Los Altos Hills Municipal Code Ch. 1 Emergency Organization and Function

The declared purposes of this chapter are to provide for the preparation and carrying out of plans for the protection of persons, property and environment within the Town in the event of an emergency, the direction of the emergency organization, and the coordination of the emergency functions of the Town with all other public agencies, corporations, organizations and affected private persons.

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014; Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

In accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act[1] an integrated approach to emergency planning shall be taken to provide people with disabilities the same opportunities to benefit from emergency programs, information, services and activities as those provided to others.

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014; Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

[1]

Editor's Note: See 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.

Emergency

As used in this chapter, means the actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons, property and environment within or affecting the Town caused by such conditions as air pollution, drought, earthquake, epidemic, fire, flood, human acts, plant or animal infestation or disease, riot, severe weather, sudden and severe energy shortage, technological interruptions, the Governor's warning of an earthquake or volcanic prediction, 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, requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat.

Emergency services

Mean the preparation and carrying out of all emergency functions, other than functions for which the military forces are primarily responsible, to prevent, minimize, and repair injury and damage resulting from disaster. It shall not include preparation for any conditions relating to a labor controversy.

Local emergency

Means the duly proclaimed, actual or threatened, existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons, property and environment, within or affecting the territorial limits of the Town, which are, or are likely to be, beyond the control of Town services, personnel, equipment and facilities and requiring the combined forces of other public agencies to combat. Conditions may include air pollution, cyberterrorism, deenergization event, drought, earthquake, electromagnetic pulse attack, epidemic, fire, flood, human acts, plant or animal infestation or disease, riot, severe weather, storm, sudden and severe energy shortage, technological interruptions and conditions such as, the Governor's warning of an earthquake or volcanic prediction, or other conditions including conditions resulting from war or imminent threat of war. "Local emergency" does not include, nor does any provision of this chapter apply to, any conditions resulting from a labor controversy.

State of emergency

Means the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons, property, and environment within or affecting the State caused by such conditions as air pollution, cyberterrorism, deenergization event, drought, earthquake, electromagnetic pulse attack, epidemic, fire, flood, human acts, plant or animal infestation or disease, riot, severe weather, storm, sudden and severe energy shortage, technological interruptions, the Governor's warning of an earthquake or volcanic prediction, or other conditions, which conditions, by reason of their magnitude, are, or are likely to be, beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city, and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat. "State of emergency" does not include, nor does any provision of this chapter apply to, any conditions resulting from a labor controversy or conditions causing a "state of war emergency."

State of war emergency

Means the condition that 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.

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014; § 1, Ord. 565, eff. July 16, 2016; Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

All officers and employees, 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 4-1.05 of this chapter, be charged with duties incident to the protection of life, property and environment during such emergency, shall constitute the emergency organization of the Town of Los Altos Hills.

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014; Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

(a) There is hereby created the office of Director of Emergency Services. The City Manager shall be the Director of Emergency Services. The Director shall oversee the Office of Emergency Services.

(b) There is hereby created the office of Assistant Director of Emergency Services, who shall be appointed by the Director. In the absence or incapacity of the Director, the Assistant Director of Emergency Services shall also have the day-to-day responsibility for the management and operation of the Office of Emergency Services. The Assistant Director shall exercise all powers vested by this chapter in the Director.

(c) There is hereby created the position of Emergency Manager, who shall be appointed by the Director.

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014; § 1, Ord. 565, eff. July 16, 2016; Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

It shall be the duty of the Director of Emergency Services, and he/she is hereby empowered, to develop and recommend for adoption by the City Council, emergency and mutual aid plans and agreements and such ordinances and resolutions and rules and regulations as are necessary to implement such plans and agreements.

(a) The Director of Emergency Services or acting Director (if the Director is unavailable) is hereby empowered:

(1) To request the City Council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a "local emergency" if the governing body is in session, or to issue such proclamation if the City Council is not in session or otherwise unable to convene. 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) To request that the Governor through appropriate channels proclaim a state of emergency when, in the opinion of the Director, Assistant Director or acting Director, the resources of the Town are inadequate to cope with an emergency.

(3) To represent or provide representation of the Town in all dealings with public or private agencies pertaining to civil preparedness in the event of an emergency.

(4) Control and direct the effort of this emergency organization for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter.

(5) Direct cooperation between and coordination of services and staff of this emergency organization; and resolve questions of authority and responsibility that may arise between them.

(b) The Assistant Director shall, under the supervision of the Director and with the assistance of Disaster Council representatives, prepare the Emergency Operations Plan and emergency plans and manage the emergency programs of this jurisdiction; and shall have such other powers and duties as may be assigned by the Director.

(c) The Emergency Manager shall be responsible for supporting and implementing a comprehensive disaster and emergency preparedness program, including education and community engagement, and shall have authority over the day-to-day administration and operations of the Office of Emergency Services. The Emergency Manager may designate qualified staff or agents to assist in carrying out these responsibilities as necessary.

(d) In the event of the proclamation of a "local emergency" as herein provided, the proclamation of a "state of emergency" by the Governor or the Secretary of the California Office of Emergency Services, or the existence of a "state of war emergency," the Director is hereby empowered to:

(1) Make and issue rules and regulations on matters reasonably related to the protection of life, property and environment as affected by the emergency; provided, however, that the rules and regulations must be confirmed at the earliest practicable time by the City Council;

(2) Obtain vital supplies, equipment and other properties found lacking and needed for the protection of the life, property and environment of the people, and bind the Town for the fair value thereof and if required immediately, to commandeer the same for public use;

(3) Require emergency services of any Town officer or employee and, in the event of the proclamation of a state of war emergency or a state of emergency by the Governor in the region in which this Town is located, to command the aid of as many members of this community as are deemed necessary in the execution of his or her duties; such persons shall be entitled to all privileges, benefits, and immunities as are provided by State law for registered disaster service workers;

(4) Requisition necessary personnel or material of any Town department or agency;

(5) Execute all ordinary power as City Manager, all of the special powers conferred by this chapter or by resolution or Emergency Operations Plan adopted pursuant hereto, and all powers conferred upon the Director by any statute, agreement approved by the City Council, or by any other lawful authority.

(e) The Director of Emergency Services shall designate the order of succession to that office, to take effect in the event the Director is unavailable to attend meetings and otherwise perform duties during an emergency. The order of succession shall be:

(1) City Manager or their designee;

(2) Public Works Director;

(3) Planning Director;

(4) Administrative Services Director;

(5) City Clerk;

(6) Other employees designated by the City Manager;

(7) Most senior elected official with required National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) training.

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014; § 1, Ord. 565, eff. July 16, 2016; Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

The Los Altos Hills Disaster Council shall consist of the following:

(a) The Director of Emergency Services who shall be chair.

(b) The Assistant Director of Emergency Services who shall be the vice chair.

(c) The Public Works Director.

(d) The Mayor, or City Council designee, who shall be the liaison. The Mayor may convene the Council in the event the chair is unavailable.

(e) Such chiefs of emergency services as are provided for in a current Emergency Operations Plan of this jurisdiction, adopted pursuant to the ordinance codified in this section.

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014; § 1, Ord. 565, eff. July 16, 2016; § 1, Ord. 576, eff. August 18, 2018; Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

(a) It shall be the duty of the members of the Los Altos Hills Disaster Council, and they are hereby empowered, to engage in emergency response and recovery planning; to review and provide input on emergency and mutual aid plans and agreements and such ordinances and resolutions and rules and regulations as are necessary to implement such plans and agreements.

(b) The Director of Emergency Services shall advise the Disaster Council with regard to the preparation and maintenance of the Emergency Operations Plan in whole or in part.

(c) The Disaster Council shall develop and maintain strategic emergency planning partnerships with other local agencies.

(d) The Disaster Council shall comply with the California Emergency Services Act[1] and abide by the California Disaster and Civil Defense Master Mutual Aid Agreement.

[1]

Editor's Note: See California Government Code Section 8550 et seq.

(e) The Disaster Council, accredited by the State of California, is empowered to register and direct the activities of disaster service worker (DSW) volunteers within the sphere of influence of the Town.

(f) The Disaster Council agrees to follow established rules and regulations relating to the various classes of disaster service workers, scope of duties of each class, and manner of registration pursuant to the provisions of Government Code Section 8585.5.

(g) The Disaster Council will also have the following additional responsibilities:

(1) Approve DSW volunteer training and planning to ensure compliance with current DSW regulations and guidelines.

(2) The Assistant Director of Emergency Services will coordinate Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and exercises with the Los Altos Hills County Fire District.

(3) The City Manager, or their designee shall be the authorized representative(s) for the registration form processing of DSW volunteers. The City Manager, City Clerk and Assistant Director of Emergency Services shall review and approve volunteer training activities, as necessary.

(4) Self-certification of DSW volunteers may occur under two circumstances.

(i) During proclaimed emergencies, when monitored and screened by the Director of Emergency Services, an authorized representative identified in subsection (g)(3) or the CERT Incident Commander and CERT General Staff may administer self-certification DSW volunteer registration forms for spontaneous volunteers.

(ii) During approved Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) CERT Academy classes or refresher classes when monitored and screened by SCCFD employee CERT instructors.

(h) The Disaster Council shall meet upon call of the chair or, upon call of the vice chair (in the absence of the chair).

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014; § 1, Ord. 565, eff. July 16, 2016; § 1, Ord. 576, eff. August 18, 2018; Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

(a) The Town of Los Altos Hills has adopted the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as the prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery framework for the Emergency Operations Plan.

(b) The Disaster Council shall be responsible for the development of the Emergency Operations Plan (Plan), and Annexes specific to the Plan as identified, which shall provide for the effective mobilization of all of the resources of this jurisdiction, both public and private, to meet any condition constituting a local emergency, state of emergency, or state of war emergency; and shall provide for the organization, powers and duties, services and staff of the emergency organization.

(c) The Plan shall also identify the sources of outside support which might be provided (through mutual aid and specific statutory authorities) by other jurisdictions, State and Federal agencies, and the private sector.

(d) Such Plan shall take effect upon adoption by resolution of the City Council.

(e) The Plan may be activated by any of the following Town representatives:

(1) Those listed in Section 4-1.05(e) under the Director of Emergency Services Order of Succession.

(2) Any CERT supervisor with required NIMS training.

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014; § 1, Ord. 565, eff. July 16, 2016; Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

In order to preserve local government during an emergency, the City Council shall meet as soon as possible, ascertain the damage incurred as a result of the emergency, and fill vacancies with standby officers of the Council, as prescribed by California Government Code Sections 8635 through 8644.

In the absence of a quorum, remaining council member(s) shall determine the availability of missing council members and fill seats with standby officers. Standby officers of the Council are the former members of the Council, beginning with the immediate past Council-members, and then to prior years, beginning with the most recent.

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014; § 1, Ord. 565, eff. July 16, 2016; Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

(a) Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and each such person, firm, or corporation is guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is committed, continued or permitted, and upon conviction of any such violation such person, firm, or corporation shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(b) No person, firm, or corporation shall, during a period of emergency:

(1) 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 or her 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, property or environment of inhabitants of this Town, or prevent, hinder or delay the defense or protection thereof;

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

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014)

Any expenditures made in connection with such emergency activities, including mutual aid activities, shall be deemed conclusively to be for the direct protection and benefit of the inhabitants, property and environment within the Town of Los Altos Hills.

(§ 2, Ord. 550, eff. July 19, 2014)

In accordance with California Government Code Section 38791, during periods of great calamity, such as extraordinary fire, flood, storm, epidemic, earthquake, sabotage or enemy attack, the Mayor shall have complete authority over the Town and the right to exercise all police power vested in the Town by the Constitution and general laws.

(Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

Emergency plans adopted and approved by the City Council shall provide for the interchange of mutual aid and for coordination with the emergency plans of the County operational area.

(Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

The Town shall undertake emergency contracting as described in Section 2-4.01(b) in accordance with California Public Contract Code Section 22050. The Director of Emergency Services is delegated authority to order any action pursuant to Cal. Pub. Cont. Code § 22050.

(Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)

The Town shall undertake emergency building abatement as described in Ch. 6-5.

(Ord. 620, eff. 1/8/2026)