PURPOSE:

To designate three City officials as authorized signers who may act on behalf of the City of Burbank and file for federal and state financial assistance for the October 2003 Burbank brushfire.

BACKGROUND:

On October 21, 2003, a four alarm fire occurred on the hillsides of north Burbank near the intersection of Country Club Drive and Via Montana, one of a number of brushfires that ignited in Southern California that day.  The Burbank Fire Department immediately responded to the incident, and employees from several other City Departments were called in to assist in the effort by redirecting traffic, shutting down power lines, GIS mapping, and preparing for possible evacuations.  Engine companies from Glendale, Pasadena, Los Angeles, and the U.S. Forestry Service responded to the incident as well.   Fortunately, the Burbank fire was contained in two days without any injuries or property damage, but other local areas were not so lucky.

Five days after the wildfires erupted, the Federal Government declared a natural disaster in the Counties of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego.  Any public or non-profit entity that sustained costs exceeding $1,000 as a result of a fire in one of these areas is eligible to receive financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  For this particular disaster, FEMA will reimburse the City of Burbank for 75% of the costs incurred from the brushfire.  The State of California Office of Emergency Services (OES) will contribute the other 25% and is responsible for overseeing the distribution of FEMA public assistance to agencies in California as well. 

A proposed project worksheet summarizing all eligible brushfire related costs has been submitted to FEMA for review.  Once it is approved, FEMA will set up a Damage Survey Report (DSR) number for the project and obligate the funds to the City of Burbank through the State of California.  Since there are no projected future costs such as debris removal or reconstruction in this particular project, the City of Burbank can immediately apply for the entire obligated amount.

OES guidelines require that every public entity requesting public assistance have a resolution on file authorizing up to three individuals to sign and submit paperwork on the agency�s behalf.  The City of Burbank passed a similar resolution in 1994 after the Northridge Earthquake; designating the City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Financial Services Director as authorized applicants.  The State requires a new resolution for each declared disaster, so at this time staff is recommending that these three officials again be identified as authorized signers on behalf of the City of Burbank.

FISCAL IMPACT:

As of February 10, 2004, the total eligible cost to the City of Burbank that can be recovered from FEMA and OES is $59,537.60.  This includes all labor, equipment use, materials, and contract work related to the brushfire incident.  Upon completion of the FEMA review process, these funds will be obligated to the City of Burbank and one of the authorized applicants can request reimbursement of this amount.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that the Council approve the resolution authorizing City Manager Mary Alvord, Assistant City Manager Michael Flad, and Financial Services Director Derek Hanway to act on behalf of the City of Burbank and apply for Federal and State disaster assistance for costs related to the October 2003 brushfire.

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