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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - Emergency - 9/2/2005CITY OF LUBBOCK EMERGENCY CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 2, 2005 2:15 P. M. The City Council of the City of Lubbock, Texas met in emergency session on the 2nd day of September, 2005, in the Municipal Square Conference Room, loth Street & Texas Avenue, Lubbock, Texas at 2:15 P. M. 2:24 P. M. CITY COUNCIL CONVENED Municipal Square Conference Room, loth Street & Texas Avenue, Lubbock, Texas Present: Mayor Marc McDougal; Mayor Pro Tem Tom Martin; Council Member Linda DeLeon; Council Member Phyllis Jones; Council Member Floyd Price; Lee Ann Dumbauld, Chief Financial Officer/Assistant City Manager; Anita Burgess, City Attorney; and Tommy Combs, Deputy City Secretary Absent: Council Members Boren and Gilbreath Mayor McDougal called the meeting to order at 2:24 P. M. At this time, Mayor McDougal asked Ken Olson, Emergency Management Coordinator, to give Council a briefing on the status of the Hurricane Katrina evacuee situation out at Reese Technology Center. Mr. Olson stated that there have been two briefings at Reese to prepare to receive the evacuees. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is implementing an Emergency Management Team, which is actually the Incident Management Team. Shelters are being set up. The EOC is determining the number of evacuees that can be sheltered in the various shelters. There is a shelter that is ready to open and can handle 90 evacuees, which is located at the Reese Technology Center. The other potential shelter would be in one of the hangers, which would be a dormitory setting including restrooms and showers. Cots will be utilized. Should there be more evacuees, they would be housed at the Municipal Coliseum, which would accommodate 300 to 400 evacuees. The maximum capacity that could be accommodated in these facilities would be 1,000 individuals. Mr. Olson relayed all this information to Steve McGraw who is the Director of Homeland Security for the State of Texas in the State Operations Center. The Salvation Army and Red Cross are working with the EOC. The Incident Management Team is working out the logistical details, the operations details, and the finance details that are needed to make this happen. The State has requested a federal disaster declaration for housing these people, which would cover a reimbursement potential for the City for any expenditures incurred. Mr. Olson recommended that Council declare a local emergency, which would prepare the city to received evacuees and start the clock as far as obtaining any reimbursement through the federal declaration. The local declaration for an emergency is good for seven days and can be set up by the County Judge and the Mayor. Mayor McDougal stated that he spoke with the Governor's office earlier and committed to accepting up to 1,000 evacuees. Anita Burgess, City Attorney, informed Council that individuals are being contacted regarding evacuees being housed at University Plaza. There are some building codes issues and there may be some problems with regard to using University Plaza. Police Chief Claude Jones commented on the problems with University Plaza, and that the City of Lubbock Codes Department can take a look at the situation if plans are made to utilize the apartment complex. Chief Jones stated that the Housing Authority is capable of handling at lease 50 evacuees at this time. He also pointed out that as far as security issues are Emergency City Council Meeting September 2, 2005 concerned, the more locations we end up with, the more security personnel will be needed. He then answered questions from Council. Anita Burgess explained the resolution and answered questions from Council. (1.) Resolution No. 2005-RO404 accepting the request of the Governor to take refugees of Hurricane Katrina and to incur expenditures of up to $500,000 (to be taken from General Funds and reimbursed by FEMA) for shelter, clothing, food and other emergency items. RESOLUTION NO.2005-RO404 WHEREAS, governor Perry has issued an emergency disaster declaration for the State of Texas to free up resources to deal with the existing challenge of providing services to tens of thousands of Hurricane Katrina Storm victims who fled Louisiana; and WHEREAS, the Governor has requested that the City of Lubbock take 1000 or more refugees from the storm to be housed at the Reese Technology Center or other facilities; WHEREAS, it will be necessary to incur expenses for providing housing, food, clothing and other necessities for the refugees, until these funds can be reimbursed by FEMA; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK: THAT the City Council hereby accepts the request of the Governor to assist in relief efforts and take refugees of Hurricane Katrina and approves incurring expenditures of up to $5000,000.00 from the General Fund (to be reimbursed by federal emergency funds) for housing, food, clothing, and other emergency items for care of the refugees. Passed by the City Council this 2nd day of September, 2005. /S/ MARC MCDOUGAL MARC McDOUGAL, MAYOR ATTEST: /s/ Tommy Combs for Rebecca Garza, City Secretary APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: /s/ Lee Ann Dumbauld Acting City Manager APPROVED AS TO FORM: /s/ Linda L. Chamales Linda L. Chamales, Senior Attorney Office Practice Section A copy of the Proclamation is filed with Resolution No. 2005-R0404. Motion was made by Council Member Jones, seconded by Council Member Price to pass Resolution No. 2005-RO404 as recommended by staff. Motion carried: 5 Yeas, 0 Nays. Mayor McDougal asked Council Member Jones to read Resolution 2005-RO404 into the record. Ken Olson stated that Lubbock has not received any firm numbers at this time of children that are coming that need medical attention. Tommy Camden, Health Director, is aware of everything that is being done. The EOC will be activated so that the staff can be briefed on what is going on and be prepared to deal with the full activation. 230 Emergency City Council Meeting September 2, 2005 At this time, Eric Williams with the Reese Technology Center, Jimmy Clark with Congressman Randy Neugebauer's office, Greg Bruce with the American Red Cross, Major Ernest Branscum with the Salvation Army, Karen Sims with Interfaith Hospitality Network, Eddie McBride with the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, Brent Oden with Senator John Comyn's office, and Nancy Sharp with Lubbock Independent School District all gave comments and briefed Council on how they can assist in bringing aid to the evacuees. Police Chief Jones asked all citizens to hold off on some of the phone calls made to the Reese Technology Center until we get some answers as to exactly what supplies are needed and the exact location for delivery. Mayor McDougal asked Olson to issue a press release or have a press conference to let the citizens know what is going on and to continue to call the American Red Cross or Salvation Army to find out exactly what is needed. Also, the citizens will be informed of a phone number to contact the City of Lubbock with any questions, as far as the City is concerned. 2:52 P. M. CITY COUNCIL RECESSED 3:01 P. M. CITY COUNCIL RECONVENED 3:02 P. M. CITY COUNCIL RECESSED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION 3:58 P. M. COUNCIL ADJOURNED There being no further business to come before Council, Mayor Pro Tem Martin adjourned the meeting immediately after Executive Session. Read and approved this 30th day of November, 2006. /S/ MARC MCDOUGAL MARC MCDOUGAL, MAYOR ATTEST: /s/ Rebecca Garza Rebecca Garza, City Secretary 231