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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-O-05 - Emergency ManagementORDINANCE N0. 1991-05 AN ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 8h, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, SECTIONS ffii-1 THROUGH 8h-12, AND ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM IN- CLUDING MITIGATION, PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PHASES OF COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: ACKNOWLEDGING THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR: AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR:AND PROVIDING FOR THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THOSE OFFICES: IDENTIFYING AN OPERATIONAL ORGANIZATION: GRANTING NECESSARY POWERS TO COPE WITH ALL PHASES OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WHICH THREATEN LIFE AND PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE: AUTHORIZING COOPERATIVE AND MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS FOR RELIEF WORK BETWEEN THIS AND OTHER CITIES OR COUNTIES AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES: PROHIBITING UNAUTHORIZED WARNING AND ALL -CLEAR SIGNALS AND MAKING VIOLATIONS A MIS- DEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY FINE NOT TO EXCEED $200*000 WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Stephenville finds that the iden- tification of potential hazards and the prevention of mitigation of their effects must be an on -going concern of the City if the lives and property of the populace are to be protected; and WHEREAS, the City Council hereby declares that the preparation of a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, and the means for its implementation, for the protection of lives and property in the City of Stephenville from natural or man -caused disasters or threat thereof is immediately essen- tial; and WHEREAS, the City Council further finds that in times of disasters which may imperil the safety of the inhabitants of the City, or their property, it becomes necessary to effectuate and place into operation the precon- ceived plans and preparations with a minimum of delay; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds, therefore, that the preparation, and implemen- tation of such plans are now imperative; BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS: Section 1. ORGANIZATION There exists the office of Emergency Management Director of the City of Stephenville, which shall be held by the Mayor in accordance with state law. a. The City Administrator shall act as Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Stephenville. b. The Director shall be responsible for a program of comprehensive emergency management within the City and for carrying out the duties and responsibilities set forth in this ordinance. He may delegate authority for execution of these duties to the Coordinator, but ulti- mate responsibility for such execution shall remain with the Director. c. The operational Emergency Management organization of the City of Stephenville shall consist of the officers and employees of the City id 5W so designated by the Director in the emergency management plan, as well as organized volunteer groups. The functions and duties of this orga- nization shall be distributed among such officers and employees in accordance with the terms of the emergency management plan. Section 2. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR - POWERS AND DUTIES The duties and responsibilities of the Emergency Management Director shall include the following: a. Conduct an on -going survey of actual or potential hazards which threaten life and property within the City and an on -going program of identifying and requiring or recommending the implementation of measures which would tend to prevent the occurrence or reduce the impact of such hazards if a disaster did occur. b. Supervision of the development and approval of an emergency management plan for the City of Stephenville, and shall recommend for adoption by the City Council all mutual aid arrangements deemed necessary for the implementation of such a plan. c. Authority to declare a local state of disaster. The declaration may not be continued or renewed for a period in excess of seven (7) days except by or with the consent of the City Council. Any order or proclamation declaring, continuing, or terminating a local state of disaster shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the City Secretary. d. Issuance of necessary proclamations, regulations, or directives which are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this ordinance. Such proclamations, regulations, or directives shall be disseminated promptly by means calculated to bring its contents to the attention of the general public and, unless circumstances attendant on the disaster prevent or impede, promptly filed with the City Secretary. e. Direction and control of the operations of the City of Stephenville Emergency Management organization as well as the training of Emergency Management personnel. f. Determination of all questions of authority and responsibility that may arise within the Emergency Management organization of the City. g. Maintenance of liaison with other municipal, County, District, State, regional or federal Emergency Management organizations. h. Marshaling of all necessary personnel, equipment, or supplies from any department of the City to aid in the carrying out of the provisions of the emergency management plan. i . Supervision of the drafting and execution of mutual aid agreements, in cooperation with the representatives of the State and of other local political subdivisions of the State, and the drafting and execution, if deemed desirable, of an agreement with the county in which said City is located and with other municipalities within the County, for the County -wide coordination of Emergency Management efforts. j . Supervision of, and final authorization for the procurement of all necessary supplies and equipment, including acceptance of private contributions which may be offered for the purpose of improving Emergency Management within the City. k. Authorizing of agreements, after approval by the City Attorney, for use of private property for public shelter and other purposes. 1. Survey of the availability of existing personnel, equipment, supplies, and services which could be used during a disaster, as provided for herein. m. Other requirements as specified in the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, Vernon's Texas Codes Annotated, Government Code Chapter 418. Section 3. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN A comprehensive Emergency Management Plan shall be developed and maintained in a current state. The plan shall set forth the form of the organization; establish and designate divisions and functions; assign responsibilities, tasks, duties, and powers and designate officers and employees to carry out the provisions of this ordinance. As provided by State law, the plan shall follow the standards and criteria established by the State Division of Emergency Management of the State of Texas. Insofar as possible, form of organization, titles, and ter- minology shall conform to the recommendations of the State Division of Emergency Management. When approved, it shall be the duty of all departments and agencies to perform the functions assigned by the plan and to maintain their portion of the plan in a current state of readiness at all times. The emergency management plan shall be considered supplementary to this ordinance and have the effect of law during the time of disaster. Section 4. INTERJURISDICTIONAL PROGRAM The Mayor is hereby authorized to join with the County Judge of the County of Erath and the mayors of the other cities in said County in the formation of an i nterjuri sdi cti onal emergency management program for the County of Erath, and shall have the authority to cooperate in the preparation of an i nterjuri sdi c- tional emergency management plan and in the appointment of a County Emergency Management Coordinator, as well as all powers necessary to participate in a County -wide program of emergency management insofar as said program may affect the City of Stephenville. Section 5. OVERRIDE At all times when the orders, rules, and regulations made and promulgated pur- suant to this ordinance shall be in effect, they shall supersede and override all existing ordinances, orders, rules, and regulations insofar as the latter may be inconsistent therewith. Section 6. LIABILITY This ordinance is an exercise by the City of its governmental functions for the protection of the public peace, health, and safety and neither the City of Stephenville, the agents and representatives of said City, nor any individual, receiver, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or trustee, nor any of the agents thereof, in good faith carrying out, complying with or attempting to comply with, any order, rule, or regulation promulgated pursuant to the provi- sions of this ordinance shall be liable for any damage sustained to persons as the result of said activity. Any person owning or controlling real estate or other premises who voluntarily and without compensation grants to the City of Stephenville a license of privilege, or otherwise permits the City to inspect, designate, and use the whole or any part or parts of such real estate or premi- ses for the purpose of sheltering persons during an actual, impending, or prac- tice enemy attack or natural or man-made disaster shall, together with his successors in interest, if any, not be civilly liable for the death of, or injury to, any person on or about such real estate or premises under such license, privilege or other permission or for loss of, or damage to, the pro- perty of such person. Section 7. COMMITMENT OF FUNDS No person shall have the right to expend any public funds of the City in carrying out any Emergency Management activity authorized by this ordinance without prior to approval by the City Council, nor shall any person have any right to -bind the City by contract, agreement, or otherwise without prior and specific approval of the City Council unless during a declared disaster. During a declared disaster, the Mayor may expend and/or commit public funds of the City when deemed prudent and necessary for the protection of health, life, or pro- perty. Section 8. OFFENSES; PENALTIES a. It shall be unlawful for any person willfully to obstruct, hinder, or delay any member of the Emergency Management organization in the enfor- cement of any rule or regulation issued pursuant to this ordinance. b. It shall likewise be unlawful for any person to wear, carry, or display 04 any emblem, insignia, or any other means of identification as a member of the Emergency Management organization of the City of Stephenville, unless authority to do so has been granted to such person by the proper officials. c. Any unauthorized person who shall operate a siren or other device so as to simulate a warning signal, or the termination of a warning, shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this ordinance and shall be subject to the penalties imposed by this ordinance. d. Convictions for violations of the provisions of this ordinance shall be punishable by fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00). Section 9. SEVERABILITY If any portion of this ordinance shall, for any. reason, be declared invalid such, invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions thereof. Section 10. LIMITATIONS This ordinance shall not be construed so as to conflict with any State or Federal statute or with any military or naval order, rule, or regulation. Section 11. REPEALER All ordinances, parts of ordinances, or resolutions in conflict herewith are expressly repealed. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of April, 1991, ATTEST: yce emberton, City Secretary F& Georg earl ngen, Mayor