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A Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, authorizing the Chief Executive to study and implement a Countywide program for enlisting the assistance of volunteers and local businesses to aid in flood remediation efforts in municipalities or areas prone to experiencing flood damage.
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WHEREAS, certain areas of Allegheny County have proven to be prone to flooding, as repeatedly demonstrated by events such as Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and the storms of August 2007; and
WHEREAS, the damages to property from flooding in those areas prone to flooding are valued in the millions of dollars, and flooding continues to pose an ever present danger to the safety of individuals living in those areas; and
WHEREAS, the flooding events in recent years result in enormous government expenditures by our federal, state and county governments, funded with revenue derived from the public; and
WHEREAS, government plans and efforts to prevent future flooding events have been slow to materialize and may or may not be effective; and
WHEREAS, the collective volunteer efforts of individuals may have a very substantial impact if undertaken on a large scale by many of the property owners within the affected watersheds; and
WHEREAS, it is the sense of Council that individuals and property owners would undertake substantial volunteer efforts if educated as to their beneficial effects and if encouraged to do so by County leadership; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of Council to encourage proactive flood remediation efforts by any means practicable under the County's budgetary constraints, and specifically through the use of volunteers, including individuals and property owners, to conduct remediation efforts and requesting the assistance of local businesses to provide assistance, materials, or other services consistent with existing stormwater plans and practices;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1. Countywide Volunteer Flood Remediation Program Authorized.
Council hereby authorizes the Chief Executive to establish a Countywide Volunteer Flood Remediation Program. Such program shall include, but not be limited to, the following activities to be performed by the County:
A. The education of property owners as to collective actions and volunteer efforts;
B. The solicitation of individuals to perform flood remediation tasks on a voluntary basis;
C. Requests to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and any other government or private entity deemed appropriate for assistance in formulating volunteer flood remediation strategies;
D. Solicitations to businesses or other entities located within the County for assistance, materials, or other services consistent with remediation strategies developed;
E. Publicizing the need for and effectiveness of flood remediation activities by individuals within the County;
F. Training volunteers and property owners to perform the necessary tasks, and administering the volunteers in performing such tasks.
Section 2. Pursuit of Volunteer Flood Remediation Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreements Authorized.
The Chief Executive is hereby authorized to conduct discussions with any municipality within the County for the purposes of developing an intergovernmental cooperation agreement governing the activities of the County Volunteer Flood Remediation Program, provided that any agreement reached be subject to the approval of Council as required under the terms of the General Local Government Code, 53 P.S. §2301 et. seq. and Allegheny County Ordinance No. 54-05-OR.
Section 3. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Ordinance which shall be in full force and effect.
Section 4. Repealer. Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Ordinance.