Chapter 1.15
EMERGENCY ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS
Sections:
1.15.030 Director of emergency services.
Prior legislation: Ords. 1037 and Code 1997 §§ 1-24 – 1-29, 1-31 – 1-36.
1.15.010 Purposes.
The declared purpose of this chapter is to provide for the preparation and carrying out of plans for the protection of persons and property within this city in the event of an emergency. (Ord. 1084 § 1 (Exh. A))
1.15.020 “Emergency” defined.
As used in this chapter, “emergency” shall mean the actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within this city caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, avalanche, or earthquake, or other conditions, including conditions resulting from war or imminent threat of war, but other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy, which conditions are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the city, requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat. (Ord. 1084 § 1 (Exh. A))
1.15.030 Director of emergency services.
A. There is hereby created the office of director of emergency services. The city manager or his or her designee shall serve as director of emergency services.
B. The director of emergency services shall approve, by separate policy of the city of South Lake Tahoe, emergency preparedness plans and other policies and procedures relating to emergency response including establishment and facilitation of the emergency operations center.
C. The director is empowered to:
1. Request the city council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of an “emergency” if the city council is in session, or to issue such proclamation if the city council is not in session. Whenever a local emergency is proclaimed by the director, the city council shall take action to ratify the proclamation within seven days thereafter or the proclamation shall have no further force or effect;
2. Request the Governor to proclaim a “state of emergency” when, in the opinion of the director, the locally available resources are inadequate to cope with the emergency;
3. Control and direct the effort of the emergency organization of this city for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter;
4. Direct cooperation between and coordination of services and staff of the emergency organization of this city, and resolve questions of authority and responsibility that may arise between them;
5. Activate the emergency operations center to facilitate the emergency efforts of the city;
6. Represent this city in all dealings with the public or private agencies on matters pertaining to emergencies as defined in this chapter;
7. In the event of the proclamation of a “local emergency” as provided in this section, the proclamation of a “state of emergency” by the Governor or the Director of the State Office of Emergency Services, or the existence of a “state of war emergency,” the director is empowered:
a. To make and issue rules and regulations on matters reasonably related to the protection of life and property as affected by such emergency; provided, however, such rules and regulations must be confirmed at the earliest practical time by the city council;
b. To obtain vital supplies, equipment, and such other properties found lacking and needed for the protection of life and property and to bind the city for the fair value thereof and, if required immediately, to commandeer the same for public use;
c. To require emergency services of any city officer or employee and, in the event of the proclamation of a “state of emergency” in the county in which this city is located or the existence of a “state of war emergency,” to command the aid of as many citizens of this community as he deems necessary in the execution of his duties; such persons shall be entitled to all privileges, benefits and immunities as are provided by state law for registered disaster service workers;
d. To requisition necessary personnel or material of any city department or agency; and
e. To execute all of his or her ordinary power as city manager, all of the special powers conferred upon him by this chapter or by resolution of emergency plan pursuant hereto adopted by the city council, all powers conferred upon him by any statute, by any agreement approved by the city council, and by any other lawful authority. (Ord. 1084 § 1 (Exh. A))
1.15.040 Expenditures.
Any expenditures made in connection with emergency activities, including mutual-aid activities, shall be deemed conclusively to be for the direct protection and benefit of the inhabitants and property of the city. (Ord. 1084 § 1 (Exh. A))
1.15.050 Violations.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person, during an emergency, to willfully obstruct, hinder or delay any member of the emergency organization in the enforcement of any lawful rule or regulation issued pursuant to this chapter, or in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by virtue of this chapter. (Ord. 1084 § 1 (Exh. A))