(A) The Director is hereby empowered to:
(1) Request the City Council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a “local emergency” if the City Council is in session, or to issue such proclamation if the City Council is not in session. Whenever a local emergency is proclaimed by the Director, 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 city's emergency organization for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter.
(4) Direct cooperation between and coordination of services and staff of the city's emergency organization; 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.
(6) 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 Secretary of California Emergency Management, or the existence of a “state of war emergency,” the Director is hereby 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 city is located or the existence of a “state of war” emergency,” to command the aid of as many citizens of this community 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 service workers;
(d) To requisition necessary personnel or material of the city's departments or agencies; and
(e) To execute all ordinary power as 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.
(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 duties during an emergency. Such order of succession shall be approved by the City Council.
(C) The Assistant Director 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. 2009-35, passed 6-2-2009)