TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM: ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
SUBJECT: NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No. 2005 -XX, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes adopting the National Incident Management System as the City’s standard for emergency management.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On February 28, 2003 President Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-5) for the Department of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS). This system provides a consistent nation-wide template to enable Federal, State, local and private sector and nongovernmental organizations to work together effectively and efficiently to manage domestic incidents (including terrorism and natural disasters). NIMS represents a core set of doctrine, concepts, terminology and organizational processes for standard incident management organization, communications and information management, and preparedness measures.
NIMS is largely based upon the California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) which California has used successfully for nearly a decade. However, there are some differences and enhancements to the SEMS concept such as incorporating NIMS into existing training and exercises for first responders and all persons who are involved in emergency response efforts. But these changes are not a radical departure from the basic SEMS program.
The Department of Homeland Security has notified all recipients of Federal anti terrorism grants that adoption of and compliance with NIMS is required for future participation in these grants. Furthermore, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) has begun the process of integrating the NIMS program into SEMS. Ultimately, in California, SEMS will be synonymous with NIMS, and all government agencies will be required to use the changed SEMS in order to qualify for post disaster personnel cost reimbursement, as well as to qualify for Federal anti-terrorism grants.
At present, NIMS is a work in progress, and not all the minute details have been finalized. Similarly, the OES integration of NIMS and SEMS is not yet fixed. Because of this, compliance with NIMS is a phased process.
For the City, the first action in this phased adoption of NIMS would be for the City Council to adopt the attached draft resolution adopting the National Incident Management System as the City’s standard for emergency management.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of compliance cannot be determined at this time, however, staff involved in emergency response and emergency management will need to be trained in the coming year. Currently some training coursework is available on-line at no cost.
The cost of non-compliance is also undetermined, but could be substantial, given the loss of Federal anti-terrorism grants and the potential loss of emergency response costs from a disaster.
Respectfully submitted,
Gina Park
Assistant to the City Manager
Reviewed,
Les Evans
City Manager
Attachment: Resolution 2005-XX
RESOLUTION NO. 2005-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES ADOPTING THE
NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AS THE
CITY’S STANDARD FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has already adopted and uses California’s Standardized Emergency System for emergency management, and
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes desires to provide the community with the best capability to rapidly and efficiently respond to emergencies and disasters in conjunction with all Federal, State, and local emergency agencies and personnel, and
WHEREAS, the President of the United States has issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-5), which ordered the creation of the National Incident Management System for all public agencies in the United States to work together more effectively and efficiently to prepare for, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, and
WHEREAS, the National Incident Management System provides for interoperability and compatibility among Federal, State, and local capabilities including standardized organizational structure, resource management, principals, terminology and uniform standards for planning and training, and reporting, and
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes desires to improve the City’s ability to utilize federal funding to enhance local readiness, maintain first responder safety and streamline incident management processes by adopting the national standard for organizing and responding to emergencies and disasters, including terrorism, human caused events and natural disasters, and
WHEREAS, the failure to adopt the NIMS as the requisite emergency system may preclude reimbursement to the City for costs expended during and after a declared emergency or disaster.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES that we formally adopt the National Incident Management System, and will participate in the phased implementation of the National Incident Management System.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 20th day of September 2005.
_____________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
City Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, Carolynn Petru, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the above Resolution No. 2005-XX was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on September 20, 2005.
______________________________
City Clerk