Committee votes to recommend implementing new emergency management strategic plan

Adam Matamian, the city's community development director, presented the emergency management strategic plan and asked the committee to recommend that staff proceed with implementation.

"This document builds off the local hazard mitigation plan and identifies actionable items for the short to mid term," Matamian said, describing priorities the city would pursue over the next one to five years and items planned beyond five years. He told the committee the plan seeks to shift work from response toward mitigation and preparedness so fewer responses are necessary.

Matamian said the plan includes an updated local hazard mitigation inventory and clarified the city's emergency operations center (EOC) arrangements. "The EOC is located at Building N of the utility yard," he said, noting the room is a conference-type space that staff must set up when needed and that the city is seeking grant funding to establish a permanent EOC.

On funding, Matamian outlined an active grant campaign. He said San Clemente is a sub-applicant under Cal OES for a FEMA grant that would provide $8.5 million toward a multi-year program; that application process is complex and the earliest funding could arrive would be 2027 if approved. He explained the typical FEMA review timeline and the city's rounds of requests for information.

Committee members pressed for clarifications about hazard rankings, safe-zone planning, and which agencies lead particular mitigation tasks. Matamian and staff said OCFA handles technical determinations of fire hazards for enforcement purposes, and the city then follows up with code enforcement when OCFA identifies a hazard. Matamian also said the city has position binders and an org chart for EOC assignments and that some EOC materials are intentionally limited from public disclosure for security reasons.

After questions and discussion, a committee member moved that staff proceed with implementation of the emergency management strategic plan as the guiding document for the city's emergency management program. A second was recorded and the motion was approved by voice vote.

What happens next: staff will take the plan, and committee feedback, to the city council for consideration and will continue grant work and prioritization for projects that require funding or consultant support.

Votes at a glance Motion: "Staff proceed with implementation of the emergency management strategic plan as guiding document for the city's Emergency Management Program." Moved by a committee member and seconded; approved by voice vote.

Why it matters The plan is intended to make the city's emergency program more proactive, prioritize projects that reduce long-term risk and improve FEMA eligibility for disaster reimbursement. The city has already begun updating operations documents and is pursuing grants that could fund multiple mitigation projects if awarded.