Chapter 2.12
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSE
Sections:
2.12.030 Emergency council--Membership.
2.12.040 Emergency council--Powers and duties--Meetings.
2.12.050 Director of emergency management and response.
2.12.060 Powers of director during disaster or emergency.
2.12.065 Powers of director following a disaster or emergency.
2.12.070 Composition of organization.
2.12.080 Assignment of functions and duties.
2.12.090 Resolution setting forth form, functions and duties.
2.12.100 Obstruction--Disobedience--Impersonation.
2.12.010 Purpose.
The declared purposes of this chapter are 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 or disaster, and to provide for the coordination of the emergency management and response functions of the city with all other public agencies and affected private persons, corporations and organizations.
Any expenditures made in connection with such emergency management and response 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 of Angels. (Ord. 547 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 145 §1, 1958)
2.12.020 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
A. "Disaster" means actual or threatened enemy attack sabotage, extraordinary fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, earthquake or other similar public calamity.
B. "Emergency management" means the organized process of preparing for, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. It involves the coordination and integration of all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other manmade disasters. The goal of emergency management is to reduce the harmful effects of all hazards, including saving lives, protecting property, and preserving the environment.
C. "Emergency response" involves the immediate actions taken during and immediately after an emergency to protect lives, property, and the environment. This includes the deployment of emergency services, such as fire, police, and medical teams, as well as the activation of emergency plans and procedures. The primary focus of emergency response is to manage the incident, provide relief to affected individuals, and mitigate further damage or hazards. (Ord. 547 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 145 §2, 1958)
2.12.030 Emergency council--Membership.
The city of Angels emergency council is created and shall consist of the following:
A. The mayor, who shall be chairperson;
B. The city administrator as director of emergency services, who shall be vice chairperson;
C. The assistant director of emergency services, appointed by the mayor, with the advice and consent of the city council who, under the supervision of the director, shall develop emergency response and disaster plans, including but not limited to emergency operations plans, and hazard mitigation plans, and organize the emergency management and response program of this city, and such other duties as may be assigned by the director;
D. Such deputy directors and chiefs of emergency services as are provided for by resolution pursuant to this chapter;
E. Such representatives of civic, business, labor, veterans’, professional or other organizations having an official group or organization emergency services responsibility as may be appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the city council. (Ord. 547 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 145 §3, 1958)
2.12.040 Emergency council--Powers and duties--Meetings.
A. It shall be the duty of the city emergency council, and it is hereby empowered, to review and recommend for adoption by the city council emergency mutual aid plans, including emergency operations plans, and hazard mitigation plans, and agreements and such ordinances and resolutions and rules and regulations as are necessary to implement such plans and agreements, and provide for the maintenance and regular updates to these plans and agreements.
B. The emergency council shall meet upon call of the chairperson or, in their absence from the city or inability to call such meeting, upon the call of the vice chairperson. (Ord. 547 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 145 §4, 1958)
2.12.050 Director of emergency management and response.
A. There is created the office of director of emergency management and response. Such officer shall be appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the city council.
B. The director is empowered:
1. To request the city council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a disaster or an emergency and the termination thereof, if the city council is in session, or to issue such proclamation if the city council is not in session, subject to confirmation by the city council at the earliest practicable time;
2. To request the Governor 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;
3. To control and direct the effort of the emergency council of this city for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter;
4. To direct coordination and cooperation between divisions, services and staff of the emergency council of this city, and to resolve questions of authority and responsibility that may arise between them;
5. To represent this city in all dealings with public or private agencies pertaining to emergency management and response. (Ord. 547 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 145 §5, 1958)
2.12.060 Powers of director during disaster or emergency.
In the event of the proclamation of a local disaster or emergency as provided in this chapter, or the proclamation of a state of disaster or a state of extreme emergency by the Governor or the Director of the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), 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 disaster; provided, however, such rules and regulations must be confirmed at the earliest practicable time by the city council;
B. To obtain vital supplies, equipment and such other properties 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. To require emergency services of any city officer or employee and, in the event of the proclamation of a state of disaster or a state of extreme emergency by the Governor in the region in which this city is located, to command the aid of as many citizens of this community as he thinks 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 civil defense and disaster service volunteers;
D. To requisition necessary personnel or material of any city department or agency;
E. To execute all of his ordinary powers as mayor, all of the special powers conferred upon him by this chapter or by resolution adopted pursuant thereto, all powers conferred upon him by any statute, agreement approved by the city council, or by any other lawful authority, and, in conformity with Section 38791 of the Government Code, to exercise authority over the city and to exercise all police power vested in the city by the Constitution and general laws. (Ord. 547 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 145 §6, 1958)
2.12.065 Powers of director following a disaster or emergency.
Following the proclamation of a local disaster or emergency as provided in this chapter, or the proclamation of a state of disaster or a state of extreme emergency by the Governor or the Director of CalOES, in order to facilitate expedited reconstruction within the city, the director is empowered:
A. To allow the suspension of certain portions of the AMC when:
1. The normal application of the code would be inconsistent with public health, safety, and welfare; and
2. The suspension is consistent with any federal or state statutes and regulations.
B. To requisition necessary personnel or material of any city department or agency, including expedited employment of contract services needed to facilitate plan review and inspection services for post-disaster demolition and rebuild permits.
C. To waive permit fees for post-disaster demolition and rebuild permits.
D. To require businesses that provide building, construction, repair, and renovation services to submit to the city proof of a contractor’s license in good standing, prior to commencement of work, in order to prevent post-disaster predatory practices. (Ord. 547 (Att. A), 2025)
2.12.070 Composition of organization.
All officers and employees of this city, together with those volunteer forces enrolled to aid them during a disaster, and all groups, organizations and persons who may, by agreement or operation of law, including persons pressed into service under the provisions of Section 2.12.060(C), be charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property in this city during such disaster, shall constitute the emergency council of the city of Angels. (Ord. 547 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 145 §7, 1958)
2.12.080 Assignment of functions and duties.
The functions and duties of emergency council shall be distributed among such divisions, services and special staff as the city council shall prescribe by resolution. (Ord. 547 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 145 §8(part), 1958)
2.12.090 Resolution setting forth form, functions and duties.
The city council shall, concurrently with the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter, adopt a resolution setting 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. Insofar as possible, the form of organization, titles and terminology shall conform to the recommendations of the emergency management and response agencies of the federal government and the state of California. (Ord. 547 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 145 §8(part), 1958)
2.12.100 Obstruction--Disobedience--Impersonation.
It is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not to exceed one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not to exceed six months, or both, for any person during a declared emergency or disaster:
A. Willfully to obstruct, hinder or delay any member of the emergency council 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;
B. To 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. To wear, carry or display, without authority, any means of identification specified by the CalOES. (Ord. 547 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 145 §9, 1958)