2.36.075 Continuity of county government.
(1) In accordance with chapter 42.14 RCW, the continued operation of county government shall be assured in the event of an emergency or disaster as follows:
(a) If the emergency or disaster reduces the number of members of the county council, then those members who are available for duty shall have full authority to act in all matters as the county council. In the event no member of the county council is available for duty, then those elected county officials as are available for duty shall jointly act as the county council and shall possess by majority vote the full authority of the county council.
(b) If the executive is unavailable, the powers and duties of the office shall be discharged by the following officers in the following order:
(i) Deputy executive;
(ii) Director of the department.
(c) Elected county officers, other than the executive and members of the county council, are authorized and directed to designate one or more temporary interim successors to the office of such officer in the event the officer is unavailable for duty during an emergency or disaster.
(d) The county executive shall, subject to such rules as the executive may adopt, permit each appointed county officer to designate one or more temporary interim successors of such officer in the event the officer is unavailable for duty during an emergency or disaster.
(e) Any person succeeding an elected or appointed official pursuant to this section shall discharge the duties of that office until such time as the elected or appointed officer is available for duty or a regular successor is appointed by the ordinary means applicable to the office.
(2) Any county officer succeeding to an office on a temporary interim basis pursuant to this section shall discharge the duties of that office only until such time as the elected or appointed officer is available for duty or a regular successor is appointed by the ordinary means applicable to the office.
(3) In this section, the term "unavailable" means either that a vacancy in the office exists or that the lawful incumbent of the office is absent or unable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office following a declaration of existing emergency by the governor or the governor’s successor. (Added by Ord. 02-104, Jan. 8, 2003, Eff date Jan. 20, 2003; Amended by Amended Ord. 19-027, July 10, 2019, Eff date July 28, 2019).