(A) Purpose. Due to the existing possibility of a catastrophic event or a natural disaster requiring a declaration of a state of emergency, it is found urgent and necessary to ensure the continuity of duly elected and lawful leadership of the city to provide for the continuity of the government and the emergency interim succession of key governmental officials by providing a method for temporary emergency appointments to their offices.
(B) Succession to local offices. In the event of a catastrophic event or a natural disaster affecting the vicinity of the city, the Mayor, Council and City Administrator shall be forthwith notified by any one of these persons, and by any means available, to gather at the City Hall. In the event that safety or convenience dictate, an alternative place of meeting may be designated. In the event the Mayor and Council are unable to be present, the Charter Commission shall be notified by any means available to gather at the City Hall or other designated meeting location.
(C) Those gathered shall proceed as follows:
(1) By majority vote of those persons present, regardless of number, they shall elect a Chairperson and Secretary to preside and keep minutes, respectively.
(2) They shall review and record the specific facts relating to the catastrophic event or natural disaster and injuries to persons or damage to property already done, or the imminence thereof.
(3) They may, based on facts, declare a state of emergency. If a state of emergency is thus declared, then the following provisions in (a) and (b) will be enacted:
(a) By a majority vote of those persons present, regardless of the number, they shall fill all positions on the Council (including the office of Mayor) of those persons upon whom notice could not be served or who are unable to be present.
(b) Interim successors shall serve until a time as the duly elected official is again available and returns to his or her position, or the state of emergency has passed and a successor is designated and qualifies as required by law, whichever shall occur first.
(D) Duties of the Interim Emergency Council. The Interim Emergency Council shall exercise the powers and duties of its offices and appoint other key government officials to serve during the emergency.
(2002 Code, § 2.69) (Ord. 42, Second Series, effective 7-1-1974; Ord. 7, Eighth Series, effective 6-6-2021)