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Council amends city code to let mayor declare man-made emergencies, approves emergency ordinance
Summary
Council approved an ordinance and an emergency declaration to expand the mayor's authority to declare man-made emergencies in addition to natural disasters; counsel said the change filled a gap identified during discussions about a federal shutdown.
Councilors voted to amend city code (chapter 38) to broaden the mayor’s emergency-declaration authority to include both natural and man-made emergencies and immediately adopted the ordinance as an emergency measure.
City counsel explained the amendment was prompted by conversations about an ongoing federal government shutdown and noted that the existing code permitted only declarations for natural disasters such as tornadoes. "The code is presently deficient," counsel said, arguing the change "fills in that gap" so the mayor may provide civil emergency powers for man-made events.
Council moved and carried the ordinance and then separately voted to make the measure effective as an emergency; roll-call votes were recorded with all councilors voting yes.
Ending: The ordinance was approved and signed under the emergency provision.
