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Public works outlines when and how Wilsonville declares an emergency and uses emergency powers
Summary
The city's emergency manager reviewed the administrative code and emergency operations plan, explaining who can declare a local emergency, the line of succession, enumerated emergency powers, and the pathway to county, state, and federal declarations and FEMA aid.
Martin Montalvo, the city's public works operations manager and de facto emergency manager, walked the council through Wilsonville's emergency-declaration process at the April 20 work session, including who may declare a local emergency, what powers that unlocks, and how declarations are escalated for county, state, and federal assistance.
Montalvo noted that Resolution 1959 gives the city council the right and responsibility to declare a state of emergency and described the line of succession—mayor, council president, city manager, assistant city manager or designee, then the emergency management coordinator (public works director). He emphasized that local declarations do not cede control to county or state officials but are used to secure legal protections, emergency procurement flexibilities, mutual aid, and, if necessary, state or federal assistance.
"The declaration will basically state what's the nature of the emergency, what's the boundaries of the emergency, and any specific regulations or powers that you impose," Montalvo said, adding the city has used several of the listed powers in past incidents such as ice storms.
Enumerated powers discussed included redirecting funds for emergency use, suspending standard procurement rules to issue emergency contracts, entering mutual-aid agreements, regulating traffic and gatherings, evacuation authority, and, in extreme cases, limited commandeering of property with compensation. Montalvo reiterated the city's practice of a compliance-first approach to using these powers.
He explained the escalation path for assistance: a local declaration goes to county emergency management, then to the governor for a state declaration, and finally to the president for a federal declaration and FEMA assistance. Montalvo said the city has previously advanced from local to federal aid (ice storm recovery) and cautioned that failing to move through each step eliminates the possibility of federal reimbursement.
Councilors asked whether water curtailment for landscape irrigation could trigger a local emergency; staff explained the state's watermaster can mandate curtailments, the city has curtailment plans it can enact, and for sustained, region-wide mandates the city would likely recommend a local emergency specific to the period.
The city manager confirmed staff will present options and advise the council on recommended emergency durations and language if a declaration is proposed.
