of claims for all jurisdictions acting in support of the larger vaccination effort. The County shall then reimburse the requesting jurisdiction based on what has been approved for reimbursement by FEMA and Cal OES and upon receipt of federal reimbursement funding.
To accomplish this cycle of reimbursement requests and disbursements, mutual aid agreements are required between the County and each requesting jurisdiction. The County Board of Supervisors approved the standard Mutual Aid Agreement for the COVID-19 Vaccination Effort (AGREEMENT) on March 9, 2021 (Attachment 1). City Council approval of the Mutual Aid Agreement would allow the City of La Habra to seek reimbursement for mutual aid costs incurred for the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccination Effort. As a Mutual Aid responding agency, the City of La Habra incurred expenses in staffing COVID-19 Vaccination POD sites. Approval of the agreement provides a means for the City to potentially recover these expenses.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the agreement, as well as authorize by Resolution (Attachment 2), the City Manager, Chief of Police, Director of Finance or designee to execute any actions necessary for the purposes of obtaining federal financial assistance related to this Agreement, provided those actions do not materially change the terms or amount of the City of La Habra’s commitment as it is reflected in the above-referenced agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Executing the agreement will allow the City of La Habra to potentially recover expenses incurred in staffing COVID-19 Vaccination PODs. Any expenses not approved for reimbursement by FEMA will be supported with the City of La Habra’s existing operating budget. At this time, it is unknown how much expense will be incurred by the City in support of the County POD sites as it is anticipated that these POD locations will be in operation for the balance of 2021 and may continue into 2022.
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE:
EP 1.1 through 1.9