2000-065-ORD AMENDING SECTION 1-6 OF CODE OF ORDINANCES ENTITLED "GENERAL PENALTY; CONTINUING VIOLATIONS"
ORDINANCE NO. 2000-065
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
PARIS, TEXAS, AMENDING SECTION 1-6 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PARIS, ENTITLED "GENERAL
PENALTY; CONTINUING VIOLATIONS," TO INCLUDE FINES FOR
CASES ARISING UNDER ORDINANCES GOVERNING FIRE SAFETY,
ZONING, OR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION, INCLUDING
DUMPING OF REFUSE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT;
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Section 1-6 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas,
includes provisions assessing and setting fines for violations of the City Code where such fines are
not otherwise stipulated specifically in said Code; and,
WHEREAS, the general penalty clause, Section 1-6 of the Code of Ordinances of the City
of Paris, has not been revised since August of 1987; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council deems it appropriate to amend said Section 1-6 of the Code
of Ordinances, the general penalty clause, to include fines established under state law as appropriate
for inclusion in said general penalty clause; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS,
TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby in all things
approved,
Section 2. That Section 1-6 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas,
entitled "General penalty; continuing violations," shall be and is hereby amended to incorporate
changes authorized by state law for certain fines related to violations of City ordinances governing
fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation, including dumping of refuse, such fines as
authorized by state law to be in an amount not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000,00), such
amended Section 1-6 to read as follows:
"Sec. 1-6. General penalty; continuing violations.
"Whenever in this Code or in any ordinance of the City Council an act is prohibited
or made or declared to be unlawful or an offense or a misdemeanor, or wherever in
such Code or ordinance the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act
is declared to be unlawful, and no specific penalty is provided therefor, the violation
of any such provision of this Code or any such ordinance shall be punished by a fine
not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000,00) in all cases arising under ordinances
governing fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation, including dumping of
refuse, and not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) in all other cases; provided
however, that no penalty shall be greater or less than the penalty provided for the
same or a similar offense under the laws of the state, Each day any violation of this
Code or any ordinance shall continue shall constitute a separate offense,"
Section 3. That this ordinance shall be effective on January 1,2001.
Section 4. That the adoption of this ordinance shall not affect actions or causes of actions
currently pending related to the enforcement of violations of City codes and ordinances, it being the
intention of the City Council of the City of Paris that the amendment of the ordinance as included
herein shall be effective and apply only prospectively to those violations of the Code of Ordinances
of the City of Paris for which citations are issued subsequent to the adoption and effective date
hereof.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 11th day of December, 2000,
~JL~~>/
Michael J, Pfies er, yor
ATTEST:
~~"~~
Mattie Cunningham, City Clerk
Larry W, henk, City Attorney