The proposed ordinance would terminate the local state of disaster proclamation that City Council approved by Ordinance No. 2016-326. Mayor Turner made the initial disaster declaration on April 18, 2016. Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code (the “Texas Disaster Act”) establishes a coordinated system for local disaster responses that tie 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. In the event the local disaster must be extended for more than seven days, action by the governing body is required. The City’s Emergency Management Coordinator requested the declaration be continued, which occurred pursuant to Ordinance No. 2016-326.
The Texas Disaster Act provides that a local state of disaster may be terminated by the governing body of a political subdivision or by executive order by the Mayor. Since City Council extended the proclamation by ordinance, this proposed ordinance will terminate the proclamation via the same instrument. The ordinance will also terminate any previous local states of disaster that Council may have extended by ordinance.