ITEM TITLE:
#22-01 - Amending Chapter 9.36 Titled Emergency Preparedness. Second Reading. Adoption.
SUBMITTED BY: Sheri Pierce, MMC, City Clerk/Jake Staser, City Attorney
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Ordinance #22-01 on second reading.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Ordinance #22-01 amends Chapter 9.36 by creating legislation to address the procedure for declaring local public health emergencies and establishing public health mandates if necessary.
Working within AS 26.23.140 which governs the procedure for establishing a “local disaster” emergency has been difficult in addressing the COVID -19 pandemic which has threatened the health and safety of the community and created a strain on the statewide healthcare system and our local healthcare providers. The purpose of AS 26.23.140 is to activate the response and recovery aspects of any and all applicable local or inter-jurisdictional disaster emergency plans, and to authorize the furnishing of aid and assistance under those plans. Therefore, the intent of the statute does not effectively address the needs of a municipality dealing with a local “public health” emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following discussion with the Mayor and City Council in preparation of this ordinance, if adopted, any action by the city council which establishes a public health mandate and creation of an emergency ordinance will require the affirmative vote of no less than six (6) members of the city council.