HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/18/2022 04. Mayoral Proclamation of Civil Emergency and Order` •i • •TERUE
r ORDER
City of Yakima, Washington
January 18, 2022
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima has been and continues to be impacted by the effects of
severe winter weather, including two significant snow storms within three days, followed by
periods of freezing rain, freezing fog, and nightly re -freezing of snow and ice melt since January
3, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the continued presence of compact snow and ice on many neighborhood
roads, the continued efforts to haul snow and ice from some locations, and the threat of flooding
from further snow and ice melt is putting significant pressure on City of Yakima personnel,
equipment, resources and infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the City Public Works Department has expended a significant amount of
excess time and resources in responding to the dangerous road conditions created by the severe
weather conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Yakima Fire Department and Yakima Police Department experienced an
increase in their emergency call volumes;
WHEREAS, the severe weather necessitated emergency action to preserve public health
and property and protect life; and
WHEREAS, the severe weather resulted in the City's use of employee services,
equipment and financial resources to attempt to reduce impacts of the weather conditions; and
WHEREAS, Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 6.06 authorizes the proclamation of a civil
emergency as is necessary to meet the various problems which have or may occur due to severe
weather conditions; and
WHEREAS, all City offices and employees of the City of Yakima are directed to continue
to exercise the utmost diligence in the discharge of duties required of them for the duration of the
emergency relating to the severe winter weather, and in execution of this emergency declaration;
and
WHEREAS, the Mayor finds it to be in the best interest of the City of Yakima to proclaim
a state of emergency for the City, now, therefore,
1. Determination of EMpIgenrc . A state of emergency currently exists and has
existed since January 3, 2022 in the City of Yakima as a result of the effects of severe winter
weather, including two significant snow storms within three days, followed by periods of freezing
rain, freezing fog, and nightly re -freezing of snow and ice melt since January 3, 2022.
2. As a result of this state of emergency, I authorize the City of Yakima to exercise
all actions necessary during the state of emergency to protect the safety and well-being of the
residents of the City, including the procurement of necessary supplies and equipment, and the
use of City resources as may be appropriate.
3. Violation —Penalty. Pursuant to YMC 6.06.050 on "Violation —Penalty," "it is
unlawful for any person to fail or refuse to obey any such Order proclaimed by the Mayor or the
City Council" issued pursuant to YMC Chapter 6.06; and any person convicted of a violation of
YMC Chapter 6.06 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished by a fine of not more
than Five Hundred Dollars or by imprisonment in jail for not more than ninety days, or by both
such fine and imprisonment.
4. Subseguent Orders. The Mayor is authorized to issue subsequent Orders which
are additionally necessary to address the present situation, pursuant to and in accordance with
YMC 6.06.030 and subject to approval of the City Council within seventy-two hours of their
issuance.
5. Circulation. A copy of this Proclamation and Order shall be sent to the Governor
of the State of Washington and to the County Commissioners of Yakima County. To the extent
practicable, notices of this Proclamation and Order shall be made available to all news media
within the City of Yakima pursuant to YMC 6.06.040 and to the general public.
6. Presentation, Ratification Termination. This Proclamation and Order shall at the
earliest practicable time pursuant to YMC 6.06.030 be presented to the City Council for ratification
and confirmation, modification, or rejection, but in no event more than seventy-two (72) hours
after the proclamation of this Order, and if rejected, shall be void. This Proclamation and Order
shall remain in effect until such time as it is removed by a subsequent City Proclamation, Order
or Resolution when it is determined that the extraordinary measures are no longer required for
the protection of the public health, safety and welfare and/or public peace, or until February 1,
2022, when the City Council shall either modify, renew or allow this Proclamation and Order to
expire; whichever occurs first.
DATED this — day of , 2022.
Janice Deccio, Mayor
The City of Yakima
Proclamation of Civil Emergency and • — 2
A RESOLUTION ratifying and confirming the Mayor's Proclamation of Emergency and Order
regarding a state of emergency in the City of Yakima due to severe winter
weather.
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima has been and continues to be impacted by the effects of
severe winter weather, including two significant snow storms within three days, followed by
periods of freezing rain, freezing fog, and nightly re -freezing of snow and ice melt since January
3,2022;and
WHEREAS, the continued presence of compact snow and ice on many neighborhood
roads, the continued efforts to haul snow and ice from some locations, and the threat of flooding
from further snow and ice melt is putting significant pressure on City of Yakima personnel,
equipment, resources and infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the City Public Works Department has expended a significant amount of
excess time and resources in responding to the dangerous road conditions created by the severe
weather conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Yakima Fire Department and Yakima Police Department experienced an
increase in their emergency call volumes;
WHEREAS, the severe weather necessitated and continues to necessitate emergency
action to preserve public health and property and protect life; and
WHEREAS, the severe weather resulted in the City's use of employee services,
equipment and financial resources to attempt to reduce impacts of the weather conditions; and
WHEREAS, Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 6.06 authorizes the proclamation of a civil
emergency as is necessary to meet the various problems which have or may occur due to severe
weather conditions; and
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
1. The City Council ratifies and confirms the Mayoral Proclamation of Civil Emergency
and Order issued on January 18, 2022.
2. The City Manager is authorized to request any state or federal assistance that may be
available to meet the demands of the emergency, and is further authorized to take
actions consistent with and necessary to effectuate the Mayoral Proclamation of Civil
Emergency and Order issued on January 18, 2022.
3. The Mayoral Proclamation of Civil Emergency and Order shall be in effect until the
Council's next regular business meeting on February 1, 2022.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this day of January, 2022.
Janice Deccio, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sonya Claar Tee, City Clerk