Laserfiche WebLink
Councilor Taylor stressed that the entire city government should be involved before making a <br />decision as drastic as declaring a level three emergency. <br /> <br />Councilor Lee commented that it was completely appropriate for the City Manager to at least try to <br />convene a meeting of the entire City Council before declaring an emergency. <br /> <br />Councilor Kelly questioned the legal aspects of the amendment. He cited Councilor Taylor's <br />comment that if a majority of the council could not be contacted that those present could act, and <br />that would require a City Charter change to allow less than a council quorum to act. Mr. Klein <br />stated that the amendment would have to be a conceptual amendment and that he was working <br />on the wording changes that would have to take place in the ordinance. <br /> <br />Councilor Kelly suggested an alternate amendment that simply said the City Manager would <br />attempt to contact the Mayor and the councilors and if he/she could not contact them then the two <br />person rule could come into effect. <br /> <br />Councilor Meisner reminded councilors that the amendment dealt only with the process of <br />declaring an emergency and not with invoking the powers granted by the ordinance. He called <br />attention to page six of the ordinance that said that the City Manager shall consult with the Mayor <br />and the majority of councilors prior to invoking any of the powers. <br /> <br />Councilor Taylor commented that emergency powers could only be invoked with the declaration of <br />an emergency and that it was important for the entire council to be involved with making that <br />decision. She offered to remove her motion to amend and replace it using the wording Councilor <br />Kelly suggested. <br /> <br />Councilor Lee refused to let the motion be removed. He said that it was important for the public to <br />know who was in charge during an emergency and that having all the councilors present at a <br />declaration would help to show the public that action was being taken. <br /> <br />Councilor Nathanson agreed that there would be symbolic value in all the councilors meeting at <br />City Hall during an emergency but noted that the City Council did not have the authority to give <br />orders to city departments. She raised concern over delays in mitigating action by the city during <br />an emergency because of waiting for the City Council to be convened. <br /> <br />Councilor Pap~ reiterated Councilor Nathanson's position. He commented that if there was an <br />emergency he would rather be in his neighborhood and added that there were provisions for the <br />council to repeal a declaration of emergency by vote at a later time if necessary. <br /> <br /> The motion to amend failed 4:2 with Councilors Taylor and Lee voting in <br />favor. <br /> <br />Councilor Taylor stressed that no one was saying that disasters could not be dealt with before a <br />council meeting. She stressed that there would be time to have a meeting on whether to invoke <br />specific things like curfews. <br /> <br /> Councilor Kelly, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to amend the <br /> ordinance by changing the words in subsection 2(b) from "a majority of" to <br /> "the City". The motion to amend passed unanimously. <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 9, 1999 Page 9 <br /> 7:30 p.m. <br /> <br /> <br />