Phone system has 2 levels of notification and limits on use; Other cities have been considering using the same system, which is known as the Connect-CTY.

By Christy Fenner
Ventura County Star
Calif. county approves new emergency alert system
'Notify Chicago' to send residents text messages in emergencies

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. — Westlake Village has a new system for alerting the public in emergencies and new rules controlling how the mass-notification system will be used.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

The Westlake Village City Council voted 5-0 on Tuesday to accept the system and the policy.

City officials will be able to send phone messages and e-mails to any telephone numbers and e-mail addresses registered with the city by members of the public.

Because the program could be used in emergencies and in non-emergencies, the policy adopted by the council sets limits on its use.

"The policy would give discretion in the use of this new mass notification program to the city manager to determine when it would be appropriate and not appropriate to use it," said City Manager Ray Taylor. "Clearly we don't want a situation where we've got residents seated around the dinner table and getting a call from the city of Westlake Village about a public hearing on an oak tree permit. That's not what this system is about."

Other cities, including Agoura Hills, have been considering using the same system, which is known as the Connect-CTY mass notification program.

The policy details two levels of emergency telephone notifications that would warrant the activation of the telephone notification system.

"Residents can opt in or out of both emergency and nonemergency notifications," said Assistant City Manager Audrey Brown.

According to the policy, the program can be activated in situations such as "imminent danger from severe weather conditions, disaster response team activation, imminent danger from a fire, natural disasters, terrorism threats, hostage situations, Amber Alerts/missing persons, HazMat incidents, bomb threats and other non-specified emergencies."

Emergency notifications can be initiated only by the city manager or a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department official, and city-generated informational notifications that are less time-sensitive can be initiated by the city manager or another city official as designated by the city manager.

The policy outlines instances in which city-generated informational notifications might be implemented, including "power outages, road closures, water main breaks, water contamination issues, shelter openings, time-sensitive public information as determined by the city manager, and public hearing announcements."

Copyright 2008 Ventura County Star