The City’s Emergency Management Coordinator recommends City Council approve an ordinance to authorize the extension of the local state of disaster proclamation for a public health emergency that was issued on March 11, 2020, by Mayor Turner in response to the imminent threat to the public health of the people and communities of Houston resulting from the introduction, transmission, or spread of the “coronavirus disease 2019” (“COVID-19”).
Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code (the “Texas Disaster Act”) establishes a coordinated system for local disaster responses, which ties into State and federal disaster programs.
To effectuate an immediate response effort, the presiding officers of local political subdivisions are authorized to declare a local disaster by proclamation. However, the Texas Disaster Act requires action by the governing body of a political subdivision for the period of a local state of disaster to be continued or renewed for more than seven days. The proposed ordinance would accomplish that purpose.
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Ronald C. Lewis
City Attorney