The declared purposes of this chapter are to provide for the preparation and carrying out of plans for the protection of persons and property within this city in the event of an emergency, and to provide for the coordination of the public agencies and affected private persons, corporations and organizations.
(Prior code § 3600)
As used in this chapter, "emergency" means the actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the city caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot or earthquake, or other conditions, including conditions resulting from war or imminent threat of war, but other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy, which conditions are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the city, requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat.
(Prior code § 3601)
The Pico Rivera disaster council is created, and shall consist of the following:
A. 
The mayor, who shall be chair;
B. 
The director of emergency services, who shall be vice-chair;
C. 
The assistant director, appointed by the city manager with the advice and consent of the city council who, under the supervision of the director, shall develop emergency services plans and organize the emergency services program of the city, and shall have such other duties as may be assigned by the director;
D. 
Such chiefs of emergency services as are provided for in the current emergency plan of the city, adopted pursuant to the ordinance codified in this chapter;
E. 
Such representatives of civic, business, labor, veterans, professional or other organizations having an official emergency responsibility as may be appointed by the director with the advice and consent of the city council.
(Prior code § 3602)
A. 
It shall be the duty of the disaster council, and it is hereby empowered to develop and recommend for adoption by the city 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.
B. 
The disaster council shall meet upon call of the chair or, in his or her absence from the city or inability to call such meeting, upon the call of the vice-chair.
(Prior code § 3603)
A. 
There is created the office of director of emergency services. The city manager shall be the director of emergency services.
B. 
There is created the office of assistant director of emergency services, who shall be the director of public works.
(Prior code § 3604)
A. 
The director is empowered:
1. 
To 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;
2. 
To 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. 
To control and direct the effort of the emergency organization of the city for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter;
4. 
To direct coordination and cooperation of services and staff of the emergency organization of the city, and to resolve questions of authority and responsibility that may arise between them;
5. 
To represent the city in all dealings with public or private agencies pertaining to emergencies, as defined in this chapter;
6. 
In the event of the proclamation of a "local emergency" as herein provided, or the proclamation of a "state of emergency" by the Governor or the Director of the State Office of Emergency Services, the director is 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 the life and property of the people, and 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 he or she thinks necessary in the execution of his or her duties; such persons shall be entitled to all privileges, benefits and immunities as are provided by state law for registered emergency service volunteers,
d. 
To requisition necessary personnel or material of any city department or agency,
e. 
To execute all of his or her ordinary powers as city manager, all of the special powers conferred upon him or her by this chapter or by resolution or emergency plan adopted pursuant hereto, all powers conferred upon him or her by any statute, agreement approved by the city council, or by any other lawful authority, and, in conformity with Section 38791 of the Government Code, to exercise complete authority over the city and to exercise all police power vested in the city by the Constitution and general laws.
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 his or her 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 the emergency service chiefs, develop emergency plans and manage the emergency programs of the city, and shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the director.
(Prior code § 3605)
All officers and employees of the city, 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 pressed into service under the provisions of subsection (A)(6)(a) of Section 2.52.060 of this chapter, be charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property in the city during such disaster, shall constitute the emergency organization of the city.
(Prior code § 3606)
The disaster council shall be responsible for the development of the city's emergency plan, which plan shall provide for the effective mobilization of all of the resources of the city, 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 city council.
(Prior code § 3607)
Any expenditures 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 city of Pico Rivera.
(Prior code § 3608)
It is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not to exceed one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not to exceed six months, or both, for any person, during an emergency, to:
A. 
Wilfully 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 upon him or her 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 to imperil the lives or property of inhabitants of the city, or to prevent, hinder or delay the defense or protection thereof;
C. 
Wear, carry or display, without authority, any means of identification specified by the emergency agency of the state, the county, county district, or any city in the county;
D. 
Violate any curfew or other emergency order or regulation established by any lawful rule, regulation, order or directive issued pursuant to this chapter. It shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of a curfew order that a person was traveling to or from work or school, was homeless, or was seeking medical treatment.
(OOrd. 837 § 1, 1993)