LAKEPORT, Calif. – In a unanimous Tuesday vote, the Board of Supervisors decided to transfer the overview of the Office of Emergency Services from the sheriff's office to the County Administrative Office.
County Administrative Office Matt Perry asked the board to approve the proposal, which evolved from an assessment completed last fall in the wake of the Wye and Scotts fires.
Perry had taken that report, which can be seen below, to the board at its Dec. 18 meeting, at which time he had asked to form a task force of different department representatives to look at the recommendations. Supervisor Rob Brown called it a “very candid and thorough report.”
In December, the board approved Perry's request to form the task force, as well as his desire to begin a recruitment for a full-time OES coordinator.
The report, prepared by consultants Dave Driscoll and Mary Moreland, made several recommendations, among them, filling the OES coordinator position, updating the county's emergency operations plan, giving more training to county staff, and offering the transition from the sheriff's office to Perry's as an option.
The report found that of 11 counties surveyed around the region – as well as one in Southern California – only Lake had the sheriff holding oversight over OES, chairing the county disaster council and acting as director of emergency services. The other counties, with the exception of Yolo, had established a checks and balances approach to emergency management, the report explained.
The report suggested amending county ordinance to establish a more even distribution of responsibility and authority among county departments for emergency management.
The consultants noted that the county's three most recent emergency operations plans – from 2003, 2008 and 2009 – all stated that the Board of Supervisors does not exercise any command or control over emergency operation. It also was proposed that county code be amended to make the board chair the disaster council chair.
In addition, the report raised concerns that there had been no focus on mitigation and preparation, with – among other things – no emergency preparedness drills having taken place for several years, and confusion about the function and location of the county's emergency operations center.
On Tuesday, Perry said he felt moving OES to the County Administrative Office would help raise the profile of OES.
Perry wasn't suggesting the transition happen immediately. “I see this kind of rolling out gradually.”
He said the sheriff's office has agreed to continue to handle grants for the time being. The interviews for the OES coordinator position will take place later this month, and the transition won't be complete until after that position is hired.
Brown said he appreciated Perry being willing to take on the responsibility of OES, as Perry also has had staffing issues. He said he believed that having Perry personally head up the department will show to other county departments its priority.
Sheriff's Capt. Chris Macedo, who along with Brown had sat on the task force to look at OES restructuring, told the board, “The sheriff's office concurs with this recommendation.”
He said they decided it's best to move OES to the oversight of another department head. Macedo said he believed Perry's office has the ability to bring everyone together on OES.
“The sheriff's office is excited with this transition,” said Macedo, adding that they looked forward to assisting with the transition, which he believed would go smoothly.
Supervisor Denise Rushing moved to approve the transfer, which the board approved 5-0.
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