Bobkiewicz’s resolution states that the council empowers him as the Director of Civil Defense and Disaster to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the city is “affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity or disaster.” The proclamation also notes that “conditions of extreme peril” to the safety of citizens and property arose in the city, caused by flooding commencing at about 10:30 a.m. Sunday when the EOC was activated. The proclamation also triggers the immediate expenditure of public funds to “safeguard life, health or property” in Santa Paula.During the storm – which dumped over 9 inches of rain onto the area Sunday and Monday – the Santa Paula Creek and Santa Clara River threatened to overflow and banks along both waterways eroded. One singlewide mobile home fell into the creek during the heaviest downpour.Bobkiewicz told the council that the city would leave the emergency proclamation open, but would likely readdress same at the first council meeting held in February.
Storm: Council declares Santa Paula scene of local emergency
January 19, 2005
Santa Paula City Council
The City Council declared that Santa Paula was the scene of a local emergency during the pounding five-day winter storm that left damage throughout the city and surrounding areas and killed 18 people statewide, including 11 in Ventura County.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe City Council declared that Santa Paula was the scene of a local emergency during the pounding five-day winter storm that left damage throughout the city and surrounding areas and killed 18 people statewide, including 11 in Ventura County. Ten people were killed in Ventura County when the 600-foot bluff above La Conchita collapsed on January 10, and one man was lost trying to cross a county creek using a hand rope.City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz told the council at the January 12 meeting – delayed two days due to the emergency – that the existence of a local emergency was activated when the city opened its Emergency Operations Center on Sunday morning. Bobkiewicz proclaimed the existence of the local emergency as the city’s Director of Civil Defense and Disasters. The council voted to add the item to the agenda as an emergency proclamation.“We’re leaving the emergency resolution open at this point until we have a better understanding of any state or federal declarations” that Ventura County is a recognized disaster area, a step taken by the state on Monday prior to the council meeting, Bobkiewicz noted. The federal government had not yet declared the state a disaster area as of Monday’s press deadline.
