Ordinance 2928 - Laserfiche WebLink

ASSOCIATION OF IJASHINGTON CITIES August 13, 1941 TO EEMBERS OF THE E €ECL'TIVE COMMITTEE: Prior to the last session of the legislature, the Governor appointed a State Emergency Defense Commission which had as its ultimate goal the or- ganization of Emergency Commissions in every district and community in the state. As you will recall, at the last meeting of the Executive Committee it was explained that this Emergency Commission is not to be confused with the State Defense Council which concerns itself with the broad economic and social problems resulting from defense activities in general. Not long ago the Adjutant General, who heads the State Emergency Defense Commission under Governor Langlie, received a recommendation from the Wear Department that each local Emergency Commission should be established by city ordinances so that it would become a recognized function of local government. A few days ago, this office received from the office of Civilian Defense a similar recommendation and a suggested ordinance to be enacted to establish such a local Defense Council. After discussing the suggested ordinance with the Corporation Counsel of Seattle, s few changes were made in order to fit the ordinance to conditions in this state. The revised ordinance is attached for your study. Because the State Emergency Defense Commission and its various sub-units have worked hard in perfecting local organizations, and since its leader- ship has pretty well sifted the wheat from the chaff in order to find volunteers who would actually work at the tasks assigned to them, it has been suggested that the local Emergency Commissioner be named to the position described in the ordinance as the Vice-Chairman or Coordinator. If the local Emergency Commissioner were named as Defense Coordinator under the Mayor, the present organization of the Emergency Commission could probably continue in its work without the confusion which would necessarily result from the appointment of new committees and new sub-committees. The Adjutant General, Col. De Long, is quite desirous of naving the cities of the state officially recognize each local unit of the state Emergency Commission in this manner. On instructions of the Chairman of the Execu- tive Committee, this letter is being sent to you to see whether you approve or disapprove of sending this proposed ordinance to all cities in the state with the approval and recommendation of the Association of Washington Cities accompanying it. We would appreciate receiving your viewpoint as a member of the Executive Committee within a few days. V ry truly yours, J L. Llum field Consultant JHB:ss