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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 21-179RESOLUTION NO. 21-179 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: THAT the Mayor, City Manager, and Emergency Management Coordinator be and they are hereby authorized to execute a joint Mutual Aid Agreement (MAA) with the local governmental entities within the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC) region to provide the necessary mutual aid as may be requested by another government agency signatory to the agreement for emergency or disaster conditions as defined by the Government Code 418. Said Memorandum of Understanding is substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and made a part hereof for all purposes; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, where it is deemed necessary and prudent, all previously existing mutual aid agreements executed between the City of Beaumont and any signatory to the joint mutual aid agreement are to be rescinded upon the giving of the proper notice. The meeting at which this resolution was approved was in all things conducted in strict compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the 27th day of July, 2021. y q�11 01 U L�-Wli -Mayor Robin Mouton - SOUTH EAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION REGION MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT State of Texas County of Jefferson This Mutual Aid Agreement (the "Agreement') is entered into by, between, and among local government entities wholly or partially within the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission Region ("SETRPC" ), as defined in the By -Laws of the SETRPC which include all jurisdictions within Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson and Orange counties, that by their signatures on duplicate original copies of this Agreement have consented to the terms of this Agreement (individually, a "Party", and collectively, the "Parties"). WHEREAS, the Parties recognize the vulnerability of the people and communities located in the Region to damage, injury, and loss of life and property resulting from Emergencies and recognize that Emergencies may present equipment and manpower requirements beyond the capacity of each individual Party; and, WHEREAS, the Parties to this Agreement recognize that in the past Mutual Aid has been provided between or among the Parties in the form of personnel, equipment, and other resources during Emergencies and to help with recovery; and, WHEREAS, the governing officials of the Parties desire to secure for each Party the benefits of Mutual Aid and protection of life and property in the event of an Emergency; and, WHEREAS, the Parties wish to make suitable arrangements for furnishing Mutual Aid in coping with Emergencies and are so authorized and make this Agreement pursuant to Chapter 791 of the Texas Government Code (IDterlocal Cooperation Act), Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code (Texas Disaster Act of 1975), Chapter 421 of the Texas Government Code (Homeland Security), and Chapter 362 of the Local Government Code; and, WHEREAS, the Parties recognize that a formal agreement for Mutual Aid would allow for better coordination of effort, provide that adequate equipment is available, and help ensure that Mutual Aid is accomplished in the minimum time possible and desire to enter into this Agreement to provide Mutual Aid consistent with the mutual aid plans developed by the respective jurisdictions and approved by the governing bodies of the jurisdictions. NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows: EXHIBIT "A" Terms 1. RECITALS The recitals set forth above are true and correct. 2. DEFINITIONS For purposes of this Agreement, the terms listed below shall have the following meanings: a. Agreement — this South East Texas Regional Planning Commission facilitated Mutual Aid Agreement. b. Emergency — Any incident, whether natural or human -caused, that requires responsive action to protect life and property. c. Mutual Aid — cooperative emergency response assistance in connection with a homeland security activity, such as an activity related to the prevention or discovery of, response to, or recovery from a terrorist attack, natural or man-made disaster, hostile military or paramilitary action, or extraordinary law enforcement emergency including the provision of personnel, equipment, and other resources. d. NIMS — the National Incident Management System. e. Point of Contact — the individual or individuals authorized by the governing body of each Party to request or respond to a request for Mutual Aid on behalf of the Party. A Party's Emergency Management Director or Chief Executive Officer is always a Point of Contact, in addition to those designated as the Point of Contact. f. Requesting Party — the Party requesting Mutual Aid under this Agreement. g. Responding Party — the Party providing Mutual Aid assistance under this Agreement. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY The Parties hereby designate the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission, (hereinafter, "SETRPC") to be the Administrative Agency under this Agreement. SETRPC shall be responsible for maintaining and distributing current Point of Contact information to all Parties. SETRPC is also responsible for maintaining duplicate or certified copies of the original signature pages of the Parties to this Agreement. SETRPC is not a signatory to the Agreement, and is not bound by any provision contained herein that is not directly related to the duties of the Administrative Agency. 4. POINT OF CONTACT DESIGNATION Each party shall provide the Administrative Agency with written protocol by which its' designated Point of Contact may be contacted twenty-four hours a day, South East Texas Regional Planning Commission facilitated Mutual Aid Agreement Page 2 of 11 seven days a week. This protocol shall designate, by time or position, the person or persons authorized to request or respond to a request for Mutual Aid on behalf of a Party under this Agreement. Each Party most notify the Administrative Agency in writing of any change in its Point of Contact protocol as soon as practicable. 5. ACTIVATION OF AGREEMENT This Agreement is activated when a request is made for mutual aid assistance. The request shall be documented by the Requesting Party and forwarded to each Party from whom assistance is sought. 6. INITIATION OF REQUEST A request under this Agreement may be made by a Point of Contact after one of the following occurs: a. After a declaration of a local state of Disaster pursuant to Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code, as amended; or, b. After a finding of an Emergency as defined in this Agreement. Subject to the conditions in this Section, a Point of Contact may request Mutual Aid assistance by: (1) submitting a written request for assistance to a Point of Contact of a Responding Party, or (2) orally communicating a request for Mutual Aid assistance to a Point of Contact of a Responding Party, which shall be followed up by written documentation. a. The written request shall state that the request is made pursuant to this Agreement. b. Mutual aid shall not be requested by a Party unless it is directly related to the Emergency and resources available from the normal responding agencies to the stricken area are deemed to be inadequate, or are predicted to be expended prior to the resolution of the Emergency. c. All requests for Mutual Aid shall be transmitted by a Point of Contact of the Requesting Party to a Point of Contact of the Responding Party. d. Each request for assistance shall be accompanied by the following information, to the extent known: i. A general description of the Emergency and the damage or injury sustained or threatened; ii. Identification of the general emergency service function or functions for which assistance is needed (e.g. fire, law enforcement, emergency medical, search and rescue, transportation, communications, public works and engineering, building, inspection, planning and information assistance, mass care, resource South East Texas Regional Planning Commission facilitated Mutual Aid Agreement Page 3 of 11 support, health and other medical services, etc.) and the particular type of assistance needed; iii. The amount and type of personnel, equipment, and other resources needed and a reasonable estimate of the length of time that each will be needed; iv. The location(s) to which the resources are to be dispatched and the specific time by which the resources are needed; and, V. The name and contact information of a representative of the Requesting Party, if available, to meet the personnel and equipment of any Responding Party at each location to which resources are dispatched. 8. THE PROVISION OF MUTUAL AID Subject to the conditions of this Section, upon request of the Requesting Party, each Patty hereto shall furnish Mutual Aid in coping with an Emergency. a. Assessment of Availability of Resources and Ability to Render Assistance. When contacted by a Requesting Party, a Point of Contact of the Patty from which aid is requested agrees to assess local resources to determine availability of personnel, equipment and other assistance to respond to the request. A Responding Party is not required to provide Mutual Aid assistance unless the Responding Party determines that the Responding Party has sufficient resources to provide assistance, based on current or anticipated events in its jurisdiction. b. Information Required of the Responding Party. A Point of Contact who determines that the Responding Party has available personnel, equipment, and other resources, shall so notify the Requesting Party and provide the following information, to the extent known: i. A complete description of the personnel and their expertise and capabilities, equipment, and other resources to be furnished to the Requesting Party; ii. The estimated length of time that the personnel, equipment, and other resources will be available; iii. The time of the person or persons to be designated as supervisory personnel; and, iv. The estimated time of arrival for provided assistance to arrive at the designated location(s). c. Supervision and Control. When providing assistance under the terms of this Agreement, the response effort must be organized and function in accordance with NIMS guidelines. The personnel, equipment, and resources of a Responding South East Texas Regional Planning Commission facilitated Mutual Aid Agreement Page 4 of 11 Party being used in the response effort will be under the operational control of the Requesting Party. Direct supervision and control of personnel, equipment and resources, as well as personnel accountability, shall remain the responsibility of the designated supervisory personnel of the Responding Party. Emergency Medical Services organizations providing assistance under this Agreement will utilize medical protocols authorized by their medical director. The designated supervisory personnel of the Responding Party shall: maintain daily personnel time records, material records and a log of equipment hours; be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the equipment and other resources furnished by the Responding Party; and, report work progress to the Requesting Party. d. Food Housing, and Self-Sufficiencv. The Requesting Party shall have the responsibility of providing food and housing for the personnel of the Responding Party from the time of their arrival at the designated location(s) to the time of their departure. However, Responding Party personnel and equipment should be, to the greatest extent possible, self-sufficient while working in the Emergency area. The Requesting Party may limit its request for assistance to only self-sufficient personnel and resources in its request for assistance. e. Rights and Privileges. Personnel who are assigned, designated or ordered by their Party's governing body to perform duties pursuant to this Agreement shall continue to receive the same wages, salary, pension and other compensation including injury or death benefits, disability payments, and workers' compensation benefits, for the performance of those duties as though the services had been rendered for the Party employing the personnel. The Responding Party employing the person is responsible for the payment of wages, salary, pension, and other compensation and benefits associated with the performance of duties under this Agreement. f. License Portability. If the assistance of a person who holds a license, certificate, permit, or other document evidencing qualification in a professional, mechanical, or other skill is requested by a Party under this Agreement, the person is considered licensed, certified, permitted, or otherwise documented in the Requesting Party's jurisdiction in which the service is provided as long as the service is required, subject to any limitations imposed by the chief executive officer or governing body of the Requesting Party. g. The Duration of Aid. The provision of Mutual Aid under this Agreement may continue until the services of the Responding Party are no longer required, or the Responding Party determines that further Mutual Aid should not be provided. Resources of the Responding Party shall remain subject to recall South East Texas Regional Planning Commission facilitated Mutual Aid Agreement Page 5 of 11 by the Responding Party at any time, subject to reasonable notice to the Requesting Party. 9. COSTS All costs associated with the provision of Mutual Aid exceeding twelve consecutive hours shall be paid by the Responding Party and reimbursed by the Requesting Party at actual cost, to the extent permitted by law. Such costs include but are not limited to: compensation for personnel; operation and maintenance of equipment; damage to equipment; and food, lodging and transportation expenses. a. Requests for reimbursement must be submitted as soon as practicable but no later than sixty days after the return of all personnel deployed under this Agreement. Submission will follow the standard billing practices as pre- established by each jurisdiction. Failure to submit a request for reimbursement within the specified time frame will result in the Responding Party not being reimbursed for the Mutual Aid provided unless the Requesting Party extends the deadline for filing requests for reimbursement or the Federal or State Government extends the deadline for filing request for reimbursement. Such requests shall specifically identify all personnel, equipment, and resources provided; dates of issuance or duration of deployment, and the unit cost and total costs associated with each. b. The Responding Party shall be responsible for creating and maintaining a record of all costs incurred, both reimbursed and umeimbursed costs, in providing Mutual Aid under this Agreement. The record shall be kept for a period of three years from the date the incident is closed. c. In the event federal funds are available for costs associated with the provision of Mutual Aid, the Parties agree that the Requesting Party may make the claim for the eligible costs of the Responding Party on its subgrantee application and will disburse the federal share of funds to the Responding Party. d. Reimbursement under this Section will be made by the Requesting Party no later than: (1) one -hundred eighty days after receipt of the request for reimbursement; or (2) ninety days after the Requesting Party receives reimbursement from the federal or state government, whichever is sooner. e. The provision of Mutual Aid will be considered non -reimbursable if the Responding Party does not request reimbursement within the time specified in this Section. 10. INSURANCE a. Workers' Compensation Coverage. Each Party shall be responsible for complying with the Texas Workers' Compensation Act. b. Automobile Liability Coverage Each Party shall be responsible for complying with the Texas motor vehicle financial responsibility laws. South East Texas Regional Planning Commission facilitated Mutual Aid Agreement Page 6 of I l c. General LiabilityPublic Officials Liability and Law Enforcement Liability. Each Party agrees to obtain or continue its general liability, public official's liability and law enforcement liability insurance, if applicable, or maintain a comparable self-insurance program. d. Other Coveraee: The Responding Party shall provide and maintain its standard packages of medical and death benefit insurance coverage while its personnel are assisting the Requesting Party. 11. a. Each Responding Party which performs services or furnishes aid pursuant to this Agreement shall do so with appropriated funds from current revenues available to the Responding Party, to the extent permitted by law. No Party shall have any liability for the failure to expend funds to provide aid hereunder. b. Each Requesting Party which reimburses costs of a Responding Party shall do so with appropriated funds from current revenues available to the Requesting Party, to the extent permitted by law. 12. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE Notwithstanding any other provisions herein, any Party hereto may provide emergency assistance or law enforcement assistance to another Party as provided in Section 791.027 of the Texas Government Code or Section 362.002 of the Texas Local Government Code. 13. TERM This Agreement shall become effective as to each Party when approved and executed by that Party and shall be binding on each and every Party through December 31 of the year signed. This Agreement shall automatically renew for a period of one yew upon the completion of the initial term and each subsequent term unless and until such time as the governing body of a Party terminates its participation in this Agreement pursuant to Section 25 of this Agreement. Termination of participation in this Agreement by a Party(ies) shall not affect the continued operation of this Agreement between and among the remaining Parties and this Agreement shall continue in force and remain binding on the remaining Parties. 14. LIABILITY IN FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT OR PROVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES. To the extent that this Agreement is considered an Agreement under Section 791.006 of the Texas Government Code, the Responding Party under this Agreement is not responsible for any civil liability that arises from the furnishing of services described in Section 791.006. South East Texas Regional Planning Commission facilitated Mutual Aid Agreement Page 7 of I 15. LIABILITY UNDER INTERLOCAL CONTRACT A Party that furnishes a service related to a homeland security activity, as defined in Chapter 421 of the Texas Government Code, under this Agreement is immune from civil liability for any act or omission resulting in death, damage, or injury while acting under this Agreement if the act or omission was in good faith and in the course and scope of its functions to provide a service related to a homeland security activity. To the extent that any service is not considered to be a homeland security activity, as defined in Chapter 421 of the Texas Govemment Code, the Requesting Party assumes all risk of and responsibility for any claims against the Responding Party that arise out of the Responding Party's furnishing of Mutual Aid under this Agreement, so long as, the act or omission was in good faith and in the course and scope of its functions to provide Mutual Aid under this Agreement. 16. ENTIRETY This Agreement contains all commitments and agreements of the Parties regarding Mutual Aid to be rendered during or in connection with an Emergency. All previously entered into Regional Mutual Aid Agreements are superseded by this Agreement. No other oral or written commitments of the parties shall have any force or effect if not contained herein. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, it is understood and agreed that certain signatory Parties may have heretofore contracted or hereafter contract with each other for Mutual Aid in Emergencies or the provision of other government services and functions, and it is agreed that this Agreement shall be subordinate to any such individual agreement. 17. OTHER MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS To assist each other in the process of Mutual Aid response planning, each Party shall inform the Administrative Agency of all mutual aid agreements, memorandums of agreement or understanding, or contracts that each Party has with other municipalities, entities, counties, and state or federal agencies and furnish copies of said mutual aid agreements, memorandums of agreement or understanding, or contracts to the Administrative Agency, preferably in electronic format, if and when feasible and/or permissible. 18. RATIFICATION Each Party hereby ratifies the rendering and/or receiving of Mutual Aid taken prior to the date of this Agreement. 19. INTERLOCAL COOPERATION ACT The Parties agree that Mutual Aid in the context contemplated herein is a "governmental function and service" and that the Parties are "local governments" as those terms are defined in the Interlocal Cooperation Act. 20. CONFIDENTIALITY The Parties recognize that the provision of Mutual Aid under this Agreement may result in the transfer of confidential medical information between them. The Parties shall guard the confidentiality of such information as required by the federal Health South East Texas Regional Planning Commission facilitated Mutual Aid Agreement Page 8 of 11 Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Texas Medical Practice Act, and other state privacy laws pertaining to the confidentiality of medical records. 21. SEVERABILITY If a provision contained in this Agreement is held invalid for any reason, the invalidity does not affect other provisions of this Agreement that can be given effect without the invalid provision, and to this end the provisions of this Agreement are severable. 22. VALIDITY AND ENFORCEABILITY If any current or future legal limitations affect the validity or enforceability of a provision of this Agreement, then the legal limitations are made a part of this Agreement and shall operate to amend this Agreement to the minimum extent necessary to bring this Agreement into conformity with the requirements of the limitations, and so modified, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. 23. AMENDMENT The Parties agree that this Agreement may be reviewed annually by a regional ad - hoc committee composed of the agency Emergency Management Coordinators or Emergency Management Directors where no coordinator has been appointed. At least sixty calendar days (60 days) before any meeting at which an amendment or amendments to this Agreement will be considered and voted upon, the Administrative Agency shall send out notice to each Party to this Agreement informing them of the proposed amendment(s). This notice shall include the language of the amendment(s), and a list of current ad -hoc committee members and the jurisdictions they represent. Each Party may direct any comments or concerns about said amendment(s) to their respective Emergency Management representative(s) prior to said meeting. The adhoc committee may recommend amendment to the agreement which will then be submitted to the respective parties' governing bodies for authorization. 24. TERMINATION The governing body of a Party which is a signatory hereto, shall, by order, ordinance, or resolution, give notice of termination of participation in this Agreement and submit a certified copy of such order, ordinance, or resolution to the Administrative Agency. Such termination shall become effective not earlier than 30 days after the filing of such notice. The termination by one or more of the Parties of its participation in this Agreement shall not affect the operation of this Agreement as between the other Parties hereto. Upon receipt of said notice to terminate participation in the Agreement, the Administrative Agency shall notify the remaining Parties to the Agreement in writing within ten days. 25. THIRD PARTIES This Agreement is intended to inure only to the benefit of the Parties hereto. This Agreement is not intended to create, nor shall be deemed or construed to create, any fights in third parties. South East Texas Regional Planning Commission facilitated Mutual Aid Agreement Page 9 of 11 26. NOTICES Any notice required or permitted between the Parties must be in writing, addressed to the attention of each respective Point of Contact, and shall be delivered in person, or mailed certified mail, return receipt requested, or may be transmitted by facsimile transmission or email. 27. AUTHORIZATION The Agreement has been officially authorized by the governing or controlling body of each Party hereto by order, ordinance or resolution and each signatory to this Agreement represents that the signatory has full authority to execute this Agreement on behalf of and to legally bind the respective Party to this Agreement. 28. The Parties to this Agreement do not waive or relinquish any immunity or defense on behalf of itself, officers, employers, agents, and volunteers as a result of its execution of this Agreement and the performance of the covenants contained herein. 29. GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE The laws of the State of Texas shall govern this Agreement. In the event of an Emergency physically occurring within the geographical limits of only one county that is a Party hereto, venue shall lie in the county in which the Emergency occurred. In the event of an Emergency physically occurring in more than one county that is a Party hereto, venue shall be determined in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. 30. PARTY ELIGIBILITY Any local government as that term is defined in Chapter 791 of the Texas Government Code may be a Party to this Agreement, provided that no Party is an agency, department or entity of the same town, county or State government. 31. FORMS The Administrative Agency may prepare and provide forms designated for the purposes of this Agreement to be used by the Parties. 32. HEADINGS The headings at the beginning of the various provisions of this Agreement have been included only to more quickly locate the subject covered by each provision and are not to be used in construing this Agreement. South East Texas Regional Planning Commission facilitated Mutual Aid Agreement Page 10 of 11 EXECUTED by the Parties hereto, each respective entity acting by and through its duly authorized official as required by law, on multiple counterparts each of which shall be deemed to be an original, effective among the parties who sign it at the time of their signature, on the date specified on the multiple counterpart executed by such entity. ATTEST/SEAL: City or County Clerk APPROVED: Agency Administrator APPROVED AS TO FORM: City or County Attorney L.D. File No. CITY OF BEAUMONT CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS Signed by: or Judge COUNTERSIGNED BY: Emergency Management Coordinator DATE COUNTERSIGNED: South East Texas Regional Planning Commission facilitated Mumal Aid Agreement Page I of 11