Pasadena Municipal Code Ch. 2.370 Disaster Emergency Services Council

This chapter shall be known as "The Disaster Emergency Services Council Ordinance."

(Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

As used in this chapter, "disaster emergency" or "local emergency" means the actual or threatened existence of conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the city caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot or earthquake, or other conditions, including conditions resulting from war or imminent threat of war, which conditions are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the city, requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat. This definition does not include conditions resulting from a labor controversy.

(Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

The city disaster emergency services council is created and shall consist of the following members:

A. The mayor of the city, who shall be chair of the council;

B. The director of disaster emergency services, who shall be the vice chair of the council;

C. The assistant director of disaster emergency services;

D. Such chiefs of emergency services as are provided for in a current emergency plan of this city, adopted pursuant to this chapter;

E. 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. 6820 § 45 (part), 2000; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

In the absence (or inability to act) of the mayor, the city manager, the police chief or the fire chief, the following city representatives are appointed to sit as alternate members of the disaster emergency services council for their respective departments: the vice mayor, the assistant city manager, the deputy police chief and the fire bureau chief.

(Ord. 7085 § 1, 2007)

The purpose of the council is to:

A. Provide for the preparation and carrying out of plans for the protection of persons and property within the city in the event of an emergency;

B. Direct an emergency services organization;

C. Coordinate the emergency functions of the city with all other public agencies, corporations, organizations and affected private persons.

(Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

The disaster emergency services council shall develop and recommend for adoption by the city council, emergency and mutual aid plans and agreements and such ordinances, resolutions and rules and regulations as are necessary to implement such plans and agreements.

(Ord. 6820 § 45 (part), 2000; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

The disaster emergency services council shall meet upon call of the chair, or in the chair's absence from the city or inability to call such meeting, upon call of the vice chair.

(Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

To direct the council, there is created the office of director of disaster emergency services. The city manager is designated the director of disaster emergency services. The city manager may by memorandum designate one or more city employees as deputy directors of disaster emergency services to coordinate the planning, preparation, training, communication and implementation of disaster emergency plans and services and such other duties in connection with disaster services as the city manager may assign. The deputy directors shall serve at the pleasure of the city manager. The city council shall be informed promptly in writing of any such designation.

(Ord. 6626 § 2, 1995: Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

A. The director hereby is empowered to:

1. Request the city council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency;

2. Proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency; provided, that the city council shall take action to ratify the proclamation within 7 days thereafter or the proclamation shall have no further force or effect;

3. Request the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency when, in the director's opinion, the locally available resources are inadequate to cope with a local emergency;

4. Control and direct the efforts of the Pasadena disaster emergency services council for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter;

5. Direct the cooperation and coordination of services and staff of the disaster emergency services council and the office of disaster emergency services of this city, and resolve questions of authority and responsibility that may arise between them;

6. Represent the city in all dealings with public or private agencies on matters pertaining to local emergencies as defined herein.

B. In the event of 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 is empowered to:

1. Make and issue rules and regulations on matters reasonably related to the protection of life and property as affected by such local emergency; provided, however, such rules and regulations must be confirmed at the earliest practicable time by the city council;

2. 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, subject to the limitations contained in the Charter of the city, and if required immediately, to commandeer the same for public use;

3. Require emergency services of any city officer or employee and, in the event of the proclamation of a state of emergency in Los Angeles County or the existence of a state of war emergency, to command the aid of as many citizens of this city as the director deems necessary in the execution of his/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 city department or agency;

5. Execute all of the ordinary power of the office of city manager, all of the special powers conferred by this chapter or by resolution or emergency plan pursuant hereto adopted by the city council, all powers conferred by any statute, by any agreement approved by the city council, and by any other lawful authority.

(Ord. 6820 § 45 (part), 2000; Ord. 6626 § 3, 1995; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

All officers and employees of this city, together with those volunteer forces enrolled to aid them during a local emergency, and all groups, organizations and persons who may, by agreement or operation of law, including persons impressed into services under the provisions of subsection (B)(3) of Section 2.370.080, be charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property in this city during such local emergency, shall constitute the disaster emergency services organization of the city.

(Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

The structure, duties and functions of the city disaster emergency services organization, and the order of emergency succession to the position of director of disaster emergency services, shall be designated by the city manager.

(Ord. 6626 § 4, 1995: Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

Any expenditures made in connection with local 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. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

It shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00, or by imprisonment not to exceed 6 months, or both, for any person, during an emergency, to:

A. Wilfully obstruct, hinder or delay any properly identified member of the disaster 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/her by this chapter.

B. Do any act forbidden by any 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 to imperil the lives or property of inhabitants of this city, or to prevent, hinder or delay the defense or protection thereof.

C. Wear, carry, or display, without authority, any means of identification specified by the office of emergency services of the state.

(Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)