HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 3528-09-2007A Resolu#ion
NO 3528-09-2007
BY THE FORT WORTH CITY COUNCIL REQUESTING THE TEXAS
MUNICIPAL LEAGUE TO SEEK INTRODUCTION OF OR SUPPORT
LEGISLATION REGARDING EVACUATION REIMBURSEMENT
WHEREAS, under authority granted by state law the Governor may order an evacuation of
citizens in the event of a threat of an emergency including hurricanes, and,
WHEREAS the Governor's Division of Emergency Management has developed evacuation
plans that effectively require cities not directly impacted by the emergency to provide shelter including
operating shelter hubs and shelter for citizens from outside of their jurisdiction, and,
WHEREAS, the state is asking host cities to commit their local funds to support state plans
and/or state ordered evacuations and the subsequent sheltermg of citizens from other cities, and,
WHEREAS host cities cannot anticipate potential sheltering costs because of the unpredictable
nature of disasters and the number of evacuees involved the host cities would be required to divert funds
from existing budgets to pay for sheltermg costs, resulting m a decrease m local services available to the
host cities taxpayers, and,
WHEREAS, if an emergency m which evacuation and shelter operations are mandated on host
cities does not result in a Presidential Disaster Declaration, there is no provision or ability for host
cities to obtain reimbursement for their shelter costs, and,
WHEREAS even when an emergency results m a Presidential Disaster Declaration, only 75
percent of eligible costs are reimbursed by the federal government, with the potential for a lesser
reimbursement rate because many expenses common to shelter operations are not eligible for federal
reimbursement; and,
WHEREAS, requiring host cities to absorb sheltering costs is, in effect, an unprecedented
unfunded mandate by the state government.
Resolution No 3528-09-2007
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH,
TEXAS, HEREBY RESOLVES
To request that the Texas Municipal League and tts member ctttes seek introduction and passage
of state legtslatton requiring 100 percent reimbursement of costs incurred by crttes for services
provided during emergency evacuation and shelter operattons resulting from an emergency
evacuation ordered by the Governor or the Governor's Dtvtston of Emergency Management.
Adopted this 18th day of September 2007
ATTEST
B,
APPROVED
CITY COUNCIL
S F P 1 8 2007
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City Secretary of the
City of Fort Worth, Texas