(a) If, in the judgment of the Director, the condition of an accepted or unaccepted public right-of-way within the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works constitutes a public emergency or other imminent threat to the public health, safety, or welfare that requires immediate action, the Director, by written, telephonic or facsimile communication, may order the responsible property owner(s) to remedy the condition in such a manner as the Director deems expedient and appropriate subject to the limitations set forth in this Article or Article 9.
(b) If the responsible property owner(s) notified pursuant to Subsection (a) is inaccessible or fails, neglects, or refuses to diligently prosecute to completion the remedial work in the manner and time period specified by the Director, then the Director may undertake all necessary actions to remedy the condition. All costs expended by the Director shall be an obligation of the responsible property owner(s) owing to the City and County of San Francisco. Such costs shall include, but are not limited to, those costs associated with the administration, construction, consultants, equipment, inspection, notification, remediation, repair, restoration, or any other actual costs incurred by the Director or other agencies, boards, commissions, or departments of the City and County of San Francisco that were made necessary by reason of the Director's remediation.
(d) In the event of an emergency, the Director shall cooperate to the extent practicable with other City and County agencies, boards, commissions, or departments with jurisdiction over affected fixtures, improvements, property, or structures across, adjacent to, along, beneath, in, on, over, under, upon, or within the public right-of-way. The Director may issue an emergency order in conjunction with any other official of the City and County of San Francisco who is authorized to issue emergency orders.
(e) When, under emergency circumstances, neither the Department of Public Works nor Department of Building Inspection can ascertain which department has jurisdiction over the affected fixtures, improvements, property, or structures across, adjacent to, along, beneath, in, on, over, under, upon, or within the public right-of- way, the Director, the Director of the Department of Building Inspection, or both may issue emergency orders to remedy any emergency condition. Notice of the emergency order shall be pursuant to Subsection (a) or according to procedures set forth in the San Francisco Building Code. If the City and County of San Francisco abates the emergency condition, once the Department of Public Works and Building Inspection have determined which department has jurisdiction over the affected fixtures, improvements, property, or structures across, adjacent to, along, beneath, in, on, over, under, upon, or within the public right-of-way, the procedures for collection of charges and enforcement shall be according to the Municipal Code sections applicable to whichever department assumed the lead role in abating the emergency condition.
(Added by Ord. 342-98, App. 11/13/98)