Chapter 1.30
EMERGENCY PROVISIONS

Sections:

1.30.010    Emergency response.

1.30.020    National Incident Management System adopted.

1.30.030    ERNIE 2006 Omnibus Mutual Assistance Agreement adopted.

1.30.040    COVID-19 local emergency.

1.30.010 Emergency response.

A. The general manager or his/her designee is hereby authorized to take any and all appropriate actions in connection with, and in response to, a disaster event. For example, and not by way of limitation, the general manager or EOC director is hereby authorized to enact the emergency provisions in accordance with the emergency response plan and upon activation of the emergency operations center in the event of a disaster. In the event said authority and subsequent action of the general manager or EOC director is subject to verification or ratification by the board of directors under applicable law, the general manager or EOC director shall report to the board of directors and request verification and ratification of actions taken within 10 days or as soon as practical during or after a disaster, as may be required under applicable law.

B. Except as may be otherwise required under applicable law or the rules or regulations of the district, the authority of the general manager or EOC director as set forth in this section shall include the authority to make individual purchases of services, equipment, or materials up to $250,000 without prior board approval during a disaster, subject to any and all verification and ratification requirements as applicable.

C. When the general manager or EOC director determine that the public exigency or emergency for the requirement for procuring services, equipment, or materials will not permit a delay resulting from competitive solicitation, the authority of the general manager or EOC director as set forth in this section shall include the authority to waive the requirement to obtain three bids for services, equipment, or materials, if such process would adversely affect the district’s ability to readily obtain such necessary services, equipment, or materials during the exigency or emergency. Procurement by noncompetitive proposals is an acceptable method of procurement under certain circumstances, where solicitation of a proposal occurs from only one source or a limited number of sources. Such selection would be subject to any and all verification and ratification requirements as applicable. The use of the public exigency or emergency exception is only permissible during the actual exigent or emergency circumstances.

D. The district, a public entity established under the laws of the state of California, hereby designates and authorizes its applicant’s agents to provide the California Office of Emergency Services, for all matters pertaining to such state disaster assistance, the assurances and agreements required. The applicant’s agents are designated for a period of three years and comprise the following individuals by job title:

1. Safety officer;

2. Accounting technician II;

3. Senior accountant. (Res. 3009, 2017; Res. 2709 §§ 1, 2, 2011)

1.30.020 National Incident Management System adopted.

Western Municipal Water District will integrate the National Incident Management System, to the extent appropriate, into the emergency management system.

Western Municipal Water District utilizes the National Incident Management System, which shall be consistent with the integration of the National Incident Management System and the Standardized Emergency Management System in California. (Res. 2432, 2006)

1.30.030 ERNIE 2006 Omnibus Mutual Assistance Agreement adopted.

The Western Municipal Water District agrees to become a party to the ERNIE 2006 Omnibus Mutual Assistance agreement. (Res. 2433, 2006)

1.30.040 COVID-19 local emergency.

A. The board of directors of the district hereby proclaims the existence of a local emergency and directs district staff to take the necessary steps for the protection of life, health and safety.

B. During the existence of said local emergency, the general manager or his designees (collectively, “general manager”) are hereby authorized to promulgate orders and regulations necessary to provide for the protection of life and property as authorized under Government Code Section 8634, the applicable state of emergency and any other applicable laws and regulations.

C. The general manager is hereby authorized to take any and all action which may be necessary to apply for and obtain funding and reimbursement from the applicable federal and state agencies. Such authority includes, but is not limited to, the drafting, execution and submission of applications and other documents. It is the intent of the district to be reimbursed amounts which have been and will be expended with respect to the actions ratified and authorized under this section.

D. Actions taken by the general manager prior to the effective date of the resolution codified in this section, in response to the threats posed by COVID-19, are hereby ratified.

E. During the existence of said local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the district shall be those prescribed by state law and by ordinances and resolutions of the district board.

F. As determined in the general manager’s reasonable discretion, all departments of the district shall review and revise their department emergency and contingency plans to address the risks COVID-19 poses to their critical functions in coordination with the district’s emergency management department/manager.

G. Under the direction of the general manager, all district departments shall track costs for staffing, supplies, and equipment related to COVID-19 preparation and prevention and forward that information to the district’s finance department; and complete an initial damage estimate (IDE) Category B, and forward that information to the Riverside County emergency management department (EMD) on a daily basis.

H. As determined in the general manager’s reasonable discretion, the district’s internal departments shall coordinate district-wide planning, preparedness and response efforts regarding COVID-19 with the Riverside County EMD.

I. The applicant’s agents designated under WMWDC 1.30.010 are hereby designated as such for an additional three years from the effective date of the resolution codified in this section. (Res. 3112 §§ 1 – 9, 2020)