Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing an Interlocal Cooperative Emergency Management Agreement Related to Regional Mutual Aid
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the resolution authorizing an interlocal cooperative emergency management agreement related to regional mutual aid and directing the City Manager to sign the agreement
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Interlocal Cooperative Emergency Management Agreement.
Staff Contact:
Patrick Knouff, Emergency Management Coordinator, Olympia Fire Department 360.709.2701
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
The sharing of resources in the time of disaster is a principle that local and regional emergency management plans have built upon for years. This sharing of resources has become all the more important as we have seen how difficult large events such as Superstorm Sandy can be to manage. We have also seen that smaller, local events can benefit from the sharing of resources in a timely manner. Having an omnibus mutual aid agreement executed before a disaster is one of the tools Emergency Managers use to protect citizens.
This agreement applies to Homeland Security Region 3, which is composed of the cities, counties and tribes in Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor, and Pacific counties that choose to work together in Emergency Management. The region has been in place since 2001. The original agreement was signed in 2008, renewed in 2013, and has reached its expiration. This request is to sign a new agreement for an additional five years. There are no other changes to the agreement.
The Region 3 agreement is an overarching agreement that allows the sharing of available resources by Emergency Management entities that have opted into the agreement. This agreement could be invoked where there are no other more specific agreements for mutual aid in place. Having this agreement in place clears up some of the complex legal discussions that should take place when resources are needed in an emergency. Often, these discussions are overlooked due to the dire need at the time or worse, the needed aid is never sent, because an agreement is not in place.
The agreement provides the structure for a Regional Incident Management Team (IMT) to exist. The Olympia Fire Department contributes to employees to the IMT. The IMT has deployed for line-of-duty deaths, search and rescue, flooding, landslides, etc. Regional resources associated with the IMT are available to all signatories.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
N/A
Options:
Option 1 - Approve the agreement and direct the City Manager to sign the document.
Implications
1. Ability to request or provide resources to agreement signatories in a legally reviewed manner.
2. The agreement is consistent with the City Council’s priority to improve effectiveness of government by working together.
Option 2 - Reject the agreement
Implications
1. Inability to request or provide resources to agreement signatories in a legally reviewed manner.
2. If resources are provided or accepted without this agreement in place, there is potential for liabilities to occur for both the borrower and lender.
Financial Impact:
None. In addition to the other items detailed in the background portion, this agreement streamlines the federal reimbursement process during federally declared disasters by providing a structure for documenting the costs associated with inter-jurisdictional resource sharing.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement