20030701 r-03-27RESOLUTION NO. R-03-27
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE METROPOLITIAN WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF
GOVERNMENTS REQUEST FOR A FEDERAL STATUTE TO EXPAND THE IMMUNITY
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES WHEN RENDERING MUTUAL
AID TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS
WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax, Virginia is member jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Washington
Council of Governments (COG); and
WHEREAS, through the COG Mutual Aid Operations Plan, City of Fairfax Police, Fire and
EMS exchange mutual aid response with other COG jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the issue of liability exposure of local governments and their employees under the
COG agreement has been uncertain; and
WHEREAS, an ad hoc committee of municipal attorneys have agreed that a federal statute is
required to expand the immunity of local governments and their employees when rendering aid
to other jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, COG has drafted language for a federal statute that would provide such liability
immunity and is requesting support for this statute from all COG member jurisdictions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Fairfax, Virginia
endorses the COG initiative and the recommended language for a federal statute to expand the
liability immunity of local governments and their employees while rendering aid to other
jurisdictions and authorizes the City Manager to execute documents and communicate with COG
or federal officials on behalf of the City, as may be required in furtherance of this initiative; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council does hereby endorse introduction of the
proposed legislation in Congress and requests its legislative delegation and the United States
Department of Homeland Security to support such legislation, and the City Council directs that
the National Capital Region Emergency Preparedness Council and Council of Governments, the
legislative delegation and Department of Homeland Security be advised of this resolution.
this 1 st day of July 2003. (~~~~
Adopted
Mayor
Dare
ATTEST:
VOTE:
Councilwoman Cross Aye
Councilman Greenfield Aye
Councilwoman Lyon Aye
Councilman Rasmussen Aye
Councilman Silverthome Aye
Councilwoman Winter Aye