TO: CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
CLAREMONT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION
FROM: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
DATE: NOVEMBER 13, 2025
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
UPDATE ON THE CITY’S 2025 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AD HOC COMMITTEE (FUNDING SOURCE: GENERAL FUND)
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SUMMARY
Following the devastating Eaton and Pacific Palisades Fires in January, Mayor Corey Calaycay convened an Ad Hoc Committee to review the City's emergency management policies and practices. The Committee was also tasked with developing recommendations for future emergency preparedness and response measures. This report is an update to the City Council and the Claremont Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Education on the work of the Committee and its recommendations, which culminated in the creation of a draft Emergency Operations Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council and Claremont Unified School District Board of Education receive and file this report.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The cost to prepare this report and material for the 2025 Emergency Preparedness Ad Hoc Committee meetings is estimated at $16,500, and is included in the operating budgets of the Administrative Services, Police, Community Development, and Community Services Departments.
ANALYSIS
Following the devastating Eaton and Pacific Palisades Fires in January, Mayor Corey Calaycay convened an Ad Hoc Committee to review the City's emergency management policies and practices. The Committee was also tasked with developing recommendations for future emergency preparedness and response measures. All meetings were open to the public and meeting recordings are publicly available on the City’s website.
Mayor Calaycay appointed the following members to serve on the 2025 Emergency Preparedness Ad Hoc Committee:
• Jennifer Stark, Vice Mayor/Committee Chair
• Ed Reece, Councilmember/Committee Vice Chair
• Jason Wong, Representative from Planning Commission
• John Neiuber, Representative from Architectural & Preservation Commission
• Deborah Scott Toux, Representative from Community & Human Services Commission
• Richard Weiner, Representative from Traffic & Transportation Commission
• Tim Dunfee, Representative from Police Commission
• Kevin Ward, Representative from Claremont Unified School District
• Reco Sanders, Representative from Webb Schools
• Bob Kern, Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
• Larry Grable, Representative from Service Center for Independent Life (SCIL)
• Leif Cameron, Representative from Pilgrim Place
• Richard Rivera, Citizen Representative
• Robert Grimes, Citizen Representative
It should also be noted that Mike Hallinan, former Assistant Vice President and Director of Campus Safety & Emergency Services from The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS) also served on the Committee until he left his position with TCCS in July.
The Committee met five times between May and October of this year, during which time the following topics were discussed:
Monday, May 12
• Staff provided copies of the City’s existing emergency plan and asked for feedback/recommendations from Committee members.
• The Committee discussed its goals, including review of the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) and the development of a City Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
An Emergency Operations Plan is a document that describes how an agency plans and prepares for different types of emergencies. The purpose of an EOP is to:
• Ensure the most effective and economical allocation of resources for the maximum benefit and protection of the community in time of emergency.
• Establish emergency organization; assign tasks; specify policies and general procedures; and provide for the coordination of planning efforts utilizing the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and the Incident Command System (ICS).
• Incorporate and coordinate all agencies and personnel within the City into an efficient organization capable of responding to any emergency.
The City is solely responsible for the development of its own EOP, just as CUSD is responsible for the development of its emergency planning documents; however, understanding how we can work together with partner agencies plan to respond to emergencies became a primary goal of the Committee.
Monday, June 23
• Various partner agencies came to speak about their respective emergency plans: Golden State Water Company, SoCalGas, Southern California Edison, San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG), and Metrolink.
Monday, July 28
• Committee members received the first draft of the EOP framework.
• Two partner agencies came to speak about their respective emergency plans: Clean Power Alliance and LACoFD Forestry Division (including “Zone Zero” and “Home Hardening” recommendations).
• The Committee received a presentation from City staff on a recently-adopted Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map.
Monday, September 22
• Various partner agencies came to speak about their respective emergency plans: California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), LA County Department of Public Works, Service Center for Independent Life (SCIL), and Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE).
• The Committee received presentations from City staff on:
o City/State Building Codes related to wildfire preparedness, as well as incorporating new developments into emergency planning efforts.
o City tree policies and tree-related safety concerns, including the concept of using goats to assist with brush clearance.
• Committee members provided feedback on the draft EOP framework.
Monday, October 20
At its final meeting, the Committee received presentations from Foothill Transit and from City staff regarding emergency communication and coordination efforts. The Committee also approved a draft Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for City Council consideration. Staff’s next steps related to the EOP include:
• Finalize formatting/structure of draft EOP document.
• Present a formal staff report and EOP for City Council consideration in January 2026.
• Present the formally adopted EOP to each City Commission in 2026.
• Coordinate future “tabletop exercises” (larger-scale emergency drills) with some of our partner agencies, including CUSD and those who presented to the Emergency Preparedness Ad Hoc Committee.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, Sustainable City Plan, and General Plan.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Adam Pirrie Katie Wand
City Manager Deputy City Manager