(A) The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death and is easily spread from person to person. In light of this, it is the judgment of the Saugatuck City Council that it must be able to continue to hold public meetings virtually. As authorized by Michigan's Open Meetings Act, Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976, as amended, after January 1, 2021, virtual public meetings will only be legally allowed under certain limited circumstances. Among such circumstances is when a local official or governing body has declared a local state of emergency to limit the risk to health and safety of members of the public and the public body. Michigan law, including without limitation the Emergency Management Act, Act No. 390 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1976, as amended (the "Act"), permits a municipality to declare a local state of emergency in certain identified circumstances. It is the City Council's intent, in adopting this section, to set forth a method and process by which a declaration of local state of emergency can occur if necessary.
(B) Pursuant to the Act, the City Council of the City of Saugatuck hereby designates the City Manager as its emergency management coordinator and who shall serve at the direction of the Allegan County Emergency Management Coordinator.
(C) The city may declare a local state of emergency if circumstances indicate that the occurrence or threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property from a natural or human-made cause exists. This power shall be vested in the Mayor but may not be continued or renewed for a period in excess of seven days except with the consent of the City Council. The declaration of a local state of emergency shall be promptly filed with the emergency management division of the Department of the Michigan State Police, unless circumstances attendant upon the disaster prevent or impede its prompt filing. For purposes of this section, "local state of emergency" shall mean a proclamation or declaration that activates the response and recovery aspects of any and all applicable local or interjurisdictional emergency operations plans and authorizes the furnishing of aid, assistance, and directives under those plans.
(D) The city may take such further actions relative to a local state of emergency as permitted by Act 390 or other applicable laws. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to limit the power of city officials to petition the State of Michigan or any officer thereof as permitted by law with respect to local emergencies.
(Ord. 201123-A, passed 11-23-2020; Am. Ord. 201214-A, passed 12-14-2020)