HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-06-22; City Council; 20278; CERT program modificationCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL 19
AB# 20,278
MTG. 6/22/10
DEPT. FIRE
CARLSBAD COMMUNITY EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM (CERT) PROGRAM
MODIFICATION
DEPT. DIRECTOR V*"
CITY ATTORNEY
CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDED ACTION: None. Provided for information.
ITEM EXPLANATION:
Resolution No. 2008-112 authorized the implementation of the Carlsbad Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. During the past two years, the Carlsbad Fire
Department has conducted four CERT academies and created a CERT of approximately 100
resident volunteers. CERT volunteers have contributed to community preparedness by
participating in advanced shelter training, advanced CPR/AED training, resident H1N1
vaccinations, hazardous weather reporting, earthquake damage assessment reporting,
community education and outreach and many other public safety-related activities.
While volunteer performance has been exceptional, these past two years have elevated the
importance of further strengthening CERT program organization and control. Additional
training in CERT command, control, communications, organization and incident response
procedures, beyond that offered through the basic federal CERT program, will improve
Carlsbad's program. This training can be developed and provided by Carlsbad Fire
Department.
Achieving this enhanced capability within the existing annual program budget would involve
shifting program focus from CERT membership expansion to sustained and advanced training
of existing CERT volunteers. While Resolution No. 2008-112 does not proscribe the number of
CERT Academies the City will conduct annually, original Agenda Bill 19,404, in the "Item
Explanation" section states, "that two annual academies would be held per year." This
modification amends that section by removing the reference to a specific academy periodicity.
CERT program effectiveness is best maintained by balancing team size, team stability,
available resources and training. With the flexibility to schedule CERT Academies as needed to
maintain maximum program effectiveness, the Carlsbad Fire Department will maintain a safe,
quality CERT program that enhances public safety, while remaining cognizant of training needs,
available program resources and resident interest.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: None.
EXHIBITS:I'AB 19.404.
DEPARTMENT CONTACT: David Harrison 760 931-2137 David.Harrison@carlsbadca.gov
FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY.
COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED
DENIED
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COUNCIL RF.CF.TVF.n INFORMATION
CITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL 10
AB# 19,404
MTG. 04/15/08
DEPT. FIRE/CM
APPROVAL OF CARLSBAD
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE
TEAM (CERT) PROGRAM AND
PROVIDING WORKERS'
COMPENSATION BENEFITS
DEPT. HEAD
CITY ATTY.
CITY MGR.
UT—
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Council adopts Resolution No. 2008-112 authorizing the implementation of the Carlsbad
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program and extending Workers'
Compensation benefits to CERT volunteers.
ITEM EXPLANATION: ,
Volunteers are important in Carlsbad service delivery, as demonstrated by the Special
Volunteer Action Team (SVAT), Police Department's Senior Volunteer Patrol, and other City
volunteer programs. In FY 2006-07, the value of volunteer services to the City exceeded $1
million dollars. With the persistent threat from wildfire; the potential risk presented by
earthquake, pandemic flu, or other natural disasters, and increased demands by residents for
community disaster preparedness services; the implementation of a Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) volunteer program will become increasingly valuable to the City.
Volunteers with high skill levels have expressed interest in serving the Carlsbad community by
participating in a Community Emergency Response Team. With a membership of properly
selected and trained volunteers, CERT will help the City better meet its emergency
preparedness and response service mission. The skills and services offered by CERT-trained
volunteers are not found in any other City volunteer program.
Carlsbad CERT volunteers will be trained to assist others in basic emergency response until
arrival of professional First Responders. Although in recent years, some CERT organizations
have utilized CERT members in incident response support positions in command posts and
operations centers, Carlsbad's CERT will focus on community assistance, information sharing,
evacuation sites and shelters. Carlsbad's special needs populations will be a priority to receive
CERT assistance. CERT can assist with non-emergency projects that improve the safety of the
community. However, CERT members will be specifically precluded from the following: (1)
performing the duties or taking the place of professional Firefighters and First Responders; (2)
serving as a reserve or volunteer fire fighting force; (3) entering heavily damaged or dangerous
structures; (4) performing hazardous material cleanup; or (5) deploying without specific
authorization. To date, CERT teams have been successfully implemented and utilized in 16
San Diego County jurisdictions.
DEPARTMENT CONTACT: David Harrison 760-931-2137 dharr@ci.carlsbad.ca.us
FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY.
COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED
DENIED
CONTINUED
WITHDRAWN
AMENDED
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CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN
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Standard disaster preparedness guidelines warn every citizen to be prepared to be self-
sufficient for the first 72 hours of a disaster. Firestorm 2007 reaffirmed this warning. Currently
in Carlsbad, no program exists to assist residents in the preparation for and response to
disasters. CERT will help to close this community service gap. The Carlsbad Emergency
Preparedness Coordinator, the Carlsbad Fire Department, and the City's Volunteer Coordinator
are committed to the recruitment, training, implementation and sustainment of a Carlsbad
CERT Program, which is based upon the above-noted foundational guidelines. The Police
Department's successful Senior Volunteer Patrol Program can serve as a model for CERT's
implementation, administration and management, while Carlsbad's Volunteer Program's pre-
established procedures and tools will be utilized for CERT Program advertisement, registration
and administration.
Upon City Council approval, City staff could begin CERT Program volunteer recruitment, with
CERT training beginning as early as June 2008, with initial Team certification by August 2008.
Two annual CERT Academies will be held for approximately 20 students per Academy. CERT
Academy training will be provided by Carlsbad Public Safety staff primarily at the Safety Center.
CERT Programs do involve manageable risks, which can be mitigated through effective team
leadership, training and team membership quality control.
Registered CERT members shall be deemed to be employees of the City of Carlsbad for the
sole purpose of extending Workers' Compensation benefits for injuries incurred while
performing volunteer services for the City and such benefits will be the sole and exclusive
remedy in the event of injuries while performing volunteer CERT activities. Further, registered
CERT member volunteers are covered under the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 which
provides immunity when acting in the scope and course of his/her volunteer duties.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CERT Program implementation and sustainment costs are approximately $10,000 to $12,000
per year. Federal Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Reimbursement Grant funding is
available to fund the FY 2008-09 CERT implementation and start up costs. However, grant
funds are not currently available to fund additional years of the CERT Program. As such, the
CERT Program costs will be absorbed within the existing Fire Department Emergency
Preparedness Program budget beginning in FY 2009-10.
There is no way to predict the fiscal impact of this resolution related to Workers' Compensation
claims; however, it is anticipated to be very small.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
This activity is not a project and is therefore not subject to State CEQA pursuant to State CEQA
Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2).
EXHIBITS:
1. Resolution No. 2008-112 approving Carlsbad CERT Program
1 RESOLUTION NO. 2008-112
2 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING THE
3 CARLSBAD COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE
, TEAM (CERT) PROGRAM AND EXTENDING THE CITY'S
WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE TO CERT
5 VOLUNTEERS
6
WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad is eligible to establish and implement a
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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program; and8
9 WHEREAS, a CERT Program will help the City better meet is emergency
IQ preparedness and response service mission; and
11 WHEREAS, the City Council supports providing Workers' Compensation
12 coverage for CERT volunteers of the City under its previous grant of Workers'
13 Compensation benefits to City volunteers;
14 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad, California, as follows:
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1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
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2. The Carlsbad Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program
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is approved and City staff is directed to create, implement and administer the Program
20 in accordance with Carlsbad Volunteer Program guidelines.
21 3. City staff is authorized to act in CERT Program leadership, management
22 and instruction.
23 4. All CERT volunteers will be required to execute, submit and maintain
24 throughout CERT-related Program participation all Carlsbad-required Waiver of Liability
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forms. CERT volunteers shall be deemed to be employees of the City of Carlsbad for
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the sole purpose of extending Workers' Compensation benefits for injuries incurred
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while performing volunteer services for the City and such benefits will be the sole and
exclusive remedy in the event of injuries while performing volunteer CERT activities.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council
of the City of Carlsbad on the day of ; ,
2008, by the following vote to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
CLAUDE A LEWIS, Mayor
ATTEST:
LORRAINE M. WOOD, City Clerk
(SEAL)
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