Purpose.
Milwaukee City Charter § 6-01
in effect6-01. Purpose.
1. PURPOSE. By reason of the existing and increasing possibility of an emergency existing within the city whenever conditions arise by reason of a riot or civil commotion, a disaster, or an imminent threat of a disaster that impairs transportation, food or fuel supplies, medical care, fire, health or police protection, or other critical systems of the city, and to insure that preparations of this city will be adequate to deal with such disasters; to provide for the common defense; and to protect the lives and property and to preserve the peace, health, safety and general welfare, it is declared to be necessary:
a. To create the office of emergency management and homeland security.
b. To confer upon the mayor, the common council and upon other officers of the city certain extraordinary powers in a period of emergency.
c. To provide for cooperation or mutual aid with other political subdivisions, private agencies and individuals relative to emergency management activities, in a manner that is consistent with the incident command system and the city=s emergency response plan.
2. POLICY. It is further declared to be the purpose of this chapter and the policy of the city that organization, training and planning for emergency management and homeland security are the continuing responsibility of each department or office of city government. Emergency management and homeland security planning and preparation shall follow insofar as possible the normal lines of governmental administration. Such planning and preparation shall provide for the maximum use of volunteer organizations and volunteer efforts on the part of all residents of the city.
3. EXECUTIVE POWERS. It is further declared to be the purpose of this chapter and the policy of the city to permit the temporary suspension by ordinance, resolution or executive proclamation of the requirements of any city ordinance or resolution during a period of emergency which the common council or mayor deems necessary to allow immediate response to meet the exigencies and needs of the extraordinary conditions existing, and to grant to the mayor during such period broad executive powers to discharge the responsibility and duties placed on him by statute and this chapter.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/CH6.pdf#page=1Fetched: 10/26/2026