Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2641 to Revise Westminster Municipal Code Chapter 2.48, Currently Entitled, “Emergency Services Council.”
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From: Christine Cordon, City Manager
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by*: Scott Porter, City Attorney
*Staff reports prepared by staff on behalf of members of the City Council do not reflect the opinions of staff and are generated in collaboration with the requesting council member(s).
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Conduct second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2641 entitled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA, UPDATING CHAPTER 2.48 (EMERGENCY SERVICES COUNCIL) OF TITLE 2 OF THE WESTMINSTER MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE DISASTER COUNCIL AND DECLARATIONS OF LOCAL EMERGENCIES,” read by title only and waive full reading.
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BACKGROUND
At the May 27, 2026 Special City Council meeting, District 2 Council Member Carlos Manzo requested that staff return with an ordinance to remove sexist language from Chapter 2.48. Staff indicated that it would return with an ordinance consistent with this request. Since then, staff has taken the time to analyze the extent to which there were any issues with the ordinance that were noticed due to the GKN incident; staff has suggested only very minor additional revisions.
The proposed ordinance would:
• Remove sexist language.
• Rename the chapter as “Emergency Operations” rather than “Emergency Services Council.”
• Rename the “emergency services council” as the “disaster council.”
At the September 30, 2026 City Council special meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to introduce the Ordinance for first reading.
Per Government Code Section 36935, the Ordinance is being presented for second reading and adoption. If the City Council adopts the ordinance, the City Clerk will certify its passage. The ordinance will become effective 30 days following its adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact of the recommended actions is minimal, and funds have been budgeted in Fiscal Year 2025-2026 in Account 100-12000-44707 (Advertising) and 100-12000-43090 (Contracts - Quality Code) to cover costs for publication of Westminster Municipal Code amendments.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The City Council previously introduced the Ordinance for first reading. To adopt this ordinance would remove sexist language from Municipal Code Chapter 2.48 and make other minor changes.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Final Draft Ordinance
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager