(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires 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 a civil emergency.
EMERGENCY. (1) A riot or 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 (2) 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), 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 City 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 the issues caused or threatened by the emergency, take any or all of the following actions by executive order during the state of emergency:
(1) All actions reasonably necessary to respond to the emergency to protect the public health and safety; and
(2) Approve previously appropriated expenditures of the city for the purpose of continuing the operations of the municipality; and
(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.
(E) Duration. The declaration herein authorized shall be effective for a period of up 30 days to unless sooner terminated by a proclamation of the Mayor or his or her interim emergency successor indicating that the civil emergency no longer exists. The Mayor or his or her interim emergency successor shall, with the advice and consent of the City Council have the power to re-proclaim the existence of an emergency at the end of each 30-day period during the time said emergency exists.
(F) Notice. Upon issuing the proclamation herein authorized, the City 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 Community Center, and in the area of any curfew.
(G) Violations. Any person violating the provisions of this section or executive orders issued pursuant hereto shall be guilty of an offense against the city and shall be punished as provided by § 10.99(A).
(H) Effect on other ordinances. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to impair the powers contained in this Code, giving powers to the police and fire departments and the Office of Emergency Management, but shall be construed together with existing ordinances now in effect for the safety and welfare of the citizens of the city.
(Ord. 2020-07, passed 3-23-2020)