Chapter 2.28 — EMERGENCY SERVICES

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 the City of Norco, (hereinafter referred to as "City"), in the event of the emergency or disaster conditions hereinafter referred to, the direction of the emergency services organization, and the coordination of the emergency services functions of the City with the County of Riverside, all other public agencies, corporations, organizations, and affected private persons.

(Ord. 212, Sec. 1, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 2, 1990)

As used in this Chapter, conditions or degrees of emergencies shall mean as follows:

• A. "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.

• B. "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, floor, 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 any single County, City or County, or City and require the combined forces or a mutual aid region or regions to combat.

• C. "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 a County, City and County, or City, caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, drought, sudden and severe energy shortage, plan 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 that political subdivision and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat.

• D. Other terms used herein shall have meanings as used in the California Emergency Services Act, (Sections 8550, et. seq., California Government Code) the County of Riverside's Multi-Hazard Functional Plan, (hereinafter referred to as "County Emergency Operations Plan"), and the City of Norco's Multi-Hazard Functional Plan, (hereinafter referred to as "City Emergency Operations Plan").

• (Ord. 212 Sec. 2, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 3, 1990)

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City of Norco, CA

NORCO CODE

§ 2.28.030

§ 2.28.060

The City Emergency Corps is hereby created and shall consist of all officers and employees of the City, its agencies, together with all volunteers and all groups, organizations and persons commandeered under the provisions of the California Emergency Services Act and this Chapter, together with all equipment and material publicly owned, volunteered, commandeered or in any way under the control of the aforementioned personnel, for the support of the aforementioned personnel in the conduct of emergency operations.

(Ord. 212 Sec. 3, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 4, 1990)

The City Emergency Corps shall be activated, and function as an emergency relief body, only:

• A. Upon the existence of the "State of War Emergency;" or

• B. Upon the declaration by the Governor of the State of California, or of persons authorized to act in his stead, of a "State of Emergency" affecting and including the City; or

• C. Upon the declaration of a "Local Emergency" by the Board of Supervisors of Riverside County, or by person(s) herein authorized to act in its stead for the purpose of making such a declaration affecting and including the City; or

• D. Upon the declaration of a "Local Emergency" by the City Council of the City, or by person(s) herein designated to act in its stead for the purpose of making such a declaration.

• (Ord. 212 Sec. 4, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 5, 1990)

The City Emergency Corps shall be composed of such elements as are provided for in the City Emergency Operations Plan. The City Emergency Operations Plan shall provide for the organization of the City Emergency Corps utilizing concepts of span of control, common colocated planning, and management by objectives, and can organize field resources within Area Command Authorities. The Officers of the City shall have the duty and authority to plan for the mobilization, operations and support of that segment of the City Emergency Corps for which each is responsible as provided for in the City Emergency Plan, and to conduct the activities thereof.

(Ord. 212 Sec. 5, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 6, 1990)

A City Emergency Council is hereby created and shall consist of the following persons:

• A. Mayor, who shall be its Chairperson, and shall also be a member of the Riverside County Emergency Council;

• B. City Manager;

• C. Fire Chief, who shall be its Secretary;

• D. Public Works Director;

• E. Public Works Superintendent;

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City of Norco, CA

ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL

§ 2.28.060

§ 2.28.110

• F. Parks and Recreation Director;

• G. Sheriff of Riverside County, or his/her designated sworn representative;

• H. City Attorney;

• I. Such additional residents of the City of Norco as the City Council may appoint by resolution to be "members at large."

• (Ord. 212 Sec. 6, 1972; Ord. 317 Sec. 1, 1975; Ord. 616, Sec. 7, 1990)

The Emergency Council shall have power to:

• A. Elect a Vice-chairperson and such other officers as it shall deem necessary; and

• B. Enact its own rules of procedure; and

• C. Review and recommend for adoption to the City Council those emergency and mutual aid plans, agreements, ordinances, resolutions and regulations as it shall deem necessary to implement.

• (Ord. 212 Sec. 6, 1972; Ord. 317 Sec. 1, 1975; Ord. 616, Sec. 8, 1990)

The Emergency Council shall meet upon the call of the chairperson, or in his/her absence or inability to call such a meeting, upon the call of the Vice-Chairperson, not less frequently than biannually, (once every two years).

• (Ord. 212, Sec. 8, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 9, 1990)

There is hereby created the position of Emergency Services Director, which position shall be the City Manager.

(Ord. 212 Sec. 9, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 10, 1990)

In the absence, or inability to act, of the Emergency Services Director, he/she shall automatically be succeeded as Emergency Services Director by the following officials in the order named:

• A. Fire Chief;

• B. Public Works Director;

• C. Parks and Recreation Director;

• D. Sheriff of Riverside County or his/her designated sworn representative.

• (Ord. 212 Sec. 9, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 11, 1990)

The Emergency Services Director shall have the following powers and duties:

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City of Norco, CA

NORCO CODE

§ 2.28.110

§ 2.28.130

• A. To request the City Council to proclaim the existence of a "Local Emergency" if said Council is in session or to issue such proclamation if said Council is not in session. Whenever a "Local Emergency" is proclaimed by the Emergency Services Director, the "Local Emergency" shall not remain in effect for a period in excess of seven (7) days unless the proclamation has been ratified by the City Council.

• B. During the existence of a "State of War Emergency", or the proclaimed existence of a "State of Emergency" or a "Local Emergency" affecting the City of Norco to:

  1. Control and direct the activities of the City of Norco Emergency Corps, including appointing persons to particular positions within the Emergency Corps and to assign the powers and duties of said positions; and

  2. Use all City resources for the preservation of life and property and to reduce the effects of the emergency; and

  3. Resolve questions of authority and responsibility that may arise in emergency operations; and

  4. Obtain vital supplies, equipment and other resources needed for the preservation of life and property by either binding the City for the fair value thereof or by commandeering same; and

  5. Delegate to elected and appointed officials for the City of Norco such duties and authorities as he/she deems necessary; and

  6. Make and issue rules and regulations on matters reasonably related to the protection of life and property as affected by any conditions proclaimed as provided herein; and

  7. Require emergency services of any City officer or employee, and to command the aid of as many citizens of the City of Norco as he/she deems necessary in the execution of his/her duties; and

  8. Exercise complete authority over the City and to exercise all police power vested in the City by the Constitution and general laws of the State of California; and

  9. Make certain that an Emergency Operating Center is activated and supported as necessary.

• C. In addition to the powers granted herein, the Emergency Services Director shall have such powers incidental to the performance of said duties as shall be necessary to allow for the carrying out of the City Emergency Operations Plan, it being the intent of this Chapter that the enumerated powers herein are not intended to limitations upon the Emergency Service Director's powers.

(Ord. 212 Sec. 11, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 12, 1990)

There is hereby created with the Fire Department under the direction of the Fire Chief, an Emergency Services Division, which shall consist of such positions as may be established by the City Council by resolution.

(Ord. 212 Sec. 12, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 13, 1990)

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City of Norco, CA

ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL

§ 2.28.130

§ 2.28.160

The Emergency Services Division shall have the following duties:

• A. Develop and coordinate a basic Emergency Operations Plan for the City to provide for the use of resources and equipment of all appropriate governmental entities, all commercial and industrial resources, and all such special groups, bodies and organizations as may be needed to support emergency operations; and

• B. Develop and coordinate such emergency training programs and exercises as may be needed; and

• C. Develop and coordinate a public information program designed for self-protection; and

• D. Coordinate emergency planning and training with the Riverside County Fire Department Emergency Services Division, Federal, State and other County and City emergency agencies, the Red Cross and with appropriate elements of the U.S. Armed Forces; and

• E. Recommend to the Emergency Services Director for referral to the City Emergency Council matters for consideration within the purview of said Council's responsibility; and

• F. Recommend to the Emergency Services Director matters of policy for consideration by the City Council insofar as they relate to the planning process for emergency services; and

• G. Assign duties and authorities to personnel of the Emergency Services Division; and

• H. Implement the Incident Command System (ICS) as the command structure for all incidents, plans and activities; and

• I. Ensure that the City Emergency Operations Plan is kept up to date, and that current emergency management concepts are applied; and

• J. Develop such standby ordinances, rules and regulations as planning may dictate as being necessary and shall bring said instruments to the City Council through the Emergency Services Director recommending their enactment.

• (Ord. 212 Sec. 13, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 14, 1990)

Each person who shall succeed to each position or office as provided in the City Emergency Operations Plan shall assume all of the powers and duties of the office immediately upon such succession.

(Ord. 212 Sec. 14, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 15, 1990)

During the existence of a "State of War Emergency" or of a proclaimed "State of Emergency" or "Local Emergency" affecting the City, each member of the City Emergency Corps shall have authority to require that all persons shall follow reasonable orders given within the scope of functions in order to execute the City Emergency Operations Plan, and willful failure of any person to follow such reasonable order or orders shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or by imprisonment for not more than 6 months or both. (Ord. 212 Sec. 15, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 16, 1990)

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City of Norco, CA

NORCO CODE

§ 2.28.160

§ 2.28.190

Any expenditure 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. 212 Sec. 16, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 17, 1990)

The City Emergency Council shall be responsible for the final development of the City's Emergency Operations Plan, which Plan shall provide for the effective mobilization of all the resources of the City, 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. Such Plan shall take effect upon adoption by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. 212, Sec. 17, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 18, 1990)

The City Hall Emergency Operation Center shall be established as the City's Primary Emergency Operating Center at 2870 Clark Avenue to meet emergency contingencies while the Corydon Fire Station shall be established as the City's Secondary Emergency Operating Center to meet emergency contingencies.

(Ord. 212, Sec. 18, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 19, 1990; Ord. 654, Sec. 1, 1992)

It shall be unlawful for any person during a disaster or emergency:

• (a) Willfully to obstruct, hinder or delay any member of the City's disaster corps in the enforcement of any lawful rule, regulation or order issued pursuant to this chapter, or in the performance of any duty imposed upon them by virtue of this Chapter;

• (b) To do any act forbidden by any lawful rule, regulation or order issued pursuant to this Chapter if such is of such nature as to give, or be likely to give, assistance to the enemy, or to impair a life or property, or to prevent, hinder, or delay the defense or protection of persons or property;

• (c) To wear, carry or display, without authority, any means of identification specified by the civil defense and/or disaster agencies of the federal or state governments.

• (Ord. 212, Sec. 19, 1972; Ord. 616, Sec. 20, 1990; Ord. 634, 1991)

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City of Norco, CA

ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL

§ 2.32.010

§ 2.32.060