DATE:
February 7, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
April Richardson, City Clerk
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Appointing Standby Officers For Succession Of Council Member Kalimah Priforce In The Event Of A Declared Emergency For Calendar Year 2023 Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the above-entitled Resolution to appoint a standby officer for succession of Council Member Kalimah Priforce for Calendar Year 2023 in the event of a declared emergency.
Background
The City Council’s role during an emergency or disaster is to provide continuity of government through effective leadership, authority, and policy direction on emergency and recovery operations. A major disaster could destroy the ability of the City Council to carry out these functions if a quorum of the City Council cannot be established. Government Code Sections 8635-8644 provide the authority for local governments to reconstitute themselves in the event that incumbent elected officials are unable or unavailable to serve due to either being missing, killed, or seriously injured enough to be unable to perform their City Council duties due to a state of emergency by appointing standby officers.
On December 20, 2022, three of the five sitting Council Members appointed their standby officers. Newly elected Council Members David Mourra and Kalimah Priforce did not have time to submit the names of their appointees. On January 17, 2023, Council Member Mourra appointed his standby officers. Council Member Priforce has subsequently selected and confirmed the availability of his standby officer choice.
Discussion
The City Council may appoint standby officers by resolution to serve in the members’ place in the event members are unavailable. Government Code Section 8638 authorizes the City Council to appoint three standby officers for each member, and to designate them as first, second and third choices, as the case may be.
Government Code Section 8639 provides that local governments should consider places of residence and work for each appointed standby officer to ensure the greatest probability of survivorship and availability. In addition, standby officers may be residents or officers of another political subdivision. Suggested minimum qualifications include that they must be a City resident, over 18 years of age, and a registered voter, with additional criteria that they have familiarity with City operations and/or experience having served on the City Council and/or a City commission or committee.
Once appointed, the standby officers would be administered the oath of office, would serve at the pleasure of the City Council, and could be removed and replaced at any time with or without cause. Reappointment of existing standby officers or appointment of new ones is to occur annually. The terms of these appointments shall commence January 1, 2023, and end December 31, 2023.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact.
Staff Communication with the Public
Staff has not had any communication with the public regarding this matter.
PREPARED BY: Lorrayne Leong, Deputy City Clerk
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Attachment A – Government Code Sections 8635-8644
Draft Resolution
Exhibit A – 2023 City Council Emergency Standby Officers Roster, revised to show potential new appointments Government Code §8638.
Government Code §8638(b)
Government Code §8640
2023 City Council Emergency Standby Officers – Council Member Priforce City Council Meeting | February 7, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM