Sec. 11-4. Director of Emergency Services (DES).
a.The office of Director of Emergency Services is hereby established, with the City Manager serving in such capacity.
b. Powers and Duties.The Director of Emergency Services shall have the following powers and duties:
1.To appoint such persons and create such positions as required to respond to emergency or disaster situations.
2.To appoint a Vice-Chair of the Disaster Council.
3.To order activation of the Emergency Operations Center and initiate response of disaster service workers.
4.To request the City Council to proclaim the existence of a local emergency, or to proclaim the existence of a local emergency subject to ratification by the City Council within seven (7) days. Further, to assure that the City Council reviews the need for continuing the local emergency in effect at least every fourteen (14) days until conditions warrant termination of the emergency status. When emergency conditions cease to exist, the City Council shall terminate the local emergency.
5.To advise the Mayor to request the Governor to proclaim an appropriate state of emergency when it appears the resources of the City are inadequate to cope with the emergency.
6.To request activation of the Monterey County Operational Area Emergency Operations Center when the resources of the City are inadequate to cope with any emergency, and to direct the use of available resources for the benefit of the inhabitants and property within the City.
7.To control and direct the efforts of the emergency organization of the City in conformance with SEMS for the accomplishment of the purposes of this Chapter.
8.To authorize public emergency workers and employees to command the aid of citizens when necessary in the execution of their duties during a state of emergency.
9.To exercise the following powers and duties during a proclaimed emergency:
a.To make and issue rules and regulations on matters reasonably related to the protection of life and property which are or may be affected by the emergency, including the temporary suspension of local ordinances and regulations, provided that such actions shall be confirmed at the earliest practical time by the City Council.
b.To obtain needed supplies, equipment and such other properties found lacking and necessary for the protection of life and property for the people, and obligate the City to repay the fair value of such goods. This shall include the power to commandeer such property for public use. Any expenditures made in connection with such emergency activities, including mutual aid activities shall be deemed conclusively to be for the direct protection and benefit of the inhabitants and property within the City. This power shall include the ability to suspend the normal purchasing rules and regulations as set forth in Monterey City Code Chapter 28.
c.To require any officer or employee of the City to assist in the response to and mitigation of any local emergency, or in the event of the proclamation of any state of emergency by the Governor, relating to any emergency within the Coastal Region, and to command the aid of as many citizens of the City as is reasonable and necessary for the response to and mitigation of any emergency. Such persons shall be entitled to all privileges, benefits and immunities as are provided to registered or unregistered disaster service volunteers as set forth in Government Code Section 8657.