Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/15/04 - Removal of Debris - FrancesAN ORDER OF THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REQUIRING REMOVAL OF DEBRIS FROM PRIVATE RIGHTS-OF-WAY (HURRICANE FRANCES) WHEREAS, the St. Lucie County Administrator has made the following determinations: 1. Pursuant to Section 252.38, Florida Statutes, political subdivisions of the state have the power during a state of local emergency to provide for the health and safety of persons and property. 2. The Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County has adopted Resolution No. 00-277 authorizing the St. Lucie County Administrator and the St. Lucie County Public Safety Director to exercise certain emergency powers and authority during a local emergency. 3. The impact of Hurricane Frances has placed St. Lucie County in a state of emergency, exposing the citizens thereof to danger to life and property. 4. On September 1, 2004, at 4:00, p.m., the St. Lucie County Public Safety Director declared a state of local emergency which state of emergency has been extended to September 22, 2004. 5. In order to respond to such emergency, upon this declaration, the County Administrator or his designee is authorized to initiate and take such actions authorized by Resolution No. 00-277 (copy attached) for and on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners during the term of such local state of emergency. 6. Based on the recommendation of the Public Works Director and on the advice of local law enforcement officials, including the St. Lucie County Sheriff and the St. Lucie County Fire District Fire Chief (copies of memoranda attached), as a result of the effects of Hurricane Frances, there is a clear and present threats to life and public health and safety as well as a threat of significant damage to improved public and private property and it is necessary to remove debris from both public and private rights-of-way. 7. The removal of debris from public and private rights-of-way will ensure the economic recovery of the affected communities to the benefit of St. Lucie County. NOW, THEREFORE, I am issuing the following Order: 1. Effective September 17, 2004 at 5:00 p.m., the Public Works Director is directed to require the County's debris removal contractors to begin removing debris from private rights-of-way as well as public rights-of-way. 2. This Order shall, as promptly as practicable, be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and delivered to the appropriate news media for publication and radio and television broadcast thereof. Signed this//~'"'day of September, 2004,at~~.~p.m. ~ Dou~la~vl. Anderson Co~nt~' Administrator St. Lucie County RESOLUTION NO. 00-27Y A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLOP, IDA, AMENDING AND RESTA'I-ZNG RESOLUTION NO. 94-143, AUTHOR'['71'NG THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE PUBL.ZC SAFETY DIRECTOR TO EXERCISE CERTAIN EMERGENCY POWERS AND AUTHORZTY DURZNG A LOCAL EMERGENCY AND PROVIDIN~ AN EFFEC'I'ZVE DATE WHEREAS, on August 23, 1994, pursuant to Chapter 252, Florida Statutes (the "Emergency Management Act") the Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 94-143 (the 'Emergency Powers Resolution") to authorize the County Administrator and Public Safety Director to exercise certain administrative powers and authority during local emergencies for a period of seven days with a provision to extend the period in increments of seventy-two hours; and WHEREAS, the Emergency Management Act hc~ been amended to allow extensions of up to seven days and therefore it is necessary to amend and restate the Emergency Powers Resolution to provide for seven day extensions; and WHEREAS, in addition to the emergency authority provided by the Emergency Management Act, Section 161.085, Florida Statutes (1999) and the implementing administrative rules, authorize the County to toke emergency measures in the event a storm threatens private structures or public infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the period for response under Florida Statutes 161.085, and the implementing administrative rules is 30 days. NOW, THEREFORE, BE :TI' RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucia County, Florida, os follows: Section 1: Definitions Board of Countk, Cornrniss/onersshall mean the Board of County Commissioners for St. Lucia County. ~ounty/tdtn/n/_ctratorshall mean the St. Lucia County Administrator or his designee. ?ub//c ~Ca?e~/D/rectorshall mean the St. Lucia County Public Safety Director or his designee. Section 2: Emergency powers of County Administrator and Public Safety Director The County Administrator and the Public Safety Director shall have the following emergency powers: (a) Zf the Public Safety Director declares that a local emergency exists in St. Lucie county, then the County Administrator may exercise the emergency power and authority necessary to fulfill the general powers and duties as prescribed in this resolution. The state of local emergency shall remain in effect until the County Administrator determines otherwise. The duration of each state of emergency declared locally shall be limited to seven (7) days; it may be extended, as necessary, in seven day increments with notice to the Board of County Commissioners. In addition, if the local emergency involves a threat to private structures or public infrastructure, the local emergency may remain in effect for up to :30 days. The chairman of the Board of County Commissioners may convene the Board at anytime to perform its legislative duties as the situation demands, and shall receive reports relative to disaster preparedness activities. (b) During any period of a local emergency, the Public Safety Director shall recommend to the County Administrator to issue such directives as are deemed to protect life and property and preserve critical resources. The County Administrator, upon issuing such emergency directives, shall immediately advise the chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of the directives. The directives shall remain in effect until the County Administrator determines otherwise. Such directives may include, but shall not be limited to, the following: (1) Directives prohibiting or restricting the movement of vehicles in order tO facilitate the work of emergency management forces, or to facilitate the mass movement of persons from critical areas within the county. (2) Directives pertaining to the movement of persons from areas deemed to be hazardous or vulnerable to an emergency or threat of an emergency. (3) Such other directives necessary to preserve public peace, health and safety. (c) The County Administrator shall advise the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of his actions regarding ordering disaster preparedness forces to the aid of other communities when required in accordance with state and county mutual aid agreements, and may request the state, or a political subdivision of the state, to send aid to .St. Lucie County in case of an emergency when conditions in the county are beyond the control of the local emergency management division. (d) The County Administrator may require emergency services of any county department, division or their employees. ]:f regular county forces are determined inadequate, the County Administrator may require the services of such other personnel as he can obtain that are available, including citizen volunteers. All duly authorized persons rendering emergency services shall be entitled to the privileges and immunities as are provided by state law, county ordinances and policies for regular county employees and other registered and identified emergency management workers and, upon demand, may receive appropriate compensation for their emergency employment. Section 3. This Resolution shall be effective upon adoption. After motion and second, the vote on this Resolution was as follows: Chairman Frannie Hutchinson Vice Chairman Doug Coward Commissioner ~Tohn b. Bruhn Commissioner Paula A. Lewis Commissioner Cliff Barnes AYE AYE AYE AYE AYE PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 21st dc~ of November, 2000. AT. ST: 'Deputy Clerk ~/ ) BOARD OF COUNTY '_ ~hairman APP OVE S TO FORM COR CTN : . County Al-tome PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: Douglas Anderson, County Administrator FROM: Don West, Public Works Director~L~43 ' SUBJECT: Debris collection resulting from Hurricane Frances DATE: September, 16, 2004 Due to the large number of privately-owned roadways and private gated communities that we have throughout St. Lucie County, it is imperative that we collect and remove this debris immediately, regardless of the implications for funding reimbursement by FEMA. Removal of this debris is a life safety issue, especially with the impending threat of additional storms (Tropical Storm Jeanne). As you are aware, our County Land Development Code encourages private ownership and maintenance of roadways within newer subdivisions, since about 1990. We have a large number of private neighborhoods in our County, (approximately 25%), representing a large percentage of our taxpayers. Due to the imminent threat of additional storms, Public Works Staff is proceeding with collection of debris within our private neighborhoods and we are obtaining "right of entry" approvals from each, prior to collection of debris. Dbw/sd c; BOCC Dan McIntyre, County Attorney Ray Wazny, Assistant County Administrator Michael Powely, County Engineer Craig Hauschild, Capital Projects Engineer -'~P-25-2004 i6:08 ST. LUCIE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE CHIEF Jay Sizemore, Fire Chief Karen Jones, Admin. Assistant D:STR[CT 462 2325 P.O1/O1 2400 Rhode Island Ave. Fort Pierce, FL 34950 Phone: 772.462.8301 Fax: 772.462.8461 September 15, 2004 Mr. Douglas Anderson, Administrator St. Lucie County 2300 Virginia Avenue Fort Pierce, FL 34982 .F Dear Mr. Anderson: Due to recent Hurricane Frances the uninco~orated areas of the County, including privately owned gated communities, are experiencing a large volume of trees, shrubbery and other debris accumulating along the roadways. A major concern of the Fire District is that citizem are burning debris to expedite its removal. Also, in some cases the debris is piled so high and close to the roadway, that it could impede the response of fire apparatus. Any timely assistance that you can provide in the removal of this debris will be greatly appreciated. Fire Clfief q4 6 SEP 1M 200, 1 I CO. ADMIN. OFFICE P.01 KEN J. MASCARA Telephone: (772) 462-3200 · Fax: (772) 489-5851 4700 West Midway Road · Fort Pierce, Florida 34981 September 16, 2004 Mr. Doug Anderson County Administrator St. Lucie County 2300 Virginia Avenue Fort Pierce, FL 34982 Dear Mr. Anderson: On Sunday, September 5, Hurricane Frances unleashed its fury on the Treasure Coast. St. Lucie County became ground zero, and our county suffered extensive damage, power and water outages and localized flooding. As a result of Hurricane Frances, extensive vegetation and debris covered the St. Lucie County roadways, further challenging the response of public safety services. Now, one week after Hurricane Frances, public safety officers remain challenged by the extensive vegetation and debris on the St. Lucie County roadways, with calls for our services much higher than during normal times. The public is counting on us to get to emergency scenes quickly and safely so we can provide the service the public requires. Accordingly, I respectfully request that all efforts be made to expedite the removal of vegetation and debris from the roadways, right of ways and driveways throughout our county (including the gated communities) to ensure a quick and safe response. Sincerely, 'Ken 'J'i Mascara Sl~eriff ts /i l SEP 16 : tC0. ADMIN.