HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 327-09TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
DATE: AUGUST 3, 2009 CMR: 327:09
REPORT TYPE: REPORTS OF OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Amending the Structure of the Palo Alto/Stanford
Citizen Corps Council and Establishing the Citizen Corps CounciJ as a
Member of the Palo Alto Emergency Services Council
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution regarding the Palo
Alto/Stanford Citizen Corps Council (CCC).
BACKGROUND
Citizen Corps is a best practice and model advocated by the federal government to integrate
volunteers, non-government entities, the private sector, and other groups with local programs
related to homeland security and emergency management (HS/EM). The City first formed a
Citizen Corps Council in 2004 (CMR: 517:04 and Resolution 8491).
The City's Municipal Code places executive authority for emergency services with the City
Manager, who is designated as the statutory director of emergency services, and further
establishes an Emergency Services Council (ESC).
Municipal Code Section 2.12.030(5) specifies that the membership of the ESC may include:
"Such representatives of civic, business, labor, veterans, professional or other organizations
having an official emergency responsibility, as may be appointed by the director with the advice
and consent of the city council."
The purpose of this Resolution is to revise the form of the CCC and establish its role in the ESC
as an advisory body to the City Manager.
CMR: 327:09 Page 1 of7
DISCUSSION
The CCC has been generally inactive since 2005. In 2006, then-Mayor Judy Kleinberg formed
the Palo Alto/Stanford Red Ribbon Task Force on Disaster Preparedness (RRTF). The RRTF
wound down in 2008, concluding that the CCC should be restructured to have a direct, formal
relationship to the ESC and the City Manager. With the transition in City Manager staffing, staff
opted to wait until this fiscal year to move forward on the CCC re-start.
\ When established in 2004, the Citizen Corps Council, through collaboration between its public
and private sector members, was designed to support the residents of and those working in Palo
Alto and the Stanford University community in preparing for and responding to local disasters.
This was to be accomplished through planning, education, training, and field services that target
the development and implementation of appropriate emergency management skills, activities,
and programs.
To further the engagement of civic organizations in emergency planning as contemplated by
PAMC Section 2.12.030(5), staff is recommending that the City Manager's Office coordinate the
formation of an updated CCC and that the Council approve the CCC's role in the ESC as an
advisory body to the City Manager.
Membership
There are various laws and regulations defining the City's roles and responsibilities, most of
which are detailed in the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). The City's EOP contemplates
collaboration with community groups such as the CCC:
"It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to build a resilient community. 'Community' is
defined in the broadest, most inclusive sense, encompassing residents, community based
organizations (CBOs), non-governmental organizations (NOOs), the private sector,
public and private educational institutions, faith-based communities, and other entities.
The City will work to build a resilient community by engaging and collaborating with
these partners in all phases of disaster management."
Accordingly, staff will undertake an outreach program to seek members from a wide range of
organizations.
The CCC Steering Committee will be selected by the City Manager and shall consist of the
following thirteen members:
(1) The following six City staff members:
• The City Manager and designees (two members)
• The Police Chief
• The Fire Chief
• The Director of the Public Works Department
CMR: 327:09 Page 2 of7
• The Director of the Utilities Department
(2) The fo llowing seven non-City-staff members from the:
• Neighborhood Sector: representative of the Palo Alto Neighborhoods (PAN) or other
entity
• Business Sector: representative of the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce or other
entity
• Stanford University Sector: representative of the University, including all affiliated
entities, such as the Stanford Department of Public Safety (Police), the Department of
Environmental Health & Safety, SLAC or other entity
• Medical Sector: representative of the Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford
School of Medicine (including Blood Center), Palo Aho Medical Foundation, Palo
Alto Veterans Association (VA Hospital) or other entity
• Special Needs (Schools, Youth, Seniors, Animals, Shelters) Sector: representative of
the Red Cross, Avenidas, Channing House, Palo Alto Community Child Care, Lytton
Gardens, Stevenson House, the Palo Alto Unified School District, or other entity
serving supporting special needs populations, schools, shelters, animals or related
topics
• Volunteer Sector (two members): representatives of City-or Stanford-Sponsored or
Affiliated Disaster Volunteer Programs and programs with a formal relationship with
the City and/or Stanford University: Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT), Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS), Animal Services Volunteers (Police
Department), Explorer Scouts & Cadet Programs, Block Preparedness Coordinator
Program & Neighborhood Watch, "ARESIRACES, Fire Corps, Medical Reserve
Corps (Medical Reserve Task Force) or other entity
The CCC steering committee will handle matters of policy and finance, make recommendations
to the City Manager on items for consideration by the ESC, and facilitate emergency planning
and preparedness activities by the CCC general membership.
The City Manager shall approve the general membership of the CCC, which may include, but is
not limited to:
• First Responders -Fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Police, and HospitaVEMS
• City and Stanford staff who administer or have nexus to disaster volunteer programs,
public education or other role related to the mission of the CCC
• Volunteer, Nonprofit, and Civic Organizations
• State & Federal Agencies: CRP, Cal Fire, USGS, Civil Air Patrol, National Guard, and
other representatives
• Faith-Based Organizations
CMR: 327:09 Page 3 of7
• Multi-Jurisdictional Entities: the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority, Fire
Safe councils, the Palo Alto Airport
• The Menlo Park Fire District (including the Town of Atherton and the Cities of Men 10
Park and East Palo Alto) & their Citizen Corps Council
• Other Neighboring Jurisdictions: government and non-government representatives,
including both the County of Santa Clara and the County of San Mateo
• Other entities that can materially further the mission of the Palo Alto/Stanford Citizen
Corps Council
Implementation Plan
Upon approval of the resolution, staff will commence the implementation plan to re-start the
CCC. Once the steering committee and general members are established, the committee will
designate the following work groups in order to manage community preparedness by objectives,
which may include:
• Neighborhood Sector Work Group: This work group will include representatives of
the Palo Alto Neighborhoods (PAN), the Stanford Campus Residential Leaseholders
(SCRL), and other residential members.
• Business Sector (EH&S, Security) Work Group: This work group will include
representatives of the private sector. The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce
"Emergency Work group" is included here. This work group will work with staff to
develop and maintain a "recovery plan" to help the private sector minimize
operational disruptions during major disasters or criminal events. This work group
will include existing groups that handle hazardous materials (HazMat) or otherwise
pertain to industrial hygiene such as the Stanford Industrial Park EH&S Forum and
expand the network of such professionals. This work group will facilitate
Information sharing among various corporate/private security groups as well as with
the Palo Alto Police Department, the Stanford Department of Public Safety, and other
law enforcement agencies.
• Stanford University Sector Work Group: This work group will include
representatives of Stanford University. This group does not supplant any existing
organizations or reporting structures the University has, but rather seeks to form a
liaison between the University and the City for the CCC.
• Medical Sector Work Group: This work group will include representatives of the
Medical Sector. Hospitals, clinics, and other health care providers will develop plans
within their function and also, as practicable, work with other entities to improve the
resilience of key facilities and capabilities. For example, the Stanford University
Medical Center is working to form a "neighborhood" for their corridor to facilitate
resource sharing in a major disaster among hotels, retail, and medical providers.
CMR: 327:09 Page 4 of7
• Special Needs (Schools, Youth, Seniors, Animals, Shelters) Work Group: This work
group is responsible for topics pertaining to Special Needs Populations, Schools,
Youth, Seniors, Animals, and Shelters. Schools, including all public and private
schools (K-12, etc.), will also be a focus of this group, coordinating with the existing
City-PAUSD Emergency Preparedness Committee (Council Liaison). Animals: The
Palo Alto Police Department Animal Services and other groups involved in pets,
livestock, and other animals will participate in this group.
• Volunteers. Training and Exercise & Public Education Sector Work Group: This
work group will coordinate disaster-related vo lunteer programs and may provide
support to City, Stanford, businesses, and community groups in designing and
conducting drills to evaluate and improve disaster capabilities. This group will also
coordinate public education, including classes, fairs, events, marketing, etc. The
Police Department's Special Operations Group and the City's Special Events Team,
in conjunction with the analogous Stanford University groups, may coordinate with
this work group to optimize the utilization of volunteers in parades, sporting events,
and so forth.
The City Manager and staff members of the steering committee will determine the allocation of
City staff and other resources and likewise will oversee the utilization of the CCC to support
management objectives. For example, City staff may identify opportunities for the CCC to assist
in certain projects. In such cases, in addition to the work groups listed above, the CCC may form
additional work groups or other structures to address projects which may include:
• Emergency Public Information/Warning Workgroup: The group will develop plans
for a Joint Information Center (liC) and other means to coordinate among all entities
with Public Information Officers (PIOs), warning/alerting systems (such as CANS),
broadcast radio (KZSU) or other such systems.
• Technology Workgroup: This group will develop, evaluate, and recommend
technology tools and solutions to address the needs of CCC members. One early
project will be the development of a test bed for a wireless emergency computer
network to be called the Community Disaster Network (CDN). Per the request of
staff, this group will also assist the Police Department in the build-out and operational
support of the new Mobile Command Vehicle. The group will also work with staff
on projects related to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and upgraded web site
capabilities, such as a common special events and training calendar.
• Midpeninsula Foothills Emergency Forum Workgroup: This group will implement
the MFEF, per the recommendations in the pending 2009 Foothills Management Plan.
In accordance with Municipal Code Section 2.12.080, the CCC shall also develop and submit to
the ESC a Community Emergency Plan (an annex or subplan to the City EOP) which "shall
provide for the effective mobilization of all the resources of this city, both public and private, to
meet any condition constituting an emergency".
CMR: 327:09 Page 5 of7
RESOURCE IMPACT
In 2007, staff reported: "While staff believes that the interdepartmental Steering Committee for
emergency preparedness is still the most effective approach to emergency and disaster planning,
it has become clear in the past year that resources are stretched to achieve what is required in this
area with current staffing.")
As fiscal and staffing constraints further tighten, the staff believes that the CCC will help ensure
public safety by 1) better engaging community members and resources, 2) fostering a "good
neighbor" policy with surrounding jurisdictions through regional problem-solving, and 3)
strengthening our position in finding sources of grant funding from government and other
organizations.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Approval of this Resolution is consistent with current City policies and regulations regarding
homeland security and emergency management.
The CCC will allow the City to more fully integrate community members and resources into
emergency planning and supports the three Council priorities of Civic Engagement for the
Common Good, Environmental Protection, and Economic Health of the City:
• Civic Engagement for the Common Good: The CCC will build upon the existing
partnership with the Palo Alto Neighborhoods (PAN) association through the Block
Preparedness Coordinator Program and expand the range and scope of opportunities for
the community to work with the City.
• Environmental Protection: The private sector is both a source of risk (hazardous
chemicals and materials) as well as potential regional asset (trained corporate response
personnel with specialized equipment) in the realm of environmental protection.
• Economic Health of the City: Efforts such as Destination Palo Alto (CMR: 146:08) to
attract visitors/shoppers to the City require not only the perception of safety but the actual
ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from criminal and other events. The CCC will
provide a link from the City to various private sector resources, bolstering resilience.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This staff report does not represent a project under the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA).
I CMR: 213:07, p. 4 (April 24, 2007).
CMR: 327:09 Page 6 of7
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:
Attachment B:
Attachment C:
PREPARED BY:
Palo Alto Resolution (Draft) (undated)
Palo Alto Resolution 8491 (December 13, 2004)
CMR 517:04 (December 13, 2004)
KELL Y MORARIU
DENNIS BURNS
Interim Chief
Police Department
-1l'~Jl/~ d~ rd 1ll · NI~~
Chief
Fife Department
b ...
OFFICER KENNETH DUEKER
Coordinator, Homeland Security
Palo Alto Police Department
Assigned to the City Manager's Office
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: ~Qc
CMR: 327:09
JAMES KEENE
(I City Manager
~.r
Page 7 of7
Attachment A NOT YET APPROVED
Resolution No.
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending
the Structure of the Palo Alto Citizen Corps Council and
Establishing the Citizens Corps COWlcil as a Member of the
Palo Alto Emergency Services Committee
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto fonned the Citizen Corps Council on December
13, 2004 (Resolution No. 8491) in order to help coordinate volunteer activities that make the
Palo Alto Community safer, stronger, and better prepared to deal with any emergency situation;
and
WHEREAS, the City's emergency organization is set forth in Chapter 2.12 of the
Palo Alto Municipal Code, whichestabrrshes the City Manager as the Director of Emergency
Services and an Emergency Services Council; and
WHEREAS, Palo Alto Municipal Code section 2.12.030(5), provides that the
Emergency Services Council may include "Such representatives of civic, business, labor,
veterans, professional or other organizations having an official emergency responsibility, as may
be appointed by the City Manager with the advice and consent of the city council;" and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that leveraging community resources and providing
the opportunity for enhanced community involvement in emergency planning can help the City
bolster its emergency preparedness and resilience in the event of a disaster; and
WHEREAS, amending the structure of the Palo Alto Citizen Corps Council will give
the City the ability to expand opportunities for community members and organizations to
participate in emergency planning, prevention, preparedness and response and integrate
additional community resources in to existing and future City emergency preparedness and
response activities; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby
RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION 1. Designation ·of the Citizen Corps Council. Resolution No 8491 is
hereby rescinded and the structure of the Palo Alto Citizen Corps Council is hereby amended as
set forth in this Resolution.
SECTION 2. Mission and Responsibilities of Citizen Corps Council. Citizen Corps
Council responsibilities include:
a. Involving the community in prevention, preparedness, and response activities, and to
mobilize the community in a large·scale disaster event;
b. Identifying ways in which the community's volunteer resources can help meet the
needs of its first responders;
c. Coordinating with neighborhoods to design a systematic approach to educate the
public and encourage Citizen Corps participation;
090728 mb 826 1
NOT YET APPROVED
d. Spearheading efforts to offer citizens new and existing volunteer opportunities,
educational infonnation, and training courses to address crime, terrorism, and natural or
man made disasters;
e. Recognizing all activities that promote prevention, preparedness, and response
training as part of Citizen Corps;
f. Organizing special projects and community events to promote Citizen Corps
activities and recruiting volunteers to participate;
g. Fostering a feeling of mutual support by working with Citizen Corps Councils in
neighboring communities; and
h. Capturing innovative practices and reporting accomplishments to the Santa Clara
Operational Area coordinator for Citizen Corps.
SECTION 3. Structure and Functioning of the Citizen Corps Council. The Citizen
Corps Council (CCC) shall serve as an advisory body to the City Manager, who shall serve as
... -coordinator-and-primary~City-contactfor-the .program.-~_ __ .. __ ._. ____ ..
a. Steering Committee. The City Manager shall establish a CCC Steering Committee which
shall be responsible for determining matters of policy and [mance, making
recommendations to the City manager, and assistmg general CCC membership in
facilitating emergency planning and preparedness activities. The Steering Committee
may adopt bylaws or other policies to determine meeting times and other operational
matters consistent with this Resolution. The Steering Committee shall consist of the
following members:
(1) City Manager or designee (2 members)
(2) Police Chief
(3) Fire Chief
(4) Public Works Director
(5) Utilities Director
(6) Neighborhood Sector Representative
(7) Business Sector Representative
(8) Stanford University Representative
(9) Medical Sector Representative
(10) Special Needs Sector Representative
(11) Volunteer Sector Representatives (2 members)
b. CCC General Membership. General membership of the CCC may include representatives
of any entity involved in activities relevant to the mission and responsibilities of the
CCC, including but not limited to first responders, volunteer, nonprofit or civic
organizations, educational organizations, other local entities and state and federal
agencies, and other entities that can materially further the mission of the CCC.
c. CCC Working Groups. The Steering Committee may designate working groups
comprised of CCC members in order to effectively coordinate and further community
emergency preparedness activities.
d. Coordination Between CCC and City Staff/Programs. Upon request of the Steering
Committee and consent of the City Manager, and as time and resources allow, City staff
090707 rnb 8261079 2
NOT YET APPROVED
with relevant expertise may assist the CCC. City departments may also request
assistance from CCC membership as necessary.
SECTION 4. Citizen Corps Council Designated as Member of Emergency Services
Council. The. Citizen Corps Council is hereby designated as a member of the Emergency
Services Council pursuant to Palo Alto Municipal Code section 2.12.030(5). The Citizen Corps
Council shall participate in the Emergency Services Council by serving as an advisory body to
the City Manager and making recommendations to the City Manager regarding community
emergency and disaster planning, prevention, preparedness and response.
SECTION 5. The Council finds that this is not a project under the California
Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary.
-__ INTROD..UCEDAND..£ASSE"""D-,-: _ ......... ______ .. ____ ._ .. .
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
Senior Deputy City Attorney City Manager
090707 rob 8261079 3
--.-~ .... ~-.. _-_. --.. ... -.. -~~
. ....,.. Attachment B
RESOLUTION NO. 8491
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO DESIGNATING THE EXISTING COMMUNITY DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS GROUP AS THE PALO ALTO
CITIZEN CORPS COUNCIL
WHEREAS, President George W. Bush announced the creation
Citizen Corps in the 2002 State of the Union address as a means
of mobilizing volunteer efforts among the residents of the
United States; and
WHEREAS, the goal of the Citizen Corps is to help
coordinate volunteer activities that will make our community
saferl stronger, and better prepared to deal with any emergency
situation; and
WHEREAS, the federal government has asked cities and
counti~s across the nation to create Citizen Corps Councils of
their own design I bringing together first responders, volunteer
organizations, law enforcement agencies, and community-serving
institutions; and
WHEREAS, the Citizen Corps Councils should consist of
existing programs such as Neighborhood Watch, Community
Emergency Response Teams, Volunteers in Police Service, and the
Medical Reserve Corps; and
WHEREAS, Citizen Corps Councils will give local leaders
the ability to expand opportunities for community members to
engage· in volunteer service that will support emergency
preparation, prevention and response; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto to wants' to renew its
commitment to the needs of the residents and businesses during
the times of natural or man-made disaster.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto
does RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION 1. Designation of the Citizen Corps Council -
the Community Disaster Preparedness Group is' hereby designated
the Palo Alto Citizen Corps Council.
SECTION 2. The Citizen Corps Council shall be comprised
of the following programs: Neighborhood Watch, Palo Alto
Neighborhood Disaster Activities (PANDA), Volunteers in Police
041207 cl 0044402 1
Service, and th~ Medical Reserve Corps, in addition to other key
community organizations.
SECTION 3. Citizen Corps Council responsibilities
include:
a. Involving the community
preparednes's, and response
mobi 1 i ze the communi ty in a
event;
in prevention,
activities, and to
large-scale disaster
b. Identify ways in which the community's volunteer
resources can help meet the needs of its first
responde.rs;
c. Coordinate with neighborhoods to
systematic approach to educate the
encourage Citizen Corps participation;
design
public
a
and
d. Spearhead efforts to offer citizens new and
existing volunteer opportunities, educational
information, and training courses to address crime,
terrorism, and natural or man made disasters;
e. Recognize all activities that promote prevention,
preparedness, and response training as part of
Citizen Corps;
. f. Organize special projects and community events to
promote Citizen Corps activities and recruiting
volunteers to participate;
g. Foster a feeling of mutual support by working with
Citizen Corps Councils in neighboring communities;
and
h. Capture innovative practices and reporting
accomplishments to the Santa Clara Operational Area
coordinator for Citizen Corps.
Survey the conunun:(ty to assess increased awareness and Citizen
Corps participation.
SECTION 4 ~ Functioning of' the Citizen Corps Council
the'Citizen Corps Council shall meet on a quarterly basis.
II
II
II
?
SECTION 5. The Council finds that this is not a project
under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore,
no environmental impa~t assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: December 13, 2004
AYES: BEECHAM, BURCH, CORDELL, FREEMAN, KISHIMOTO, KLEINBERG,
MORTON, MOSSAR / OJAKIAN
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
Vlce Mayor
ey
Attachment C
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER
DATE: DECEMBER 13, 2004
DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE
CMR: 517:04
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF A PALO ALTO CITIZEN CORPS COUNCIL
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt a resolution designating the existing Community Disaster
Preparedness Group as the Palo Alto Citizen Corps Council.
BACKGROUND
In the 2002 State of the Union message, President George W. Bush announced the creation of the
Citizen Corps as a means of mobilizing volunteer efforts among the residents of the United
States. The Citizen Corps was designed to incorporate existing programs such as: Neighborhood
Watch, Community Emergency Response Teams, Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), and
Medical Reserve Corps. The stated goal is to have all citizens participate in making their
communities safer, stronger, and better prepared for preventing and handling threats of terrorism,
crime, and disasters of all kinds.
The Citizen Corps effort is coordinated at the local level by Citizen Corps Councils, which bring
together leaders from various sectors within the community. The purpose is to have key staff at
the table to manage resources and effectively coordinate training efforts to enhance community
awareness and response to emergencies.
Each state governor has appointed a state coordinator for Citizen Corps to facilitate the
implantation of the program. The state coordinator also serves as a contact with the Director for
Local Coordination from the federal Department of Homeland Security. The Director for Local
Coordination oversees the program, however it is important to remember that the key premise of
the program is that local elected officials, staff, and members of the community know best what
risks their communities face.
CMR:517:04 Page 1 of5
A grant program to support Citizen Corps Councils is being managed by FEMA. In order for a
community to receive FEMA funds, it must have a registered Citizen Corps Council coordinating
the work of its various Citizen Corps components. FEMA will pass all the Citizen Corps funds
through the states. In California the funds will go to the Operational Areas, where the
Operational Area Council (Emergency Preparedness Council in Santa Clara County) will
distribute the funds. Although the funds will be distributed to Operational Areas on a per capita
basis, local agreements have to be made on the distribution of the funds to the City level. In order
for the City to be eligible to receive its own grant funds, a Citizen Corps Council has to be
designated as the grant application endorsement body.
DISCUSSION
The City currently operates three federal Citizen Corps programs: Neighborhood Watch, Palo
Alto Neighborhood Disaster Activities (PANDA), and Volunteers in Policing (VIPS). A fourth
program, the Medical Reserve Corps, is operated by the Pacific School of Psychiatry, Stanford
University, and the Veterans Hospital.
Neighborhood Watch
Palo Alto's Neighborhood Watch (NHW) program began in 1981 and serves as a conduit
between the community and the police. The police department reaches many of the NHW groups
by way of neighborhood associations. Each association may have several members that play an
important role as a liaison between their neighborhood and the police. The objective has
continued to be to promote safety and security in neighborhoods. The basic crime prevention
goals are to protect self, be aware of your surroundings and any suspicious people or activities, to
be prepared and to know how to respond to home emergencies. NHW members continue to
participate in a variety of related programs and become leaders in the Palo Alto community.
The Citizens Police Academy (CPA) is one of the most valuable programs that emerged as a
result of residents and NHW members wanting to understand and work with the police. The
Citizens Police Academy provides the opportunity for Palo Alto community members to learn
more about the roles and responsibilities of local law enforcement. Both the NHW and the CPA
groups continue to increase in numbers. As a rule, the NHW members and Citizen Police
Academy graduates become supporters for the Palo Alto Police Department.
PANDA
Through the federally designed 20+ hour training program, PANDA members are equipped with
the skills to begin providing leadership and hands-on response at the neighborhood level in the
first 72 hours after a disaster, when professional first responders maybe overtaxed. These skills
include fire suppression, disaster medicine, light search and rescue, damage assessment, and
disaster psychology. With their distinctive green vests, hard hats, and equipped command posts,
they provide a crucial link between first responders and neighborhoods. The PANDA program
began in September 1999. There are now almost 400 members. Courses are offered eight times
throughout the year, training 80 to 100 new team members annually. Additionally, monthly
refresher or advanced classes are offered. Approximately 30 to 50 members attend each monthly
refresher/advanced class.
CMR:517:04 Page 2 of5
Staff from the Manager's Office, Fblice and Fire Departments are working collaboratively to
identify potential improvements to the Neighborhood Watch and the PANDA programs. The
creation of a Citizen Corps will be incorporated into this review, to help reduce any duplication
of efforts, which should result in stronger programs and increased public participation.
VIPS
The Palo Alto Police Department's volunteer program was established more than 20 years ago
with the goal of involving the public in crime prevention activities. Today, volunteers provide
valuable support to police officers and staff, thereby enhancing the quality and range of service
the department provides to citizens. The 22 volunteers currently on staff help maintain patrol
cars and equipment, assist the Alarm Permit Program, license bicycles, assist detectives, give
station tours, assist with data entry and filing, participate in community events, provide clerical
assistance, and assist with the Citizens' Police Academy. Police department staff continuously
looks for ways to bring citizens into the department to provide support and assistance. Last year,
volunteers provided more than 2,000 hours; nine volunteers received the President's Volunteer
Service Award for donating more than 100 hours in a ] 2-month period. The Animal Services
Division of the department operates a separate volunteer program. The Palo Alto Police
Department registered its volunteer program with the Volunteers in Police Service Program
(VIPS) in 2003. Volunteers in Police Service provides support to state, county, and local law
enforcement in establishing and maintaining volunteer programs.
Medical Reserve Corps
Following the events of 9-11, the National Center on the Psychology of Terrorism (NCPT)
identified a need for a Medical Reserve Corp focused on treating the psychological emergencies
resulting from natural disasters and traumatic events caused by individuals or terrorist groups.
The NCPT applied for and received a grant through the United States Department of Health and
Human Services to begin work on creating a network of volunteers within the Palo Alto
community that is trained and certified in providing up-to-date emergency mental health
services. The Palo Alto Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is unique in the nation for its emphasis
on the provision of mental health services. The Palo Alto MRC provides training to licensed
mental health professional already serving as emergency mental health responders through
establishing response organizations. Treatment, services and additional training opportunities
will be offered to the community, first responders, and local leaders. Because of its unique
positioning, this program may eventually help to set national standards, which are both
empirically based and real-world tested, for psychological service provision during and after
maj or disasters.
The Palo Alto MRC is a cooperative endeavor that involves many members and organizations
within the community. The City of Palo Alto, Veteran's Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System
and many others have expressed roth their interest and commitment to this program. Doctoral
students from the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology also work collaboratively on this
project with the NCDPT Directors and the community.
CMR:517:04 Page 3 of5
Citizen Corps Council
The City organized the Community Disaster Preparedness Group in 2003. This group is
comprised of 37 participants from 22 different organizations. It meets on a quarterly basis, and
fulfills all necessary requirements to be the Citizen Corps Council for Palo Alto.
Upon City Council approval of the Citizen Corps Council, staff will register Palo Alto with the
federal government, enabling Palo Alto to develop grant proposals through the Citizen Corps
program. In addition to being eligible for grant funding, the Citizen Corps Council will:
• Match the needs of first responders with the skills and abilities of volunteers to make
their families, their homes and their communities safer from the threats of terrorism,
crime and disasters.
• Educate the public on safety, help citizens take an active role in protecting themselves
from harm, and teach citizens what to do in the event of a crisis.
• Spearhead efforts to offer citizens new and existing volunteer opportunities,
educational information, and training courses to address crime, terrorism, and natural
disaster risks.
• Promote all Citizen Corps programs and activities across the community.
• Capture innovative practices and report accomplishments that can be replicated in other
communities nationwide.
• Survey the community to assess increased awareness and Citizen Corps participation.
RESOURCE IMPACT
The adoption of a Citizen Corps will not add any additional impacts to current City operations.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This report does not represent any change to existing City policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This staff report does not represent a project under the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA).
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution Supporting the Adoption of a Palo Alto Citizen Corps Council
PREPARED BY: Chris Mogensen, Assistant to the City Manager
Barbara Cimino, Disaster Coordinator
Susie Jones, Community Services Officer
CMR:517:04 Page 4 of5
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Emily Harrison, Assistant City Manager
CMR:517:04 Page 5 of5