To provide for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, welfare of the City, public interest, or to provide for special emergencies in the operation of municipal services, Council may adopt emergency ordinances, but such ordinances may not levy taxes, grant, renew or extend a franchise, regulate the rate charged by any public utility for its services, or authorize the borrowing of money. An emergency ordinance shall be introduced in the form and manner generally prescribed for ordinances except that the preliminary motion for preparation by the Law Director and public notice of a brief summary of the proposed ordinance by publication as prescribed by Section 10-8 of this Charter, shall not be necessary, and except that it shall be plainly designated as an emergency ordinance and shall contain, after the enacting clause, a declaration stating that an emergency exists and describing it in clear and specific terms. An emergency ordinance may be adopted with or without amendment or rejected at the meeting at which it is introduced, but the affirmative vote of at least five (5) members shall be required for adoption. After its adoption, the ordinance shall be published and printed as generally prescribed for adopted ordinances. It shall become effective upon adoption or at such later time as it may specify. An emergency ordinance may be repealed by adoption of a repealing ordinance in the same manner specified in this section for the adoption of emergency ordinances.
(Amended 11/08/2016; 11/02/2021)