HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-21-2023; 8-g - Amendment to the Code of Ordinances – Emergency Proclamations 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 21, 2023
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-g
SUBJECT: Amendment to the Code of Ordinances — Emergency Proclamations
DEPARTMENT: County Attorney
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Draft Ordinance John Roberts, County Attorney, 245-
Resolution 2318
PURPOSE: To present changes to Chapter 14 (Emergency Management and Emergency
Services) of the Code of Ordinances for second reading and adopt the attached resolution
approving the revisions.
BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chair of the Board of Commissioners
issued an emergency proclamation in order to give greater authority to address the pandemic to
the County Manager and county departments. Pursuant to Section 14-39 of the Code of
Ordinances, which authorizes the Chair to issue "superseding proclamations" and includes the
authority to extend a state of emergency, the state of emergency was extended multiple times to
address the ongoing pandemic. Ultimately the emergency proclamation, through those
amendments, was continued for more than two years. The attached amendment to Section 14-
40 clarifies that the Chair has the authority to extend states of emergency through "superseding
proclamations."
This chapter of the Code of Ordinances provides for misdemeanor penalties for violations. For
that reason the ordinance is subject to a first and second reading prior to adoption. The first
reading occurred at the Board's February 7, 2023 Business meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated
with this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal
impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board adopt and authorize the Chair
to sign the attached resolution approving on second reading the recommended changes to
Chapter 14 (Emergency Management and Emergency Services) of the Code of Ordinances.
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ORD-2023-008
Sec. 14-40. -Termination of proclamation.
Any proclamation issued under this article shall expire five days after its last imposition unless sooner
terminated or extended in writing under the same procedures set forth in section 14-32 for
proclamations.
(Ord. of 9-18-1990, § 11, eff. 9-18-1990)
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RES-2023-013
RESOLUTION OF AMENDMENT
A RESOLUTION AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF THE ORANGE COUNTY CODE
OF ORDINANCES
Be it Resolved and Ordained by the Board of Commissioners of Orange County, North Carolina:
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners has determined a clarification is necessary to the
Emergency Management Ordinance.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED, that the Code of Ordinances, Orange County, North
Carolina, Chapter 14, is hereby amended by amending section §14-40, which amended section
reads as shown in the attached revised Ordinance.
This Amendment shall become effective upon adoption.
Adopted by the Orange County Board of Commissioners the 21s' day of February, 2023.
By: Attest:
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board
Orange County Board of Commissioners
[SEAL]