City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: FELIPE HERNANDEZ JR., FIRE AND EMS CHIEF
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 3 (Emergency Management) of Title 4 (Public Safety).
BODY
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ISSUE: Should the City Council update the Emergency Management chapter of City Code to align the review, update, and adoption cycle for the City’s Emergency Operation Plan with recently revised state code?
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council consider the proposed ordinance on first reading and schedule it for second reading, public hearing and final passage on November 14, 2026.
BACKGROUND: Current City Code stipulates that the review, update, and adoption of the City’s Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) take place every four years, which was aligned with Code of Virginia guidance. However, a recent revision of state code (§ 44-146.19. Powers and duties of political subdivisions, E.) now states that “Every five years, each local and interjurisdictional agency shall conduct a comprehensive review and revision of its emergency operations plan to ensure that the plan remains current, and the revised plan shall be formally adopted by the locality's governing body.”
This action seeks to update City Code to align the review, update, and adoption cycle for the City’s EOP, which is currently every four years, with the recently revised state code.
DISCUSSION: Ensuring alignment with state code will put our EOP revision cycle on the same cadence as plans from across the Commonwealth. It will also ensure that our emergency management program is fully compliant with state guidance regarding plan review, revision, and adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Ordinance Cover page
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