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CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT

A large incident could result in the death or injury of key government officials, destruction of established seats of government, and damage to public records that are essential to continued operations of government. Throughout an emergency, the Municipality must continue to function as a government entity so that it may provide continuity of effective leadership, direction of emergency operations, and management of recovery operations.

By 2008 the Municipality will complete its comprehensive continuity of operations plan to ensure that essential services will be continued in a disaster.

SUCCESSION OF MAYOR’S POWERS

Temporary Absence

During the temporary absence or incapacity of the mayor, the municipal manager will be acting mayor and will assume the powers and duties of the mayor, except emergency and veto powers.

If the municipal manager is also temporarily absent or incapacitated, the assembly member with the longest tenure will assume the office of acting mayor. If more than one assembly member has the same total period of tenure in office, the assembly member who received the largest number of votes at the last election will be acting mayor.

Vacancy

When a mayoral vacancy occurs, the assembly chairperson will serve as acting mayor with all powers and duties of the mayor, including emergency powers, until a mayoral successor is elected.

A mayoral vacancy arises when one or more of the following occurs:

• Resignation
• Death
• Judicial determination of incompetence
• Conviction of a felony
• Removal from office for breach of the public trust

If the assembly chair is unable to serve as acting mayor, the assembly member with the longest tenure will assume the office of acting mayor. If more than one assembly member has the same total period of tenure in office, the assembly member who received the largest number of votes at the last election will be acting mayor.

DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES

Essential functions are those that deliver life and safety services to the Municipality and maintain the economic well-being of the community. All municipal agencies have identified and will annually update their essential functions, the personnel required to perform those functions, and the lines of succession for managerial or specialized staff.

PRESERVATION OF VITAL RECORDS

In 2008 all municipal agencies will develop plans and procedures to guarantee the preservation of vital public records during and after emergencies. Vital public records are those that are required for delivery of essential services within the Municipality.

ALTERNATE FACILITIES AND WORK SITES

In 2008 all municipal agencies will develop plans and procedures to deliver essential services when the primary worksite is unavailable. Strategies may involve temporarily relocating to an alternate work site, requiring employees to work from home, and temporarily eliminating non-essential functions.

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