(a) When water as a result of any storm event or other cause begins to collect in the City streets, highways and roadways so as to encroach upon the sidewalks or pool in or cover any street, highway or roadway in the area described in subsection (b) hereof, or in the event advance notification is received by the Chief of Police of the City that such a storm event is likely to occur, the Chief of Police or his or her designee shall notify the City Manager or his or her designee, who will declare a state of flooding emergency and reference the area described in subsection (b) hereof. Barricades and signs prohibiting entry by vehicle into the area described in subsection (b) hereof will be strategically placed. Announcements of the flooding emergency will be made on local radio and on the public access television channel. Police, law enforcement officers and other safety personnel will be placed strategically on the main arterial streets through the area described in subsection (b) hereof to provide notification and close the area to vehicular traffic.
(b) The flood emergency area shall be defined as follows:
(1) Hickory, Illinois, Jackson and King Streets, from 9th Avenue to 14th Avenue, and 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Avenues, between Hickory Street and Linden Street.
(2) 5th, 6th and 7th Avenues, from Illinois Street to Linden Street, and Linden Street, from 5th Avenue to 7th Avenue.
(3) 10th Avenue, from the intersection of Maple Street to the intersection of Osage Street.
(4) 13th Avenue, between the intersections of Illinois Street and Grant Street.
(5) Elm Street, from 7th Avenue to the Burlington Railroad Overpass.
(c) With the exception of law enforcement and emergency service vehicles, no person shall operate any motor vehicle in or upon the streets, highways or roadways described in subsection (b) hereof during any flood emergency without written authorization or a permit issued by a law enforcement officer.
(d) No person shall drive around any barricade placed upon any street, highway or roadway to designate closure due to flooding or other emergency.
(e) No person shall fail to obey the order of any police officer or other law enforcement officer closing the area described in subsection (b) hereof to vehicular traffic.
(f) Property owners, tenants and business employees may apply for written authorization or a permit, in advance, to the Police Chief, a police officer or other law enforcement officer stationed on the major arterial streets at the boundaries of the flood emergency area described in subsection (b) hereof to operate motor vehicles in the area described in subsection (b) hereof, but are prohibited from such operation absent written authorization.
(Ord. 1417. Passed 7-27-99.)