[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Oconto Falls 3-13-1979 (§ 9.03). Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
"Emergency management" shall mean the preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, other than functions for which the military forces are primarily responsible, to minimize and repair injury and damage resulting from disaster caused by enemy attack, sabotage, or other hostile action or by fire, flood or other natural causes.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Throughout this chapter, "civil defense" was amended to read "emergency management" 8-12-2008 by Ord. No. 08-004.
B. 
By reason of the increasing possibility of disasters of unprecedented size and destructiveness and to ensure that preparations will be adequate to cope with such disasters and to provide for the common defense, to protect the public peace, health, safety and general welfare, and to preserve the lives and property of the people, it is hereby declared necessary to:
(1) 
Establish a local emergency management organization;
(2) 
Provide for the exercise of necessary powers during emergencies; and
[Amended 8-12-2008 by Ord. No. 08-004]
(3) 
Provide for the rendering of cooperation and mutual aid between this City and other political subdivisions.
C. 
It is further declared to be the purpose of this chapter and the policy of the City of Oconto Falls that all emergency management functions of this City be coordinated to the maximum extent practicable with existing services and facilities of this City and with comparable functions of the federal, state and county governments and other political subdivisions and of various private agencies to the end that the most effective preparation and use may be made of manpower, resources, and facilities for dealing with any disaster that may occur.
[Amended 9-14-2021 by Ord. No. 21-005]
A. 
How constituted. There is hereby created an Emergency Management Committee composed of the Director and as many additional members as may be determined by the Common Council, who shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the confirmation of the Common Council, and who shall serve without compensation. The Emergency Director shall serve as Chairman of the Committee and the City Clerk shall serve as Secretary of the Committee.
B. 
Duties. The Emergency Management Committee shall be an advisory and planning group and shall advise the Mayor, Director, and the Common Council on all matters pertaining to emergency management. The Emergency Management Committee shall meet upon the call of the Chairman.
[Amended 9-14-2021 by Ord. No. 21-005]
A. 
Appointment.
(1) 
The office of Emergency Management Director is hereby created. The Director shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation by the Common Council and shall receive such salary as may be authorized by the Common Council. He shall take and file an official oath.
(2) 
Deputy and assistant directors may be appointed by the Director, subject to confirmation of the Common Council, as may be deemed necessary, and such appointees shall receive such compensation as may be determined by the Common Council.
B. 
Duties and authority of Director.
(1) 
The Director shall be the exclusive head of the emergency management organization and shall have direct responsibility for the organization, administration and operation of the emergency management organization, subject to the direction and control of the Mayor and the Common Council. He shall coordinate all activities for emergency management within the City and shall maintain liaison and cooperate with emergency management agencies and organizations of other political subdivisions and of the county, state, and federal governments and shall participate in county and state emergency management activities upon request and shall have such additional authority, duties and responsibilities as are authorized by this chapter and as may from time to time be required by the Common Council.
(2) 
The Director shall prepare a comprehensive general plan for the emergency management of the City and shall present such plan to the Common Council for its approval. When the Common Council has approved the plan, it shall be the duty of all municipal agencies and all emergency management forces of the City to perform the duties and functions assigned by the plan as approved. The plan may be modified in like manner.
In preparing and executing the emergency management plan, the Director shall utilize the services, equipment, supplies and facilities of the existing departments and agencies of the City to the maximum extent practicable, and the officers and personnel of all such departments and agencies are directed to cooperate with and extend such services and facilities to the Director.
[Amended 8-12-2008 by Ord. No. 08-004; 9-14-2021 by Ord. No. 21-005]
Whenever necessary to meet an emergency for which adequate regulations have not been adopted by the City, the Mayor and in his absence the Emergency Management Director may by declaration enforce such orders, rules and regulations relating to the conduct of persons and the use of property as shall be necessary to protect the public peace, health and safety and preserve lives and property and to ensure the cooperation necessary in emergency management activities.
[Amended 8-12-2008 by Ord. No. 08-004; 9-14-2021 by Ord. No. 21-005]
The Emergency Management Director may, subject to the approval of the Common Council, enter into mutual aid agreements with other political subdivisions. Copies of such agreements shall be filed with the County and State Division of Emergency Management.
[Amended 8-12-2008 by Ord. No. 08-004; 9-14-2021 by Ord. No. 21-005]
Upon the declaration by the Governor, by the Mayor or the Emergency Management Director in the absence of the Mayor, or by the Common Council of a state of emergency, the Emergency Management Director shall issue all necessary declarations as to the existence of such state of emergency and shall issue such disaster warnings or alerts as shall be required in the emergency management plan. The emergency management organization shall take action in accordance with the emergency management plan only after the declaration of an emergency and the issuance of official disaster warnings. Such state of emergency shall continue until terminated by the issuing authority, provided that any such declaration not issued by the Governor may be terminated at the discretion of the Common Council.
[Amended 8-12-2008 by Ord. No. 08-004]
It shall be unlawful for any person wilfully to obstruct, hinder or delay any member of the emergency management organization in the enforcement of any order, rule, regulation, or plan issued pursuant to this chapter or to do any act forbidden by any order, rule, regulation or plan issued pursuant to the authority contained in this chapter. For a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter he shall forfeit not more than $100 and in default of payment thereof shall be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not exceeding six months.