(a) The Mayor may, in times of public emergency, or when existing circumstances or state of facts presents imminent and substantial danger of bodily harm to large numbers of people and/or widespread destruction of property, such as, but not to be limited to natural disorders caused by an act of God, excessive snowfall or rain, explosions, fires, tumult, diffusing explosive vapors, diffusing dangerous chemicals or liquids, civil emergency, power failures or aircraft accidents, proclaim in writing a state of emergency and coincident to the proclamation, the Mayor shall issue notice of a special meeting of Council to be held within twelve hours of the time of the proclamation.
(b) As part of such proclamation or by subsequent written order after such proclamation is issued, the Mayor may, in his discretion as he deems necessary to the public safety:
(1) Delineate the boundaries of any area threatened by emergency condition and restrict or prohibit anyone from entering such area except when carrying on necessary and legitimate pursuits, and control and regulate movement within and from such area;
(2) Establish a curfew within such area under regulations set out by the Mayor or Council and prohibit persons from being out-of-doors during such curfew;
(3) (EDITOR’S NOTE: Former subsection (b)(3) was repealed by Ordinance 2020-11, passed October 19, 2020.)
(c) When the danger has passed, the Mayor or Council shall forthwith make a proclamation that the emergency has ended and any proclamation, order or regulation issued pursuant to this section shall then become void.
(d) The powers conferred by this section are in addition to any other power which may be conferred by law. Nothing in this section shall be construed to modify or limit such authority, powers, duties and responsibilities of any officer or public official as may be provided by law. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit suspension of the privilege to a writ of habeas corpus.
(e) Whoever violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(Ord. 653. Passed 11-17-69.)
(Ord. 653. Passed 11-17-69.)