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MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Jay N. Hutchison, Director of Public Works
FROM: Brian Nielsen, Emergency Management Coordinator and Environmental Manager
DATE: December 22, 2008
RE: Emergency Management Ordinance Amendment
The emergency management portion of the Municipal Code defines, among other things, the City's response authority in the event of a widespread or severe disaster such as a tornado, major ice storm or flood, significant hazardous material incident, terrorist act, etc. The proposed ordinance amendment (attached) provides consistency with the National Incident Management System adopted by the Department of Homeland Security. Consistency with the federal program ensures better integrated actions among various levels of government in the event of a disaster and optimizes the City's potential to be reimbursed for costs incurred due to a disaster.
The City's current emergency management ordinance provides no description of the actions that may be initiated in dealing with a disaster. It merely authorizes "all powers granted by state law." This general authorization is inadequate given state and federal emergency operations and planning requirements. It does not provide enough definition of the actions authorized during a widespread or severe emergency or disaster. City departments and outside agencies can act more swiftly to mitigate disasters when there is clarity about the actions that can be taken.
Specifically, the lack of detail in the existing Municipal Code could:
- Delay or inhibit an adequate response to a disaster.
- Add to the confusion that will be present during such a disaster.
- Impede coordination with other response agencies.
- Reduce the potential for reimbursement to the City for disaster related expenses.
The main objective of the amended ordinance is to define specific authority available to respond to a widespread or severe emergency or disaster. It is not anticipated that all listed authority will be necessary to address every disaster. Rather, the list provides a menu from which to select actions necessary to address specific circumstances facing the community.
Use of the authority described in the proposed ordinance is restricted to that necessary to mitigate, respond to, or recover from a disaster or its effects. Further, a declaration of a disaster is limited to a seven-day period unless a longer period is approved by the City Council. Since responding to a disaster will require expeditious administrative actions, the proposed ordinance identifies the City Manager as the person responsible to declare a disaster and take actions necessary to respond to a disaster.
The ordinance also provides, if necessary during a disaster, for a temporary meeting location for City Council, temporary location for management of City operations and use of reserve funds.
In addition to Brian Nielsen, Tim Gablehouse will be available during the Council's study session to respond to questions. Tim serves as special counsel to the City on certain environmental and emergency management issues and serves on the State of Colorado Emergency Planning Commission.
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