(A) City Council. The City Council may convene to perform its legislative powers as the disaster situation demands; shall receive reports relative to all phases of emergency management activities; and may declare an end to the emergency period. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as abridging or curtailing the powers or restrictions of the City Council as defined in the Revised City Charter or as creating any provision which would be in conflict with the Revised City Charter.
(B) The City Manager.
(1) As Emergency Management Director may exercise the emergency power and authority necessary to fulfill his general powers and duties as defined in Section 5.04 of the Revised City Charter. The judgement of the Emergency Management Director shall be the sole criteria necessary to invoke emergency powers provided in the Revised City Charter, the Codified Ordinances and other appropriate authorities, and to declare an emergency period.
(2) During any period when disaster threatens or when the city has been struck by disaster, within the definition of this chapter, the City Manager may promulgate such regulations as he deems necessary to protect life and property and preserve critical resources. Such regulations may include, but shall not be limited to the following:
(a) Regulations prohibiting or restricting the movement of vehicles in order to facilitate the emergency work forces, or to facilitate the mass movement of persons from critical areas within or without the city.
(b) Regulations pertaining to the movement of persons from areas deemed to be hazardous or vulnerable to disaster.
(c) Such other regulations necessary to preserve public peace, health and safety.
(d) Regulations promulgated in accordance with the authority above will be given widespread circulation by proclamations published and circulated by all available means, such as TV, radio, postings, local warning system, etc. These regulations will have the force of ordinance when duly filed with the Clerk of Council and violations will be subject to the penalties provided.
(3) The Emergency Management Director shall direct resources to the aid of other communities when required in accordance with the statutes of the state, and he/she may request the county, state, or a local subdivision of the state to send aid to the city in case of disaster when resources of the city are no longer adequate to cope with the disaster.
(4) The Emergency Management Director may, during response and recovery operations, obtain vital supplies, equipment and other properties found lacking and needed for the protection of health, life, and property of the people, and bind the city for the fair value thereof.
(5) The Emergency Management Director may require emergency services of any city officers or employees. If regular city resources are determined to be inadequate, the Director may require the services of such other personnel as he can obtain that are available, including citizen volunteers. All duly authorized persons rendering emergency services shall be entitled to the privileges and immunities as are provided by state law, the Revised City Charter and Ordinances for regular city employees and other registered and identified emergency and disaster workers and when deemed necessary may receive appropriate compensation for their emergency employment.
(6) The Emergency Management Director will cause to be prepared, at a minimum, an Emergency Operations Plan herein referred to and to exercise his ordinary powers as City Manager in addition to any special powers conferred upon him by this chapter.
(7) Some of the duties ascribed to the Director in this section may ordinarily be handled as a matter of routine by the Emergency Management Coordinator, but the responsibility and authority stem from and remain with the Director.
(C) Emergency Management Coordinator.
(1) The Emergency Management Director, by Administrative Order, shall appoint the Emergency Management Coordinator for the city.
(2) The development and maintenance of an Emergency Preparedness Manual which will consist of an explanation of all concepts of the Local Emergency Operations Plan, and Emergency Operations Center, Standard Operating Guideline.
(3) The development and maintenance of a listing of resources which may be accessed for emergency needs. It will consist of, at a minimum, mutual-aid agreements, inter-governmental resources and private resources.
(4) Educate city employees and other governmental and private agencies to the responsibilities of emergency management and concept of operations for emergency mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
(5) Exercise plans for the purpose of training and evaluation so that plans may be reassessed and revised as needed.
(6) Ensure the proper installation, maintenance, testing, and overall effective operation of the Outdoor Early Warning System. Ensure the public understands the use of and procedures associated with this system. Any misuse of the Outdoor Early Warning System for anything other than its intended purpose will be subject to § 36.99 of this chapter.
(D) Department/division heads. Each department/division director assigned responsibility in the Emergency Operations Plan shall be responsible for carrying out duties and functions assigned therein. Duties will include the organization and training of assigned city employees and volunteers. Each department/division director shall formulate the operational plan for his/her department/division which, when approved by the Emergency Management Director, shall be integrated into the Local Emergency Operations Plan by the Emergency Management Coordinator.
(E) Outside assistance. When a required competency, skill or resource for a disaster function is not available within the city government, the Director is authorized to seek assistance from persons outside of city government. The assignment of duties, when of a supervisory nature, shall also grant authority for the persons so assigned to carry out such duties prior to, during, and after the occurrence of a disaster. Such services from persons outside of city government may be accepted by the city on a volunteer basis. Such citizens shall be enrolled as emergency volunteers in cooperation with the directors of city departments/divisions affected.
(Ord. 16-98, passed 3-16-98) Penalty, see § 36.99