2-18
DISASTER COUNCIL; EMERGENCY SERVICES.1

2-18.1 Creation of the Disaster Council.

The Lynwood Disaster Council is hereby created and shall consist of the following:

a. The Mayor, who shall be Chairman.

b. The Director of Emergency Services, who shall be Vice-Chairman.

c. The Assistant Director of Emergency Services.

d. Such chiefs of emergency services as are provided for in a current emergency plan of this city, adopted pursuant to this section.

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.

(Code 1972 §11 1/2-33; Ord. #1098, §3)

2-18.2 Powers and Duties.

It shall be the duty of the Lynwood 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. The Disaster Council shall meet upon call of the Chairman or, in his absence from the City or inability to call such meeting, upon call of the Vice-Chairman. (Code 1972 §11 1/2-34; Ord. #1098, §4)

2-18.3 Director and Assistant Director of Emergency Services; Offices Created.

a. There is hereby created the Office of Director of Emergency Services. The City Manager shall be the Director of Emergency Services.

b. There is hereby created the Office of Assistant Director of Emergency Services, who shall be appointed by the Director.

(Code 1972 §11 1/2-35; Ord. #1098, §5)

2-18.4 Powers and Duties.

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. Whenever a local emergency is proclaimed by the Director, the City Council shall take action to ratify the proclamation within seven (7) 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 emergency organization of this city for the accomplishment of the purposes of this section.

4. Direct cooperation between and coordination of services and staff of the emergency organization of this city; and 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 director of the state office of emergency services, 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 he deems necessary in the execution of his 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 any city department or agency.

(e) To execute all of his ordinary power as city manager, all of the special powers conferred upon him by this section or by resolution or emergency plan pursuant hereto adopted by the city council, all powers conferred upon him by any statute, by any agreement approved by city council, and by any other lawful authority.

2. 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 duties during any emergency. Such order of succession shall be approved by the city council.

3. 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. (Code 1972 §11 1/2-37; Ord. #1098, §6)

2-18.5 Composition Of Emergency Organization:

All officers and employees of this 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 impressed into service under the provisions of subsection 2-18.4a6(c) of this section be charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property in this city during such emergency, shall constitute the emergency organization of the city. (Code 1972 §11 1/2-37; Ord. #1098, §7)

2-18.6 Emergency Plan:

The Lynwood disaster council shall be responsible for the development of the city of Lynwood emergency plan, which shall provide for the effective mobilization of all of the resources of this city, both public and private, to meet any condition constituting a local 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. (Code 1972 §11 1/2-38; Ord. #1098, §8)

2-18.7 Expenditures:

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. (Code 1972 §11 1/2-39; Ord. #1098, §9)


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Editor’s Note: For the regulations to be enforced by the Disaster Council, see Chapter 3, Section 3-6.