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Sterling Heights introduces overhaul to emergency-management code and highlights new mobile command vehicle
Summary
Council introduced amendments to Chapter 15 to streamline emergency roles, designate a city liaison to Macomb County emergency management, and improve continuity. Staff highlighted the city’s new $1.3 million EM 50 mobile command vehicle and planned training exercises.
The Sterling Heights City Council voted to introduce revisions to Chapter 15 of the city code to modernize emergency management procedures and clarify roles during crises.
Assistant City Manager (presentation) said the ordinance — not updated since 2012 — consolidates emergency-management duties in one place, makes the county the emergency-management coordinator, and establishes a city emergency-management liaison appointed by the city manager with assistant liaisons from police and fire to reduce turnover-related disruption. "This new structure creates more continuity and reduces disruption from turnover," staff said.
Why it matters: Staff argued a clearer ordinance will speed decision making during severe weather, floods or other incidents. They cited ongoing coordination with Macomb County Emergency Management (staff identified Brandon Lewis) and a support emergency operations plan that is updated every 2–3 years.
New mobile command capability: Staff announced delivery of the city’s EM 50 emergency mobile command vehicle, a $1.3 million asset funded with a $750,000 Michigan public-safety grant and $550,000 in drug-forfeiture funds. The vehicle provides on-scene decision-making workstations and will be used for incident coordination and planned tabletop exercises, including a tabletop planned to help safeguard election operations.
Council review and questions: Members asked for a clean (non-redline) ordinance and sought explicit citations of mayoral authority to declare a local state of emergency. Staff said those powers are already part of state emergency-management law and agreed to ensure the charter/citation is visible in the ordinance clean copy. Council moved and approved introducing the amendments; the item will return with a clean final draft for formal adoption.
Attribution: Reporting is based on presentations and statements by assistant city manager Dale Zukowski and city staff at the Sterling Heights City Council meeting.
