(A) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
CURFEW. A prohibition against any person walking, running, loitering, standing or motoring upon any alley, street, highway, public property or vacant premises within the corporate limits of the city except officials of any governmental unit and persons officially designated to duty with reference to said civil emergency.
EMERGENCY.
(a) A riot of unlawful assembly characterized by the use of actual force or violence or any threat to use force if accompanied by immediate power to execute by three or more persons acting together without authority of law; or
(b) Any natural disaster, epidemic, or manmade calamity, including outbreak of disease, flood, conflagration, cyclone, tornado, earthquake or explosion, or eminent threat of any of those events within the corporate limits of the city, resulting in or threatening the death or injury of persons or the destruction of property to such an extent that extraordinary measures must be taken to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
(B) Declaration. Whenever an emergency, as defined in division (A) of this section exists, the Mayor is authorized to declare the existence of a Local State of Emergency by means of a written declaration of the Mayor, under oath, setting forth the facts which constitute the emergency, describing the nature of the emergency and declaring that a Local State of Emergency exists in accordance with the definitions set forth in this section. This declaration must be filed with the Municipal Clerk as soon as practicable after issuance.
(C) Curfew authorized. After proclamation of a Local State of Emergency by the Mayor, he or she may order a general curfew applicable to such geographical areas of the city or to the city as a whole, as he or she deems reasonable and advisable, and applicable during such hours of the day or night as he or she deems necessary in the interest of the public safety and welfare.
(D) Orders authorized. After the proclamation of a Local State of Emergency, the Mayor may also, in the interest of public safety and welfare, and to address this issue caused threatened by emergency, make take any and all of the following actions by executive order during the state of emergency:
(1) All actions reasonably necessary to respond to the emergency;
(2) Approve previously appropriated expenditures of the city for the purpose of continuing the operations of the municipality;
(3) In the event the Local State of Emergency extends beyond the current fiscal year and a new budget has not been approved, the Mayor shall be authorized to approve new spending by the city during the existence of the Local State of Emergency;
(4) Order the closing of all retail liquor stores, including taverns and private clubs or portions thereof wherein the consumption of intoxicating liquor and beer is permitted;
(5) Order the discontinuance of the sale of alcoholic liquor by any wholesaler or retailer;
(6) Order the discontinuance of selling, distributing or giving away gasoline or other liquid flammable or combustible products in any container other than a gasoline tank properly affixes to a motor vehicle;
(7) Order the discontinuance of selling, distributing, dispensing or giving away of any firearms or ammunition of any character whatsoever; and
(8) Order the closing of any other business establishment anywhere within the city for the period of the emergency as the Mayor determines to be necessary.
(E) Duration. The declaration herein authorized shall be effective until the adjournment of the next regular or special meeting of the City Council, whichever comes first, unless sooner terminated by a proclamation of the Mayor or his or her Emergency Interim Successor, indicating that the civil emergency no longer exists. The Mayor or his or her Emergency Interim Successor, shall have the power to re-proclaim the existence of an emergency on the 15th and 31st (or 30th) of each month, during the time said emergency exists.
(F) Notice. Upon issuing the declaration herein authorized, the Municipal Clerk shall notify the news media situated within the city, and shall cause at least four copies of the proclamation declaring the existence of the emergency and any curfew to be posted at the following places within the city: the City Hall, the police station, the post office, and in the area of any curfew.
(G) Violations. Any person violating the provisions of this section or executive orders issues pursuant hereto shall be guilty of an offense against the city and shall be punished as provided by Title XIII of the Markham Code of Ordinances.
(H) Effect on other ordinances. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to impair the powers contained in this code, giving power to the police and fire departments, but shall be construed together with existing ordinance now in effect for the safety and welfare of the citizens of the city.
(Prior Code, § 38.25) (Ord. 68-O-684, passed - -1968; Ord. 20-O-2254, passed 3-18-2020)