Subject:
Title
Consider amending and re-enacting Title 5 Chapter 3 Section 5-3-1 and 5-3-2 - Office of Emergency Services, of the City Code.
Body
Presented By: Chris Brown, City Attorney
Recommendation and Review
In 2004, City Council created an Office of Emergency Services with the enactment of Section 5-3-1 of the Harrisonburg City Code. At the same time, Council also enacted Section 5-3-2, which named individuals holding specific City offices to positions within the Office of Emergency Services. These City Code sections were enacted under the authority of Virginia Code Section 44-146.19, which sets forth the rights and obligations of any locality establishing a local agency for emergency preparedness.
The proposed change to Section 5-3-1 would amend the name of Harrisonburg's Office of Emergency Services to the Office of Emergency Management in order to be consistent with the language used in Va. Code Section 44-146.19.
The proposed changes to Section 5-3-2 maintain the existing status of the City Manager as Director of Emergency Management, the Deputy City Manager as Deputy Director of Emergency Management, and the Fire Chief as Emergency Management Coordinator, all as permitted or required by Va. Code Section 44-146.19. With the proposed change, the Fire Chief will be able to appoint a Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator in consultation with the City Manager. Currently, Fire Administrative Officer Paul Helmuth serves as the City's de facto Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator. With this ordinance amendment, the Fire Chief will be able to formalize that position but retain the flexibility in the future to appoint someone else to the office, again after consultation with the City Manager. Finally, a proposed change to Section 5-3-2 clarifies that the Office of Emergency Management is and will remain part of the Fire Department.