14 - Extension of Mayor's Declaration of Disaster of 2-16-2021

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Item No. 14 Memorandum TO: City Council Grayson Path, City Manager FROM: Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney SUBJECT: RESOLUTION EXTENDING MAYOR'S DECLARATION OF DISASTER OF FEBRUARY 16, 2021 DATE: February 18, 2021 BACKGROUND: Over the weekend of February 12, 2021, the city experienced a significant cold weather event accompanied by several inches of snow. Due to this weather event, ERCOT declared rolling blackouts throughout the state including in the city, resulting in significant temporary problems with the city's water supply and extended periods of power loss to the residents and business in various parts of the city. Mayor Clifford, in response to this weather event as well as the forecast of additional snow on Tuesday into Wednesday morning, and severe cold and wind chills through the end of the week of February 15, signed a declaration of disaster on February 16th. Such declarations are often necessary in order to obtain federal and other disaster related aid. Pursuant to the Texas Government Code Chapter 418, the Mayor's declaration of disaster is valid for seven (7) days unless renewed by the governing body. STATUS OF ISSUE: The attached resolution extends the Mayor's declaration of disaster for seven (7) days. In talking with Chief Tuttle, our emergency management coordinator, it is probably not necessary to extend the declaration, but we needed to get this on the agenda just in case. This may be a decision that is made shortly before the meeting. I will defer to Chief Tuttle as to whether City Council should act to extend the declaration. RECOMMENDATION: Pass and adopt the resolution extending the February 16" declaration of disaster for seven (7) days if recommended by the emergency management coordinator.