13. SAFETY ELEMENT The City of Peoria has plans in place to protect its residents, businesses and property from the threat of natural, technological and man-made hazards and emergencies. The City is a partner with Maricopa County, the State of Arizona and Federal Government in the coordinated execution of resources, facilities and information to minimize the effects of disasters within the City. The Safety Element is organized in the following manner: 13.a. Introduction 13.b. Goals, Objectives and Policies 13.c. Safety Plan 13.d. Implementation Program 13.a. INTRODUCTION The Safety Element of the Peoria General Plan provides a framework to address the presence of naturally occurring, human induced or national emergencies that directly or indirectly affect the City. The presence of natural or man-made hazards produces hazards that diminish the health, safety and welfare of City residents and workers. The location and configuration of the City, in the western region of Maricopa County, subjects its residents and businesses to the effects of climate and flooding potential. While the major watercourses in the city have been dammed and channelized, the occurrence of heavy rain in and to the north of the city could cause serious flooding. The presence of severe weather conditions such as microbursts also have the ability to cause severe structural damage, as occurred in Glendale in 1996. The presence of man-made conditions can create hazards as well. The dramatic growth in the northwest valley over the past 10 years has increased the number of industrial businesses in the region. Some of these businesses directly or indirectly work with volatile chemicals and materials that are noxious. Transporting them through the City has increased the potential for spills in the future. 13.b. GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES GOAL 13.1: PROTECT THE CITY FROM THE THREATS OF NATURAL AND MAN-MADE HAZARDS AND NATIONAL EMERGENCIES. _____________ Objective 13.1.A: Strive to create a safe community from natural threats produced by climate and the environment. __________ Policy 13.1.A.1: The City shall continue to coordinate its regional flood control planning with the Maricopa County Flood Control District and require adequate on-site retention for new development. __________ Policy 13.1.A.2: The City shall utilize appropriately sized culverts to transport stormwater under roadways, rather than at-grade “dip- sections” or ditches. __________ Policy 13.1.A.3: The City shall prioritize all dip-section roadways for future culvert improvements to reduce the threat of flooding during storm events. __________ Policy 13.1.A.4: The City shall continue to require dust control plans for proposed development to maximize motorist visibility. __________ Policy 13.1.A.5: The City shall continue to monitor the effects of ground subsidence in the southwest portion of the Planning Area and earth fissuring in the western portion of the City. _____________ Objective 13.1.B: Strive to create a safe community from man-made threats produced by humans and the built environment. __________ Policy 13.1.B.1: The City shall continue to support automatic aid agreements with its municipal neighbors in the suppression of fire in the region. __________ Policy 13.1.B.2: The City shall maintain appropriate front, side and rear yard setback requirements to minimize the threat of a spreading fire. __________ Policy 13.1.B.3: The City shall incrementally upgrade its Insurance Services Office (ISO) standards for fire hydrant flow and service areas to enhance safety and reduce insurance premiums for residents and businesses. __________ Policy 13.1.B.4: The City shall evaluate, monitor and remove dilapidated and underutilized structures that pose a fire threat in the city. __________ Policy 13.1.B.5: The City shall utilize the principles of Community Policing Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to enhance the safety of proposed and existing developments from crime. __________ Policy 13.1.B.6: The City shall adequately staff the Police Department Neighborhood Response Unit and Community Relations Unit in an effort to enhance its community oriented policing and crime prevention and education programs within the City. __________ Policy 13.1.B.7: The City shall continue to monitor the mission of Luke Air Force Base in terms of changes in the boundaries of 65 Ldn (average day-night sound decibel levels) and higher noise contours and changes in existing departure-arrival flight tracks. __________ Policy 13.1.B.8: The City shall update its adopted emergency evacuation plan every five years to ensure the safe departure of residents, employees and visitors in times of natural or man-made disaster. __________ Policy 13.1.B.9: The City shall coordinate its emergency efforts with the Arizona Department of Emergency Management and Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management, as appropriate. __________ Policy 13.1.B.10: The City shall route the vehicular transport of all hazardous materials and waste products away from residential neighborhoods and river corridors in accordance with the adopted and incorporated federal hazardous materials transportation regulations. __________ Policy 13.1.B.11: The City shall update its adopted truck route through the City (that only utilizes principal and major arterial roadways) every five years. __________ Policy 13.1.B.12: The City shall continue requiring adherence to standards set forth in the International Wildlife Urban Interface Code in the design of new development in the northern part of the City. __________ Policy 13.1.B.13: The City shall conduct annual fire inspections of all commercial occupancies to ensure adherence to the Peoria Municipal Fire Code. __________ Policy 13.1.B.14: The City shall continue evaluating the feasibility of requiring that all newly constructed residential occupancies contain residential fire sprinklers. 13.c. SAFETY PLAN In accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes, the Emergency Response and Recovery Plan addresses the consequences of emergencies and disasters throughout the state of Arizona. The plan is applicable to natural disasters (i.e. earthquakes, floods, severe wind damage and technological emergencies (i.e. hazardous materials releases) that require state assistance. It describes the methods the state will use to mobilize resources and conduct response and recovery activities. State assistance is organized under 18 Emergency Support Functions (ESF) that provide the primary response for state response and assistance. Each ESF is led by one or more primary agencies which are supported by additional agencies based on their resources and capabilities. State assistance is provided by the State Coordinating Officer, who is the Director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management. The plan identifies a network of operating facilities within the state to facilitate the movement of personnel and resources. These include the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), to coordinate state response; Point of Departure (POD), external disaster deployment area; and Point of Arrival (POA), designated airport where personnel, supplies and equipment are directed. The nearest POA for the City of Peoria is Luke Air Force Base. Maricopa County has prepared an emergency operations plan that outlines procedures for all governmental agencies to effectively respond to national security, technological, or natural disasters. The plan defines the authority, operational concepts and responsibilities of county government to provide for continued government operations, service and information. The plan consists of a basic plan and supporting annexes (i.e. direction and control, warning, communications, damage assessment, disaster assistance, storms and floods, earthquakes, fires and explosions, civil disturbances, hazardous materials incidents, aircraft crashes and national security emergencies). Maricopa County emergency operations are coordinated through the Emergency Operations Center. The center is located at 2035 North 52nd Street in Phoenix and is activated when emergencies occur that are such a scope that requires the coordinated efforts of several agencies or jurisdictions. The intent is to provide a centralized facility where representatives of various responding agencies can coordinate their efforts and transmit instructions to their field units. Procedures for declaring a disaster within the corporate limits of the city involve the coordination of activities in concert with standard operating procedures (SOP), emergency operations plan and mutual aid agreements. A local emergency may be proclaimed (and transmitted to the Maricopa County Emergency Services Manager) when an emergency/disaster is or is likely to be beyond the control of the city’s abilities. Upon proclamation the mayor may impose numerous measures to preserve peace and order including: curfew, business closure, denial of public access, requesting law enforcement support, providing/requesting mutual aid, and obtaining local resource emergency plan commitments. Depending on the circumstances, the City may be responsible for the organization of: personnel and resources for pre-deployment; personnel and equipment assembled for immediate deployment to an operational site; and the designated location that provides sleeping, eating and sanitary facilities for response personnel. The City of Peoria has prepared an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that responds to incidents within their corporate boundaries. The city EOP supports the Maricopa County EOP. The response structure identifies the duties of the following officials and departments: ? Mayor or City/Town Council ? Emergency Management ? Fire Department ? Police Department ? Public Works ? Emergency Medical ? Transportation ? Schools ? Parks/Recreation 13.d. IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM The Implementation program for the Safety Element of the Peoria General Plan is presented on Table 13-1, Safety Implementation Program. The table is presented under the following four headings: Implementation Measure Lists the action necessary to carry out the Safety Element of the General Plan. Lead Department/Agency identifies the responsible City department for accomplishing that particular measure. Projected Timeframe Identifies and prioritizes the timeframe for the measure to be initiated. Potential Funding Sources Lists the potential funding, City staff, volunteer or other community resource necessary to carry out the implementation action. TABLE 13-1 SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM Implementation Measure Lead Department / Agency Projected Timeframe (Years) Potential Funding Sources 1. Update the Emergency Evacuation Plan (every 5 years) Fire Department 0-5 ? General Fund Revenues 2. Update designated truck routes (every 5 years) Engineering / Public Works / Fire Departments 0-5 ? CIP 3. Incorporate CPTED principles into the Zoning Ordinance and Design Review Manual Community Development / Police Departments Ongoing ? General Fund Revenues Source: City of Peoria, 2001 The Planning and Zoning Commission should review and provide recommendations to the City Council for revisions to the Implementation Program on an annual basis in order to continue to pursue implementation of the Peoria General Plan. The Director of the Community Development Department and staff persons responsible for the General Plan implementation should monitor the status of each implementation action throughout the year and provide a general recommended framework to the Planning and Zoning Commission for annually updating the General Plan’s Implementation Program. 13. SAFETY ELEMENT PEORIA GENERAL PLAN PEORIA, ARIZONA 13-9 13. SAFETY ELEMENT PEORIA GENERAL PLAN PEORIA, ARIZONA 13-1