City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 01
Chapter 01.01
Section 01.01.080
 

Title 01 General Provisions

Chapter 01.01 Adoption of Code

Section 01.01.080 Emergency Ordinance Provisions
  1. Definitions.

“Emergency Ordinance" refers to any non-budget ordinance enacted by the Spokane City Council in response to an unforeseen combination of circumstances that demands immediate action. An "emergency" is characterized by a situation where delay in action to a future regular City Council meeting or a delay in the effectiveness of the ordinance poses an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare, necessitating urgent intervention to prevent or mitigate significant harm to the community.

  1. Emergency Ordinance Criteria
  1. To be consistent with the City Charter, an emergency ordinance may be adopted only when the ordinance details why it is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety or for the immediate support of City government and its existing public institutions, and includes a section of written detailed findings and facts regarding the following:
      1. The situation is sudden, unexpected, and requires immediate action to prevent or mitigate the threat; and
      1. The normal course of legislative procedures of the City Council cannot timely address the threat without causing or exacerbating harm to the community or government functions.
  1. In the event an emergency ordinance is prompted in part or in whole by confidential or privileged information disclosed to City Council, the written findings shall describe the legal constraints or exigencies to the greatest extent possible.
  1. Every non-budget emergency ordinance shall require five affirmative votes.

Date Passed: Monday, June 3, 2024

Effective Date: Thursday, July 11, 2024

ORD C36516 Section 1