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Pico Rivera mobilizes sports arena for animals, council creates ad hoc committees for disaster preparedness and fire relief
Summary
After nearby LA County wildfires, Pico Rivera officials said the city opened the Pico Rivera Sports Arena to house displaced animals, dispatched sheriff special-operations personnel to affected areas and agreed to form ad hoc committees for disaster preparedness and a community fire-relief fundraising initiative.
Pico Rivera officials said the city has mobilized staff and facilities to assist residents and animals affected by recent LA County wildfires, and the City Council agreed to form ad hoc groups to focus on disaster preparedness and community fire relief.
City Manager Steve Harmona told the council on Jan. 14 that the city dedicated the Pico Rivera Sports Arena, in collaboration with operator Lenoria Entertainment, to house displaced animals and that staff are on standby to assist other cities when called upon. Harmona said city special-operations teams from the sheriff’s department were deployed to patrolled fire-impacted areas and that the city used social media to warn residents about health impacts from smoke.
Harmona said: “We have staff on standby ready to help and assist cities that have been impacted,” and added the city had also “dedicated the Pico Rivera Sports Arena … to house displaced animals as a result of the fires.”
Council members used their good-of-the-order remarks to propose follow-up actions. One council member asked the mayor to form a disaster-preparedness ad hoc committee to work on evacuation planning and other readiness measures; Mayor Garcia agreed to establish the ad hoc and join the member making the request. Mayor Pro Tem Gustavo proposed a citywide community fire-relief initiative in partnership with the Pico Rivera School District and local businesses to raise funds and supplies for families displaced by the fires; the council agreed to form an ad hoc to move that work forward quickly.
Council members and staff also praised local partners, including Lenoria Entertainment, for operating the sports arena as an animal housing site. Several council members called for ongoing regional coordination and noted that many victims lost homes and personal property, making financial assistance a priority.
The council did not take formal votes on emergency declarations at the Jan. 14 meeting; instead it recorded direction to staff and agreed by consensus to form the ad hoc committees. City staff said they will continue to evaluate additional ways the city can contribute to recovery efforts and coordinate with neighboring cities and county agencies.
