Azusa Municipal Code Art. I In General

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 an emergency, the direction of the emergency organization, and the coordination of the emergency functions of this city with all other public agencies, corporations, organizations and affected private persons.

(Code 1971, § 2.72.010)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Local emergency means the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of the city, caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, drought, sudden and severe energy shortage, plant or animal infestation or disease, the governor's warning of an earthquake or volcanic prediction or an earthquake or other conditions, 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 and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat, or with respect to regulated energy utilities, a sudden and severe energy shortage requires extraordinary measures beyond the authority vested in the state public utilities commission.

State of emergency means the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the state caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, drought, sudden and severe energy shortage, plant or animal infestation or disease, the governor's warning of an earthquake or volcanic prediction or an earthquake or other conditions, other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy or conditions causing a state of war emergency, which conditions, by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region to combat, or with respect to regulated energy utilities, a sudden and severe energy shortage requires extraordinary measures beyond the authority vested in the state public utilities commission.

State of war emergency means the condition which exists immediately, with or without a proclamation thereof by the governor, whenever this state or nation is attacked by an enemy of the United States, or upon receipt by the state of a warning from the federal government indicating that such an enemy attack is probable or imminent.

(Code 1971, § 2.72.020)

Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.

(a) There is created the office of director of emergency services. The city manager shall be the director of emergency services.

(b) There is created the office of deputy director of emergency services who shall be the chief of police.

(c) There is created the office of coordinator of emergency services, a classified position pursuant to civil service rules and regulations.

(Code 1971, § 2.72.050; Ord. No. 98-09, § 2, 6-15-98)

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Code, the emergency services director shall:

(1) Request the city council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local 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 the coordination of services and staff of the emergency organization of the city and resolve questions of authority and responsibility that may arise between them.

(5) Represent this city in all dealings with public or private agencies on matters pertaining to emergencies.

(6) For the proclamation of a local emergency, 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 shall:

a. 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 practicable time by the city council.

b. 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 such for public use.

c. Require emergency services of any city officer or employee, and, for the proclamation of a state of emergency in the county in which this city is located or for the existence of a state of war emergency, 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. Requisition necessary personnel or material of any city department or agency.

e. Execute all of his ordinary power as city manager, all of the special powers conferred upon him by this chapter or by resolution or emergency plan adopted by the city council, all powers conferred upon him by any statute, by any agreement approved by the city council and by other lawful authority.

f. Designate the order of succession to that office, to take effect if the director is unavailable to attend meetings and otherwise perform his duties during an emergency. Such order of succession shall be approved by the city council.

(b) The deputy director of emergency services shall, under the direction of the director, oversee the actions of the coordinator of emergency services in the development of emergency plans and management of the emergency programs of the city and shall have such other powers and duties as may be assigned by the director.

(c) The coordinator of emergency services shall, under the supervision of the deputy director and with the assistance of the emergency services chiefs, develop emergency plans and manage the emergency programs of this city and shall have such other powers and duties as may be assigned by the director.

(Code 1971, § 2.72.060; Ord. No. 98-09, § 2, 6-15-98)

All officers and employees of this 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 impressed into service under the provisions of section 26-4(a)(6)c., are charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property in this city during such emergency and shall constitute the emergency organization of the city.

(Code 1971, § 2.72.070)

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.

(Code 1971, § 2.72.090)

It shall be a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in section 1-10 of this Code, for any person, during an emergency to:

(1) Wilfully 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.

(2) Do any act forbidden by any lawful rule or regulation 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 imperil the lives or property of inhabitants of this city or to prevent, hinder or delay the defense or protection thereof.

(3) Wear, carry or display, without authority, any means of identification specified by the emergency agency of the state.

(Code 1971, § 2.72.100)