Chapter 12.20
OFFICE OF SEARCH AND RESCUE
Sections:
12.20.020 Search and rescue coordinator.
12.20.030 Duties and powers of the coordinator.
12.20.040 Functions of the office of search and rescue.
12.20.050 Volunteer search and rescue organizations.
12.20.060 Limitation of liability.
12.20.010 Established.
There is established an office of search and rescue (OSR) in the public safety department. (Ord. 19-06 §§ 2, 7, 2019; Ord. 13-06 § 1, 2013; Ord. 10-17, 2011. Formerly 10.12.010)
12.20.020 Search and rescue coordinator.
A. The OSR shall be supervised by the search and rescue coordinator.
B. The public safety director shall have hiring authority for the search and rescue coordinator and the coordinator is answerable to the public safety director or the mayor. (Ord. 19-06 §§ 2, 7, 2019; Ord. 13-06 § 1, 2013; Ord. 10-17, 2011. Formerly 10.12.020)
12.20.030 Duties and powers of the coordinator.
The search and rescue coordinators shall:
A. Act in furtherance of the OSR’s mission of providing search and rescue services for the Northwest Arctic Borough;
B. Perform and exercise all powers incident to the duties of this office as prescribed by state and federal law, this code of ordinances, and such other duties not in conflict therewith as may be assigned by the mayor;
C. Have authority over and direct the activities and functions of the OSR, including but not limited to maintaining current roster of SAR volunteers, maintaining current inventory of borough owned or purchased SAR equipment, and serving as a purchasing agent for SAR volunteer organizations;
D. Prescribe policy and procedure, with the approval of the mayor, as may be necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the OSR;
E. Facilitate training opportunities to all village-based volunteer search and rescue organizations;
F. Keep an updated inventory of all search and rescue equipment and seek funding to update equipment needed to facilitate search and rescue activities;
G. Coordinate a systematic approach to annual mandatory trail staking in accordance with the minimum trail staking standards within the borough and, subject to appropriations, budget trail maintenance;
H. Seek funds to renovate all shelter cabins on the borough’s winter trail system. Coordinate with village search and rescue organizations for renovations;
I. Develop a close working relationship with the Alaska State Troopers, United States Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the United States Coast Guard to improve the search and rescue capabilities of the borough;
J. Update and write new policies and procedures to improve the response time for all search and rescue call-outs. Develop a memorandum of agreement with village fuel retailers to ensure search and rescue organizations have access to fuel at a moment’s notice;
K. Coordinate all regional searches within the Incident Command System (ICS) structure;
L. Maintain an updated directory of regional and community-based volunteer search and rescue presidents;
M. Host a semi-annual meeting of the Northwest Arctic Borough Search and Rescue group. (Ord. 19-06 §§ 2, 7, 2019; Ord. 13-06 § 1, 2013; Ord. 10-17, 2011. Formerly 10.12.030)
12.20.040 Functions of the office of search and rescue.
A. The OSR shall endeavor to provide search and rescue services for communities of the Northwest Arctic Borough.
B. The OSR shall provide assistance to the office of emergency management in disaster assistance as provided in Chapter 10.10 NABC. (Ord. 19-06 § 2, 2019; Ord. 13-06 § 1, 2013; Ord. 10-17, 2011. Formerly 10.12.040)
12.20.050 Volunteer search and rescue organizations.
A. Volunteer search and rescue personnel may be organized on a regional basis or in any established community of the borough and may adopt their own bylaws and elect officers who shall direct and manage the activities of the organization. Any community-based organization shall be sponsored and approved by the appropriate city and/or tribal government.
B. The volunteer organization and its officers shall operate in conjunction with the OSR and be based on the traditions of cooperation and mutual aid. They shall not limit or otherwise interfere with the duties and powers of the search and rescue coordinator and the management of the OSR.
C. Subject to appropriations and in such amounts as the search and rescue coordinator shall determine, payments may be made to volunteer search and rescue organizations for the purposes of reimbursing costs of search and rescue operations and other appropriate functions. (Ord. 19-06 § 2, 2019; Ord. 13-06 § 1, 2013; Ord. 10-17, 2011. Formerly 10.12.050)
12.20.060 Limitation of liability.
A. No action may be maintained against any employee or member of the Northwest Arctic Borough OSR or any volunteer search and rescue association or personnel if the claim is an action for tort or breach of contractual duty and is based upon the act or omission of that employee, member, association or volunteer in the execution of a function for which the OSR is established.
B. The term “office of search and rescue” or “OSR” in this section includes Northwest Arctic Borough employees as well as any community search and rescue association or volunteer engaged in search and rescue services, planning, training or other operations or duties. (Ord. 19-06 § 2, 2019; Ord. 13-06 § 1, 2013; Ord. 10-17, 2011. Formerly 10.12.060)