Chapter 2
EMERGENCY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES*
Sections:
4-2.03 Director of Emergency Services.
4-2.04 Emergency powers of Director.
4-2.05 Emergency Services Organization.
4-2.06 Emergency Services Organization divisions, services and staff.
4-2.07 Nonsummary nuisance abatement.
4-2.08 Summary nuisance abatement.
4-2.09 Failure to comply with nuisance abatement order.
4-2.10 Nuisance abatement cost recovery.
* Chapter 2 entitled “Civil Defense”, consisting of Sections 4-2.01 through 4-2.13, codified from Ordinance No. 35 C-M, amended in its entirety by Section 1, Ordinance No. 250 C-M, effective April 21, 1971.
Chapter 2 entitled “Civil Defense and Disaster Relief and Provisions for Mutual Aid,” consisting of Sections 4-2.01 through 4-2.12, codified from Ordinance No. 250 C-M, effective April 21, 1971, as amended by Ordinance No. 699-86 C-M, effective April 24, 1986, repealed and replaced by Ordinance No. 1395-19 (CM), effective November 21, 2019.
4-2.01 Purposes.
The purposes of this chapter are to provide for the preparation and execution of plans for the defense and protection of persons and property within the City in the event of an emergency, and to provide for the coordination of the emergency services functions of the City with all other public agencies and affected private persons, corporations and organizations. Any expenditures made in connection with such emergency services activities shall be deemed conclusively to be for the direct protection and benefit of the inhabitants and property of the City.
(§ 1, Ord. 1395-19 (CM), eff. November 21, 2019)
4-2.02 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases shall be construed as herein set forth, unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended.
(a) “Emergency” is an actual or threatened enemy attack, sabotage, extraordinary fire, flood, storm, epidemic, civil disorder, catastrophe, earthquake, release of hazardous materials or other similar public calamity or disaster.
(b) “Emergency services” is the preparation for, and the execution of, all emergency functions, other than functions for which military forces are primarily responsible, to prevent, minimize, and repair injury and damage resulting from an emergency. It shall not include, nor does any provision of this chapter apply to, any condition relating to a labor controversy.
(§ 1, Ord. 1395-19 (CM), eff. November 21, 2019)
4-2.03 Director of Emergency Services.
The City Manager of the City of Watsonville shall serve as the Director of Emergency Services of the City of Watsonville. The Director of Emergency Services is hereby empowered to:
(a) Request the Council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of an emergency and the termination thereof, if the Council is in session, or to issue such proclamation if the Council is not in session, subject to confirmation by the Council at the earliest practicable time;
(b) Request the Governor of the State of California to proclaim a state of emergency when in the opinion of the Director the resources of the area or region are inadequate to cope with the disaster;
(c) Control and direct the efforts of the Emergency Services Organization of the City for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter;
(d) Direct coordination and cooperation between enterprises, departments, divisions, services and staff of the Emergency Services Organization of the City, and resolve questions of authority and responsibility that may arise between them;
(e) Represent the Emergency Services Organization of the City in all dealings with public or private agencies pertaining to emergency services.
(§ 1, Ord. 1395-19 (CM), eff. November 21, 2019)
4-2.04 Emergency powers of Director.
In the event of the proclamation of an emergency as herein provided, or the proclamation of a state of emergency by the Governor or the State Director of the Office of Emergency Services, the Director is hereby empowered to:
(a) Promulgate 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 practicable time by the Council;
(b) Obtain vital supplies, equipment and such other things found lacking and needed for the protection of the life and property of the people, and bind the City for the fair value thereof, and if required immediately, to commandeer the same for public use;
(c) Require emergency services of any City officer or employee and, in the event of the proclamation of a state of emergency by the Governor in the region, to command the aid of as many citizens of this community as they think necessary in the execution of their duties; such persons shall be entitled to all privileges, benefits and immunities as are provided by State law;
(d) Requisition necessary personnel or material of any City department or enterprise;
(e) Execute all of their ordinary powers as a City officer, all of the special powers conferred upon them by this chapter or by resolution adopted pursuant thereto, all powers conferred upon them by any statute, agreement approved by the Council, or by any other lawful authority, and in conformity with Section 38791 of the California Government Code, to exercise complete authority over the City and to exercise all police power vested in the City by the Constitution, the City Charter, general laws and this Code.
(§ 1, Ord. 1395-19 (CM), eff. November 21, 2019)
4-2.05 Emergency Services Organization.
All officers and employees of the City, together with those volunteer forces enrolled to aid them during an emergency, and all groups, organizations and persons who may by agreement or operation of law, including persons pressed into service under the provisions of this chapter, be charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property in the City during such emergency.
(§ 1, Ord. 1395-19 (CM), eff. November 21, 2019)
4-2.06 Emergency Services Organization divisions, services and staff.
The functions and duties of the Emergency Services Organization shall be distributed among such divisions, enterprises services and special staff as the Council shall prescribe by resolution. Said resolution shall set forth the form of organization, establishment and designation of divisions and services, the assignment of functions, duties and powers, and the designation of officers and employees in the event of an emergency. Insofar as possible, the form of organization, titles and terminology shall conform to the recommendations of the federal government and the State of California Office of Emergency Services.
(§ 1, Ord. 1395-19 (CM), eff. November 21, 2019)
4-2.07 Nonsummary nuisance abatement.
(a) Order. Whenever the Director of Emergency Services, or the Director’s designee, identifies an unsafe building or structure as defined in Section 203 of the Uniform Building Code, which does not meet the summary procedure criteria of Section 4-2.08, and determines that the risk to public health and safety does not present an immediate threat to public health and safety, the Director, or the Director’s designee, shall set the matter for hearing before the Board of Building Appeals in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 8-2. The Director may record an appropriate lis pendens (notice of pending action) giving notice of the pendency of the proceeding.
(b) Notice. The Director shall publish notice, and give five days’ written notice of the time and place of the hearing either personally or by certified or registered mail, to the owner and any lien holder or the holder of any other legal or equitable interest in the property whose name and address appears in public records of title. Service by certified or registered mail shall be effective on the date of mailing, if a certified or registered letter containing a copy of such notice is mailed, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the owner at the owner’s address as it appears on the last equalized assessment roll of the County of Santa Cruz, or at the address to which the most recent real property tax bill for said property was mailed by the County Tax Collector. If no such address appears from County tax records, then a copy of the notice shall be addressed to such person at the address of the building, structure or property involved in the proceeding. The failure of any owner or interested person to receive such notice shall not affect the validity of any proceeding taken hereunder. The person giving notice shall prepare and sign a declaration under penalty of perjury certifying the time and manner in which such notice was given, and shall attach any receipt of such notice by certified or registered mail. The notice shall also be published at least once prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation.
(c) Hearing. A hearing shall be held at the time and place designated in the notice of hearing. After the hearing has been opened, it may be continued to a date certain without further notice. All persons having an interest in the building or structure, or having knowledge of facts material to the allegations in any notice or order, may present evidence at the hearing.
(d) Decision. Upon conclusion of the hearing, the Board of Building Appeals shall, based upon the evidence presented at the hearing, determine whether the building or structure, or any part thereof, constitutes a public nuisance. If the Board of Building Appeals finds a public nuisance exists, said board shall issue an order of abatement, which shall direct and order the nuisance abated by demolition or repair within the time, and in the manner, set forth in the order. The Board of Building Appeals shall give notice of the determination by serving a copy of the order upon the property owner, and by mailing a copy to any person who has requested a copy of the order and has provided an address for mailing. If the Board of Building Appeals finds a nuisance does not exist, the order shall so state. The determination of the Board of Building Appeals shall be final and conclusive. It shall terminate the administrative proceeding.
(§ 1, Ord. 1395-19 (CM), eff. November 21, 2019)
4-2.08 Summary nuisance abatement.
(a) Order. Whenever, in the judgment of the Director of Emergency Services, or of the Director’s designee, it appears that a public nuisance exists in, on, or near any building, structure, or property, constituting an immediate threat to public health or safety, requiring prompt action, the Director, or the Director’s designee, may order that the building, structure, or property, or a portion thereof, be immediately:
(1) Vacated, barricaded, boarded up or otherwise secured against use or occupancy by all persons except as permitted by the order, and thereafter kept vacant until the chief building official of the City has issued permission to reoccupy the premises;
(2) Repaired or altered in a manner set forth in the order, so as to be safe;
(3) Demolished.
(b) Criteria for Summary Abatement. In making the determination that a public nuisance for purposes of this section exists, the Director shall be guided by the criteria set forth in the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, which criteria define whether or not a building is considered dangerous for purposes of that code.
(c) Notice. A summary nuisance abatement order issued pursuant to this section shall state the time within which action is required. A copy of the order shall be posted in a conspicuous place upon the building, structure or property. A copy of the order shall also be served upon the owner, lien holders, lessees and others whose interest in the building, structure or property appears in public records of title. The order shall be served either personally or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. Service by certified or registered mail shall be effective on the date of mailing, if a certified or registered letter containing a copy of such notice is mailed, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the owner at the owner’s address as it appears on the last equalized assessment roll of the County of Santa Cruz, or at the address to which the most recent real property tax bill for said property was mailed by the County Tax Collector. If no such address appears from County tax records, then a copy of the notice shall be addressed to such person at the address of the building, structure or property involved in the proceeding. The failure of any owner or interested person to receive such notice shall not affect the validity of any proceeding taken hereunder. The person giving notice shall prepare and sign a declaration under penalty of perjury certifying the time and manner in which such notice was given, and shall attach any receipt of such notice by certified or registered mail.
(d) Hearing. Unless immediate action is required for the protection of the public health and safety, a hearing shall take place at the site of the subject building, structure or property, or at such other location as may be designated in the notice of hearing, at the time and place designated in said notice of hearing. A summary nuisance abatement hearing officer shall be designated by the Director of Emergency Services for the purpose of conducting said hearings. If said summary nuisance abatement hearing officer cannot for any reason conduct any summary nuisance abatement hearing, then the Director of Emergency Services shall serve as the alternate summary nuisance abatement hearing officer. All persons having an interest in the building, structure or property, or having knowledge of facts material to the allegations in any notice or order, may present evidence at the hearing.
(e) Decision. Upon conclusion of the hearing, the summary nuisance abatement hearing officer or alternate summary nuisance abatement hearing officer shall, based upon the evidence presented at the hearing, determine whether the premises, or any part thereof, constitutes a public nuisance. If said hearing officer or alternate hearing officer finds a public nuisance to exist, said hearing officer or alternate hearing officer shall issue an order of abatement, which shall direct and order the nuisance abated by demolition or repair within the time, and in the manner, set forth in the order. The hearing officer or alternate hearing officer shall give notice of the determination by serving a copy of the order upon the property owner, and by mailing a copy to any person who has requested a copy of the order and has provided an address for mailing. If the hearing officer or alternate hearing officer finds a nuisance does not exist, the order shall so state. The determination of the summary nuisance abatement hearing officer or alternate summary nuisance abatement hearing officer shall be final and conclusive. It shall terminate the administrative proceeding.
(§ 1, Ord. 1395-19 (CM), eff. November 21, 2019)
4-2.09 Failure to comply with nuisance abatement order.
Whenever any non-summary or summary nuisance abatement order has not been complied with within the time set by the order, the Director of Emergency Services may, in addition to any other remedy provided herein or by law, cause the building, structure or property, or portion thereof, to be:
(a) Vacated, barricaded, boarded up or otherwise secured against use or occupancy by all persons except as permitted by the order, and thereafter kept vacant until the chief building official of the City has issued permission to reoccupy the premises;
(b) Repaired or altered in a manner set forth in the order, so as to be safe; or
(c) Demolished.
(§ 1, Ord. 1395-19 (CM), eff. November 21, 2019)
4-2.10 Nuisance abatement cost recovery.
The Director of Finance shall keep an accounting of the cost, including administrative expenses, of abating any nuisance under this chapter. The Director of Finance shall prepare an itemized report thereof, showing the expense of abatement, and the City shall recover these expenses from the owner. In recovering its expenses, the City may employ those procedures delineated in Section 1-2.10 et seq., the procedures delineated in the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, or any other procedure authorized by law.
(§ 1, Ord. 1395-19 (CM), eff. November 21, 2019)
4-2.11 Violations.
No person shall:
(a) Willfully obstruct, hinder or delay any member of the Emergency Services 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 or her by virtue of this chapter;
(b) Do any act forbidden by any lawful rules or regulations issued pursuant to this chapter, if such act is of such a nature as to give, or be likely to give, assistance to the enemy, or to imperil the lives or property of inhabitants of this City, or to prevent, hinder or delay the defense or protection thereof;
(c) Wear, carry or display, without authority, any means of identification specified by the State Office of Emergency Services or the City of Watsonville.
Any violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor, punishable in accordance with the provisions of Section 1-2.01.
(§ 1, Ord. 1395-19 (CM), eff. November 21, 2019)