By Brandon Brown | Phoenix Business Journal
After hours of debate in executive session, Phoenix City Council agreed unanimously Friday afternoon to approve Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego‘s declaration of a “local emergency,” but stopped short of granting her more power during the coronavirus outbreak.
Gallego had first declared the state of “great emergency” on March 17, closing down Phoenix bars and restricting restaurants to takeout, drive-thru and delivery. But some on Council felt the declaration gave Gallego too much power.
The Council met for hours Wednesday night and again Friday afternoon in executive session to determine what to do, ending on declaring a “local emergency” rather than a “great emergency,” meaning Gallego does not get power to declare proclamations or make major changes to how the city operates without Council approval.
Gallego’s original order to close all Phoenix bars and make restaurants only operate in a takeout or delivery mode is now moot thanks to a wider sweeping declaration from Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey.
