Truckee Municipal Code Ch. 2.50 Emergency Services

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the preparation and carrying out of plans for the protection of persons and property within Truckee in the event of an emergency; the direction of the emergency organization; and the coordination of the emergency functions with all other public agencies, corporations, organizations, and affected private persons. It is the intent of the Town Council in enacting this chapter that it shall be considered a revision and continuation of the previous version of this chapter, and the status of volunteers shall not be affected by the amendment and restatement of this chapter; nor shall plans and agreements, rules and regulations, or resolutions adopted pursuant to the former version of this chapter be affected by such amendment and restatement until amended, modified, or superseded as provided in this chapter.

As used in this chapter, "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 the Town of Truckee, caused by conditions such as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, drought, cyberterrorism, sudden and severe energy shortage, deenergization event, electromagnetic pulse attack, 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, which 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, or with respect to regulated energy utilities, a sudden and severe energy shortage or deenergization event that requires extraordinary measures beyond the authority vested in the California Public Utilities Commission.

The Town of Truckee Disaster Council is hereby established, and shall consist of the following:

(a) The Town Manager or their designee shall be chair.

(b) The Emergency Services Manager shall be vice chair.

(c) Chiefs of Emergency Services as provided for in the current emergency plan adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(d) Such representatives of civic, business, labor, veterans, professional, or other organizations having an official emergency responsibility, as may be appointed by the Director of Emergency Services.

The Town of Truckee Emergency Services Council shall develop and recommend for adoption by the Town 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. Annexes to emergency operations plans shall not require Town Council approval. The Emergency Services Council shall meet at least once per year, upon call of the chair or, upon call of the vice chair (in the absence of the chair).

A. There is hereby created the Office of Emergency Services. The Town Manager shall be the Director of Emergency Services.

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

A. The Director of Emergency Services is hereby empowered to:

(1) Request the Town Council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a "local emergency" if the Town Council is in session, or to issue such proclamation if the Town Council is not in session. Whenever a local emergency is proclaimed by the Director, the Town Council shall take action to ratify the proclamation within seven (7) 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 Town of Truckee Disaster Council for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter.

(4) Direct cooperation between and coordination of services and staff of the Town of Truckee Disaster Council; and resolve questions of authority and responsibility that may arise between them.

(5) Represent the Town of Truckee in all dealings with public or private agencies on matters pertaining to emergencies as defined herein.

B. 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 existence of a "state of war emergency," the Director of Emergency Services is hereby further empowered:

(1) 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 Town Council;

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

(3) To require emergency services of any officer or employee and, in the event of the proclamation of a "state of emergency" in Nevada County or the existence of a "state of war emergency," to command the aid of as many citizens of Truckee as deemed necessary in the execution of duties; such persons shall be entitled to all privileges, benefits, and immunities as are provided by state law for registered disaster services workers;

(4) To requisition necessary personnel or material of Town of Truckee departments or agencies; and

(5) To execute all ordinary power as Town Manager, all of the special powers conferred by this chapter or by resolution or emergency plan pursuant hereto adopted by the Town Council, all powers conferred by any statute, by any agreement approved by the Town Council, and by any other lawful authority.

C. 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.

D. The Assistant Director shall, under the supervision of the Director and with the assistance of the Chief of Police, Chief of the Truckee Fire Protection District, and/or other personnel, develop emergency plans and manage the emergency programs of the Town of Truckee; and shall have such other powers and duties as may be assigned by the Director.

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 this municipal code, be charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property during such emergency, shall constitute the emergency organization of the Town of Truckee.

The Town of Truckee Emergency Services Council shall comply with the California Emergency Services Act.

The Town of Truckee Disaster Council shall be responsible for the development of the Emergency Plan, which plan shall provide for the effective mobilization 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. Such plan shall take effect upon adoption by resolution of the governing body.

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 Town of Truckee, provided that the expenditure is not inconsistent with the Emergency Plan, complies with the California Emergency Services Act, and is made pursuant to authority granted by this chapter.

No person shall:

A. 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 by virtue of this chapter.

B. 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 or property of inhabitants of Truckee, or to prevent, hinder, or delay the defense or protection thereof.

C. Wear, carry, or display, without authority, any means of identification specified by any emergency agency of the State of California or any local government or special district thereof.

(ORD 2024-02; 02-27-2024)