CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Adopt the resolution authorizing execution of the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network Agreement and the Illinois Emergency Management Mutual Aid System Agreement
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DEPARTMENT: Fire Department
SUBMITTED BY: Natalie Wiza, Emergency Manager
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The City of Naperville routinely relies on mutual aid from neighboring jurisdictions and outside agencies to manage emergencies and disasters that exceed local capacity. While the City has established mutual aid relationships in the fire and police disciplines through existing intergovernmental agreements, the City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Department of Public Works have not yet formalized participation in the two statewide mutual aid systems that specifically cover emergency management and public works resources.
Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network (IPWMAN)
Incorporated in 2009, the IPWMAN is a statewide, intergovernmental mutual aid network of more than 400 member entities that allows public works agencies to request and provide personnel, equipment, and resources to one another during emergencies and disasters. IPWMAN also holds a seat at the Illinois State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and on the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (ITTF), which gives member agencies a channel to state-level resources during an incident. Membership requires that the local governing body adopt an authorizing ordinance or resolution and execute the IPWMAN Mutual Aid Agreement.
Illinois Emergency Management Mutual Aid System (IEMMAS)
Administered through the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association (IESMA), IEMMAS is an agency-based mutual aid agreement among local governments that provides for the exchange of emergency management personnel, equipment, and expertise when a local jurisdiction's emergency management resources are overwhelmed. Participation likewise requires execution of a formal intergovernmental agreement authorized by the local governing body under the Illinois Intergovernmental Cooperation Act (5 ILCS 220).
Both systems operate independently of, and do not replace or conflict with, mutual aid arrangements the City already maintains through MABAS (fire/EMS) or ILEAS (law enforcement). Rather, they close a gap for the two disciplines, public works and emergency management coordination, that currently have no formal statewide mutual aid mechanism in place for Naperville.
DISCUSSION:
As the City’s Emergency Manager has identified formal mutual aid agreements as a foundational element of emergency preparedness. Recent events, including the Kankakee County EF-3 tornado and the Streator tornado, have underscored how quickly a single jurisdiction's emergency management and public works resources can be exhausted, and how important pre-established, vetted mutual aid relationships are to a timely, well-coordinated response.
Joining IPWMAN and IEMMAS offers the City several concrete benefits:
• Access to a much larger resource pool.
• State-level connectivity.
• Regional reciprocity.
• No conflict with existing agreements.
• Reimbursement framework has already been established.
Execution of both agreements requires formal authorization from the corporate authorities in the form of a resolution.
Adoption of the attached resolution authorizes the City Manager, or designee, to execute the IPWMAN and IEMMAS mutual aid agreements on behalf of the City of Naperville and designates the Emergency Manager as the City's primary coordinator for mutual aid requests under both systems.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Estimated $500 annually.