Agenda Item   

AGENDA STAFF REPORT

 

                                                                                                                        ASR Control  25-000829

 

MEETING DATE:

12/16/25

legal entity taking action:

Board of Supervisors

board of supervisors district(s):

All Districts

SUBMITTING Agency/Department:

Sheriff-Coroner   (Approved)

Department contact person(s):

Cory Martino (714) 647-1817 

 

 

Michelle Anderson (714) 628-7158

 

 

Subject:  Amendment to Emergency Services Ordinance

 

     ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

          Concur

Approved Ordinance to Form

Discussion

 

 

3 Votes Board Majority

 

 

 

    Budgeted: N/A

Current Year Cost:  N/A

Annual Cost: N/A

 

 

 

    Staffing Impact:

No

# of Positions:           

Sole Source:   N/A

    Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

   Funding Source:    N/A

County Audit in last 3 years: No

   Levine Act Review Completed: N/A

 

    Prior Board Action:         10/28/2025 #11, 10/14/2025 #8, 1/25/2005 #35, 1/11/2005 #40

 

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

 

 

1.

Read title of Ordinance, "An Ordinance of the County of Orange, California amending Sections 3-1, of the Codified Ordinances of the County of Orange regarding Emergency Services."

 

2.

Consider the matter.

 

3.

Set second reading and adoption for the next regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting for adoption.

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

Adopting amendments to an Ordinance of the County of Orange, California modifying the Emergency Services Ordinance to remove outdated language, incorporate references to revised California Government Code will address volunteers and donations during emergencies.

 


 

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

 

The intent of this agenda item is to revise the County Emergency Services Ordinance including updating outdated information, clarify language, and incorporate information related to volunteers, donations, and purchases.

 

In Orange County, emergency management is codified in the County Ordinances as Title 3 - Public Morals, Safety and Welfare, Division 1 - Emergency Services.  Section 3-1 lays out the emergency organization for the County and how the County, as an individual jurisdiction, will function. It also establishes and recognizes the Operational Area. 

 

The table below details the history of the Emergency Services Ordinance.

 

 

 

Board Approved

 

 

Ordinance

 

 

Comments

6/26/01

First reading

First reading of an ordinance amending section 3-1-4 on Emergency Services; rescind Resolution 97-204; adopt resolution

7/17/01

Second Reading and Adoption

Second reading and adoption of “An Amendment to an Ordinance of the County of Orange, California, Amending Section 3-1-4 on Emergency Services”, rescind Resolution 97-204, adopt resolution implementing changes to Emergency Organization.

1/11/05

First Reading

Emergency Management Council requests an ordinance repealing Section 3-1-3 of the Codified Ordinances regarding establishment and membership of the Emergency Management Council, and replacing it with language stating that the number and membership of the Council shall be established by Resolution

1/25/05

Second Reading and Adoption

Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance of the County of Orange, California Repealing and Replacing Section 3-1-3 of the Codified Ordinances of the County of Orange on the Establishment and Membership of the Emergency Management Council; and adopt resolutions establishing membership of Emergency Management Council, which shall rescind prior Resolution 01-212


 

10/14/25

First Reading

First reading of  "An Ordinance of the County of Orange, California Amending Division 1 of Emergency Services, Article 1. Emergency Organization";  - Continued to 10/28/2025

10/28/25

First Reading

 

 Consider first reading of "An Ordinance of the County of Orange, California Amending Division 1 of Emergency Services, Article 1. Emergency Organization" - Deleted

 

Since then, the California legislature has passed the following legislation that impacts the County Ordinance by updating the California Government Code 8555-8562:

 

•

Senate Bill 52 (effective January 1, 2022) – broadened the definition of emergency to include planned power outages

•

Senate Bill 468 (effective January 1, 2022) – broadened the definition of emergency to include electromagnetic pulse attacks

•

Senate Bill 816 (effective January 1, 2022) – included federally recognized California Indian tribes in the Master Mutual Aid Agreement

•

Assembly Bill 1945 (effective January 1, 2021) – defined first responders for whom the State will develop curriculum and adopt standards and procedures for training as being an employee of the state or a local public agency who provides emergency response services, including a peace officer, firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, public safety dispatcher, or public safety telecommunicator

 

At the November 2024 Emergency Management Council (EMC) meeting, an initial draft of the revised ordinance was considered and recommended to the Board of Supervisors for adoption. Current suggested revisions include:

 

•

Tying the definition of emergency to the California Emergency Services Act;

•

Removing the 50-mile reference from definition of “absence”;

•

Adding information related to donations and volunteers; and

•

Reconciling emergency purchases to tie back to the County Contract Policy Manual that is approved by the Board of Supervisors.

 

Sheriff now requests Board adoption of the proposed amendment to the Emergency Services Ordinance as noted in the Recommended Actions. The Emergency Management Council approved the revised ordinance at its February 19, 2025, Quarterly Meeting.

 

Compliance with CEQA: This action is not a project within the meaning of CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and is therefore not subject to CEQA since it does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The approval of this agenda item does not commit the County to a definite course of action in regard to a project since the action authorized herein involves the Emergency Services Ordinance. This proposed activity is therefore not subject to CEQA. Any future action connected to this approval that constitutes a project will be reviewed for compliance with CEQA.

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

 

N/A

 

 

STAFFING IMPACT:

 

N/A

 

ATTACHMENT(S):

 

Attachment A - Draft Ordinance
Attachment B – Redline
Attachment C – California Government Code 8555-8562
Attachment D – Ordinance 99-24
Attachment E - County Ordinances as Title 3 - Public Morals, Safety and Welfare, Division 1 - Emergency Services
Attachment F - Senate Bill 52
Attachment G - Senate Bill 468
Attachment H - Senate Bill 816
Attachment I - Assembly Bill 1945