City of Pacific, MO Chapter 725 Public Utilities Emergency Management

Section 725.010 Definitions.

[Ord. No. 2844 §1, 10-16-2012]

As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall be defined as otherwise provided in this Code except as follows:

PUBLIC UTILITY

Every cable television service provider, railroad, gas corporation, electrical corporation, rural electric cooperative, telecommunications company, water corporation, or sewer corporation providing service within the City, whether publicly or privately owned, except such term does not include City-owned and operated utilities to the extent such actions required herein are redundant or unnecessary.

SAFETY EVENT

Includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Any service outage, cut, rupture, leak, contamination or other failure of a public utility facility not approved in advance by any applicable permit from the City that:

a. Prevents or significantly jeopardizes the ability of a public utility to provide service to two (2) or more customers within the City and which such service outage or limitation lasting or likely to last in excess of one (1) hour; or

b. That results or reasonably could result in danger to the public, excavation in or obstruction of any portion of rights-of-way or public land, or a material delay or hindrance to the provision of service to the public; or

2. Any occurrence involving a public utility that a reasonable person would conclude poses a risk to health, safety, and welfare of the public or individuals if notification to the public, customer or other affected persons is not made, such dangers including, but not limited to, boil water events, down electrical lines or area-wide power outages, ruptured or leaking pipes, and gas leaks.

Section 725.020 Emergency Management Obligations.

[Ord. No. 2844 §1, 10-16-2012]

A. All public utilities providing service in the City or using the City's rights-of-way or public lands are subject to the following requirements, except as may otherwise be provided by law:

1. Maintain on file with the City Clerk the name and contact information (including phone number, mail, and email address) for a person who has responsibility over emergency management and, if different, contact information for a person the City should first (1st) contact in cases of safety events or emergencies. Such designee shall be responsible for ensuring compliance by the public utility with the obligations imposed by this Chapter;

2. Whenever the public utility has reason to believe a safety event or emergency exists within the City, within one-half (½) mile of the City or otherwise could reasonably affect the City's residents or businesses, a representative of the public utility shall immediately contact the Police Department dispatch and inform the City of the existence or possible existence of a safety event or emergency, the nature and location of such safety event or emergency, and the actions the public utility is taking to abate the safety event or emergency conditions; and

3. The City and public utility shall communicate and cooperate in order to address any safety event or emergency in the most efficient and safe manner to best protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the City's residents.

Section 725.030 Violations.

[Ord. No. 2844 §1, 10-16-2012]

Any person or entity violating any provisions of this Chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding three (3) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment for each such offense. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or which a violation occurs or continues.