Title
Staff Report for a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Mutual Assistance Agreement with California Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (CalWARN) that Approves the City of San Leandro Become a Member of a Statewide Emergency Response Agency Comprised of Public and Private Water and Wastewater Utilities
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager or a designated representative to execute a California Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (CalWARN) 2007 Omnibus Mutual Assistance Agreement Signature page that approves the City of San Leandro become a member of a statewide emergency response agency comprised of public and private water and wastewater utilities.
BACKGROUND
In 2013, the City contracted with RMC Water & Environment to perform a Sewer System Management and Maintenance Program Review. One of the opportunities for improvement offered to the City in draft recommendations from the review was to develop formal mutual aid agreements with neighboring agencies to strengthen the City’s emergency response position. After contacting neighboring jurisdictions regarding mutual aid agreements, staff learned that most wastewater treatment agencies in this area already belong to the CalWARN mutual assistance network.
It can take 72 hours or longer for assistance to arrive from the state or federal government after a state of emergency is declared. Because first responders, local businesses, community and health services, and the public continue to rely on wastewater services during and after an emergency, and because service disruptions can make recovery efforts even more difficult, staff believes it is prudent to plan ahead so that assistance is in place for rapid, effective response and recovery. Public and private water and wastewater utilities, both large and small, can participate in the Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN), a utilities-helping-utilities program that uses mutual aid and assistance agreements, which are established and signed prior to an emergency, to help affected utilities quickly obtain resources such as personnel, equipment, materials, and related services from utility signatories to the WARN agreement. In an emergency, WARN support is engaged when local resources are overwhelmed or unable to provide needed resources. WARN can be activated prior to an emergency declaration by any impacted signatory utility in response to an emergency, and aid can arrive quickly, saving critical response time.
Analysis
The mission of the California Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (CalWARN) is to support and promote statewide emergency preparedness, disaster response, and mutual assistance matters for public and private water and wastewater utilities.
CalWARN does this by providing its members with emergency planning, response and recovery information before, during and after an emergency. The program provides its member utilities with:
• A standard omnibus mutual assistance agreement and process for sharing emergency resources among members statewide.
• The resources to respond and recover more quickly from a disaster.
• A mutual assistance program consistent with other statewide mutual aid programs and the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
• A forum for developing and maintaining emergency contacts and relationships.
• New ideas from lessons learned in disasters.
There is no cost to join the Water Agency Response Network. It is supported by volunteers from members across the state including:
• East Bay Municipal Utility District
• Oro Loma Sanitary District
• Union Sanitary District
• City of Hayward
• Dublin San Ramon Services District
• City of Livermore
The WARN Omnibus Mutual Assistance Agreement is available to all public and private water utilities in California. All actions, recommendations, etc. are made in accordance with the CalWARN Articles of Agreement (attached). Benefits include:
• Water/wastewater utilities are able to establish a contractual relationship under which they are able to share resources during an emergency at the discretion of each participating agency.
• A single agreement provides access to statewide water/wastewater utility resources.
• Strengthens the network of mutual assistance resources.
• Meets DHS FEMA mutual aid requirements for reimbursement consideration.
• Is consistent with SEMS and the California Emergency Services Act.
• Provides a list of emergency contacts and phone numbers.
• Access to a statewide emergency resource database.
• Indemnification and workers compensation provisions to protect participating utilities, and provides for reimbursement of costs between utilities sharing resources.
Applicable General Plan Policies
• Policy 32.03 Interagency Coordination, establish partnerships and task forces with agencies and with nearby cities as needed to develop programs addressing issues that cross jurisdictional lines.
• Goal 34, Emergency Preparedness, attain-and sustain-comprehensive and highly effective emergency preparedness and recovery programs.
Fiscal Impacts
There is no cost to join the Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment to Staff Report
• Articles of Agreement, California Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network WARN 2007 Omnibus Mutual Assistance Agreement
Attachment to Related Legislative File
• Signature Page, California Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (CalWARN) 2007 Omnibus Mutual Assistance Agreement
PREPARED BY: Judy Walker, Administrative Analyst I, Water Pollution Control Plant