Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this section shall govern the construction of this chapter.
"Attack"
means any attack or series of attacks by an enemy of the United States causing, or which may cause, substantial damage or injury to civilian property or persons in the United States in any manner, by sabotage or by the use of bombs, missiles, shellfire, or atomic, radiological, chemical, bacteriological or biological means, or other weapons or processes.
"Emergency interim successor"
means a person designated pursuant to this code for possible temporary succession to the powers and duties, but not the office, of the city officer in the event that such officer or any duly authorized deputy is unavailable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office.
"Unavailable"
means that a vacancy in office exists and there is no deputy authorized to exercise all of the powers and discharge the duties of the office, or that the lawful incumbent of the office is absent or unable, for physical, mental or legal reasons, to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office.
(O97-026)
Because of the existing possibility of an attack upon the United States of unprecedented size and destructiveness, including the inevitable hazards of radioactive contamination, and in order, in the event of such an attack, to assure the continuation of effective, legally constituted leadership, authority and responsibility in the offices of the government of this city, it is found and declared, by the City Council, to be necessary to provide for emergency interim officers who can exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the legislative offices of the city in the event that the incumbents thereof are killed, missing, disabled, or for some other cause unable to perform the duties and functions of their office during and immediately after an enemy attack; therefore, in the interest of the public safety, health, welfare, and the protection of property and in pursuance of the authority conferred by the California State Military and Veterans Code, Division 7, Chapter 1, Section 1550, this chapter is enacted.
(O97-026)
A. 
Elective Offices. Within 30 days after first entering upon the duties of his or her office, each member of the City Council and the Mayor shall designate not less than three emergency interim successors to his or her office and specify their rank in order of succession.
B. 
Review of Designations. The incumbents of the City Council shall review and, as necessary, promptly revise the designations of emergency interim successors to ensure that at all times there are at least three such qualified emergency interim successors for each member.
(O97-026)
No person shall be designated or serve as an emergency interim successor unless he or she may, under the Constitution and statutes of this state, and the code and Charter of this city, hold the office of the person to whose powers and duties he or she is designated to succeed, but no provision of any code provision prohibiting an officer or employee of this city from holding another office shall be applicable to an emergency interim successor. Insofar as practicable, successors to be selected for the offices of Councilmembers shall be residents of the district or jurisdiction of the office to which they are being appointed.
(O97-026)
A person designated as an emergency interim successor holds that designation at the pleasure of the designator; provided, that he or she must be replaced if removed. He or she retains this designation as emergency interim successor until replaced by another appointed by the authorized designator.
(O97-026)
If, in the event of an attack, any member of the City Council is unavailable, his or her emergency interim successor highest in rank in order of succession who is available shall, except for the power and duty to appoint emergency interim successors, exercise the powers and discharge these duties only until such time as the lawful incumbent officer or an emergency interim successor higher in rank in order of succession exercises, or resumes the exercise of, the powers and discharge of the duties of the office, or until, where an actual vacancy exists, a successor is appointed to fill such vacancy or is elected and qualified as provided by law.
(O97-026)
The name, address and rank in order of succession of each duly authorized emergency interim successor shall be filed with the City Clerk, and each designation, replacement or change in order of succession of an emergency interim successor shall become effective when the designator files with the City Clerk the successor's name, address and rank in order of succession. The City Clerk shall keep on file all such data regarding duly authorized emergency interim successors, and it shall be open to public inspection.
(O97-026)
At the time of their designation, emergency interim successors shall take such oath and do such other things, if any, as may be required to qualify them to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office to which they may succeed.
(O97-026)
In the event of an attack:
A. 
Quorum requirements for the City Council shall be suspended; and
B. 
Where the affirmative vote of a specified proportion of members for approval of an ordinance, resolution or other action would otherwise be required, the same proportion of those voting thereon shall be sufficient.
(O97-026)