The Mayor may exercise the emergency power and authority as specified herein. Whenever a situation requires, or is likely to require, that the Mayor invoke such power and authority, he shall, as soon as reasonably expedient, convene the City Council to perform its legislative and administrative duties, and shall report to that body relative to emergency activities. Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed unless specifically provided herein.
(A) Under the following circumstances, the Mayor may assemble and utilize the emergency management forces, and he may prescribe the manner and conditions of their use:
(1) Whenever, on the basis on information received from authoritative sources, he feels that a large-scale disaster or emergency situation in the city or state is imminent.
(2) During any period of disaster in the city or state and thereafter as long as it shall be reasonably necessary.
(B) Whenever the Mayor finds that any condition in the city has attained, or threatens to attain, the proportions of a major disaster, he may assemble and utilize emergency management forces and he may prescribe the manner and conditions of their use. The Mayor, with the approval of the City Council, is hereby empowered to enter into mutual aid agreements with other public and private agencies for reciprocal aid and assistance during disasters which are beyond local capabilities and resources. He may, when he deems it in the public interest, send emergency management forces of the city to the aid of other communities stricken by disaster, as provided by mutual aid agreements; provided, that after the City Council convenes, the future continuance of any such disaster relief and the period thereof shall be subject to the action of the City Council.
(1) The Mayor, with the approval of the City Council, may make regulations permitting the Coordinator to assemble and utilize the emergency management forces and provide disaster relief aid as prescribed in this subchapter and by state law.
(2) When obtaining formal approvals would result in delay of relief in emergency situations, the Mayor may, until the City Council convenes, waive procedures and formalities otherwise required pertaining to the performance of public works, entering into contracts, the incurring of obligations, the employment of temporary workers, the rental of equipment, the purchase and distribution of supplies, materials and facilities and expenditure of existing funds, and the City Council is also empowered to waive any such procedures and formalities.
(3) The Mayor, with the approval of the City Council, shall establish procedures for the secession of government during emergencies where officials are unavailable for exercising the powers and discharging the duties of their respective offices.
(‘68 Code, § 2-206) (Ord. 612, passed 12-3-84)