Sacramento Municipal Code Ch. 2.116 Emergency Services

The 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 with all other public agencies, corporations, organizations, and affected private persons. (Prior code § 72.01.100)

As used in this chapter, "local 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 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. The terms "state of emergency" and "state of war emergency" shall have the meanings given them in California Government Code Section 8558. (Prior code § 72.01.110)

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

A. The director of emergency services, who shall be chairperson;

B. The assistant director of emergency services, who shall be vice chairperson;

C. Coordinator;

D. Such chiefs of emergency services as are provided for in a current emergency plan of this city and any amendment thereto 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 mayor with the concurrence of a majority of the city council. (Prior code § 72.01.120)

It is the duty of the city disaster council, and it is empowered, to develop and recommend for adoption by the city council, emergency and mutual aid plans and agreements and amendments thereto, such ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations as are necessary to implement such plans and agreements or amendments thereto. The disaster council shall meet upon call of the chairperson or, in his or her absence, from the city, or inability to call such meeting, upon call of the vice chairperson. (Prior code § 72.01.130)

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 assistant director of emergency services. The fire chief shall be the assistant director of emergency services.

C. There is created the office of coordinator of emergency services which will be appointed by the director, to manage the emergency programs of this city, and shall have powers and duties as may be assigned by the director. (Prior code § 72.01.140)

A. The director is empowered to:

1. Proclaim the existence of a local emergency, pursuant to California Government Code section 8630, if the city council is not in session.

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 the 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 herein.

a. To make and issue rules and regulations on matters responsibly 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 city is located or the existence of a "state of war emergency," to command the aid of as many citizens of this community as he or she deems 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;

d. To requisition necessary personnel or material of any city department or agency;

e. To execute all of his ordinary power as city manager for the city, all of the special powers conferred upon him or her by this chapter, or by resolution or emergency plan pursuant hereto adopted by the city council, all powers conferred upon him or her by any statute, by any agreement or amendments thereto 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 or otherwise perform his or her duties during an emergency; provided, however, such order of succession shall not be effective until approved by resolution of the city council.

C. The assistant director shall, under the supervision of the director, with the assistance of emergency service chiefs and the coordinator, be responsible for the development of emergency plans and the management of the emergency programs of this city, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be assigned by the director. (Ord. 2020-0030 § 1; Ord. 2000-017 § 4(a)(3); prior code § 72.01.150)

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 be agreement or operation or law, including persons impressed into service under the provisions of Section 2.116.060(A)(5)(c) of this chapter, 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. (Prior code § 72.01.160)

The Sacramento city disaster council shall be responsible for the development of the city emergency plan and amendments to the city's plan existing on the effective date of this chapter, which plan or amendments 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 or amendments shall take effect upon adoption by resolution of the city council. (Prior code § 72.01.170)

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. (Prior code § 72.01.180)

It is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment not to exceed six months, or both, for any person, during an emergency, to:

A. Willfully obstruct, hinder, or delay any member of the emergency organization as defined in Section 2.116.050 of this chapter 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.

B. Willfully 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 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 emergency agency of the state of California. (Prior code § 72.01.190)