Chapter 2.20 — DISASTER COUNCIL

Palm Springs Municipal Code · 2026-07 edition · updated 2026-09-27 · Palm Springs

§ 2.20.010. Purposes.¶

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; 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. (Ord. 1186 § 1, 1983)

§ 2.20.020. Emergency defined.¶

As used in this chapter, "emergency" means the actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within this city caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot or earthquake, or other conditions, including without limitation 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 of this city, requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat. (Ord. 1186 § 1, 1983)

§ 2.20.030. Disaster council membership.¶

The city of Palm Springs disaster council is created and shall consist of the following:

(1) The director of emergency services, who shall be chairman;
(2) The coordinator of emergency services;
(3) Such chiefs of emergency services as are provided for in a current emergency plan of this city, adopted pursuant to this chapter;
(4) Such representatives of civic, business, labor, veterans, professional or other organizations having an official emergency responsibility, as may be appointed by the director with the advice and consent of the city council.
(Ord. 1186 § 1, 1983)

§ 2.20.040. Disaster council powers and duties.¶

It shall be the duty of the disaster council, and it is 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. The disaster council shall meet upon call of the chairman or, in the absence from the city or inability to call such meeting, upon call of the designated replacement as per the order of succession.

(Ord. 1186 § 1, 1983)

§ 2.20.050. Director and coordinator of emergency services.¶

(a) The director is empowered to:

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City of Palm Springs, CA

ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL

§ 2.20.050

(1) Request the city council to proclaim the existence of a "local emergency" if the city council is in session, or to issue such proclamation if the emergency is proclaimed by the director of emergency services. 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 and coordination of services and staff of the emergency organization of this 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 as defined in Section 2.20.020;
(6) In the event of the proclamation of a local emergency as provided in this section, 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 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 emergency; 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 life and property, and to 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 emergency in the county in which this is located or the existence of a state-of-war emergency, to 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) To requisition necessary personnel or material to any city department or agency; and
- (E) To 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 pursuant hereto adopted by the city. council, all powers conferred upon him by any statute, by any agreement approved by the city council, and by any other lawful authority.
(b) 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 his duties during an emergency. Such order of succession shall be approved by the city

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City of Palm Springs, CA § 2.20.050

PALM SPRINGS CODE

§ 2.20.100

council.

(c) The coordinator shall, under the supervision of the director and with the assistance of emergency service 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.
(Ord. 1186 § 1, 1983)

§ 2.20.070. Emergency organization.¶

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 2.20.050 (a) (6) (C), be charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property in this city during such emergency, shall constitute the emergency organization of the city. (Ord. 1186 § 1, 1983)

§ 2.20.080. Emergency plan.¶

The disaster council shall be responsible for the development of the city emergency plan, which plan shall provide for the effective mobilization of all the resources of this 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. 1186 § 1, 1983)

§ 2.20.090. Expenditures.¶

Any expenditures made in connection with the 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. 1186 § 1, 1983)

§ 2.20.100. Violations—Penalties.¶

A. Violation Unlawful. It is unlawful and declared a public nuisance for any person to:
- (1) Violate any emergency order made by the Governor of the State of California under the Emergency Services Act, any order of the State Department of Public Health or Riverside County Health Officer, or any Emergency Order of the City;
- (2) Wilfully obstruct, hinder or delay any member of the emergency organization in the enforcement of any lawful Emergency Order issued pursuant to this chapter, or in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by virtue of this chapter; or
- (3) Wear, carry or display, without authority, any means of identification specified by the emergency agency of the state.
B. Remedies. The City may enforce this section using any remedy available under the law, including:
- (1) Issuance of an administrative citation under Chapter 1.06 of this Code.

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City of Palm Springs, CA

ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL

§ 2.20.100

(2) Denial, nonrenewal, suspension, or revocation of a business license under Chapter 3.64 of this Code.
(3) Misdemeanor criminal prosecution by the city prosecutor under Section 1.01.140 of this Code.
(4) Filing of a civil or equitable action to seek abatement of any violation.
C. Violations Ongoing. Each and every day a violation is maintained, caused, aided, abetted, concealed, suffered, or permitted is a separate offense.
D. Remedies Cumulative. The remedies, procedures, and penalties provided by this Section are cumulative to each other and to any other available under City, State, or federal law.
(Ord. 1186 § 1, 1983; Ord. 2026 § 6, 2020)

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City of Palm Springs, CA

ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL

§ 2.22.010

§ 2.22.050

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