Supplemental Mayor's Local Disaster for Public Health Emergency Order No. 1 - 03/31/2020SUPPLEMENTAL MAYOR'S LOCAL DISASTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
.EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 1
SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS INSTITUTING REVISED JUVENILE CURFEW HOURS AND
PROHIBITING GATHERINGS OF MORE THAN TEN (10) PEOPLE IN
BOTH CONFINED AND OUTDOOR SPACES; PROVIDING FOR
ENFORCEMENT; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY.
WHEREAS, beginning in December, 2019, a novel coronavirus, now
designated SARS-CoV2 which causes the disease COVID-19, has spread
through the world and has now been declared a global pandemic by the World
Health Organization; and
WHEREAS, on March 5, 2020, the World Health Organization Director
General urged aggressive preparedness and activation of emergency plans to
aggressively change the trajectory of this epidemic; and
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is closely
monitoring the growing number of COVID-19 cases that have spread into the
United States; and
WHEREAS, 7,038 cases of COVID-19 and 97 deaths from COVID-19 have
been reported in the United States according to the CDC as of 4:00 P.M. on
March 18,2020; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott reported a
total of 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State of Texas and as of March
18, 2020 the total confirmed cases in the State of Texas is 83; and
WHEREAS, by Wednesday March 30, 2020, the number of reported
cases in the State of Texas had risen to 2,877; and
WHEREAS, the first confirmed case in Lamar County, Texas was
announced on March 19, 2020, and WHEREAS, there have since been two
additional confirmed cases in the county, one of which was community -
acquired; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 virus spreads between people who are in
close contact with one another through respiratory droplets produced when an
infected person coughs or sneezes; and
WHEREAS, symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and
shortness of breath. In some cases the virus has caused death, including 38 in
the State of Texas as of March 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, large gatherings of unidentifiable individuals without
necessary mitigation for the spread of infection may pose a risk for the spread
of infectious disease; and
WHEREAS, the continued worldwide spread of COVID-19 presents an
imminent threat of widespread illness, which requires emergency action; and
WHEREAS, extraordinary measures must be taken to contain COVID-
19 and prevent its spread throughout the City of Paris; and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, the Hon. Steven J. Clifford, M.D, Mayor of
the City of Paris, Texas, issued a declaration of Local Disaster for Public Health
Emergency and accompanying Order (the "Declaration and Order') designed to
halt the spread of COVID-19 in the city and in Lamar County; and
WHEREAS, on the same date, Lamar County issued its own declaration
of disaster and order, and thereafter, by action of the Lamar County
Commissioners Court on Monday, March 23, 2020, extended said order for an
additional 30 days; and
WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020, the Lamar County Commissioners Court
adopted Resolution No. R2020-007, "A Resolution of the Commissioners Court
of Lamar County, Texas Recommending Appropriate Measures to Contain and
Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 for the Health, Safety, and Welfare of the
Community of its Citizens; and
WHEREAS, on March 26, 2020, the City Council of the City of Paris, Texas
extended said Declaration and Order for a period of thirty (30) days in
Resolution No. 2020-011, and WHEREAS, in Section 4 of said resolution, the
City Council granted authority to the Mayor to exercise all necessary powers
granted under the Texas Disaster Act of Texas, Texas Government Code Chapter
418; and
WHEREAS, the Emergency Management Plan of the City of Paris, Texas
enacted pursuant to said Chapter 418, Government Code, allows for the
restriction of the movement of people; and
WHEREAS, conditions have worsened with respect to COVID-19 in the
city, county, state and nation since March 26, 2020; and
WHEREAS, while the majority of citizens in the City of Paris are avoiding
gatherings of more than ten (10) people and are observing social distancing
recommendations, there is a minority of the citizenry who are ignoring said
recommendations, thus endangering not only themselves, but others as well;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY TEXAS GOVERNMENT
CODE CHAPTER 418, THE CITY'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN, AND
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, HEREBY FIND AND ORDER:
Section 1. That the findings and recitations set out in the preamble to
this Order are found to be true and are hereby adopted by the Mayor and made
a part hereof for all purposes.
Section 2. Curfew Re ulations for Children Extended. Effective as of
10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, the "Curfew Regulations for Children,"
set forth in the City of Paris Code of Ordinances in Chapter 21, Article III, a copy
of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference,
shall be extended such that it shall be unlawful for any child sixteen (16) years
of age or less (under seventeen (17)) to intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or
with criminal negligence be in or remain in or upon the streets, a public place,
or an establishment within the city limits between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and
6:00 a.m. on Monday through Sunday. All other provisions of Chapter 21,
Article III, including affirmative defenses to prosecution, shall remain in full
force and effect, except that a child or a parent or guardian may be charged with
an offense beginning with the first violation of the curfew, and to that extent
the provisions of Sec. 21-55 and 21-56 to the contrary are suspended.
Section 3. Gatherin s of More Than Ten 10 Peotile Prohibited.
Effective as of 10:00 p.m. on March 31, 2020, gatherings of more ten (10) people
within the city limits of the City of Paris are prohibited. A gathering is any
indoor or outdoor event that brings together or is likely to bring together more
than ten (10) people at the same time in a single space where people are
present and within six (6) feet of one another, without regard to the purpose of
the gathering. For the purposes of this section, however, a gathering does not
include the following, so long as visitors are general not within arm's length of
one another for extended periods:
Spaces where 10 or more persons may be in transit or waiting for transit
such as airports, bus stations or terminals; (ii) office space or
residential buildings; (iii) grocery stores, shopping malls, or other retail
establishments where large numbers of people are present but it is
unusual for them to be within arm's length of one another for extended
periods; and (iv) hospitals and medical facilities. In all such settings,
Mayor Clifford and the Office of the Lamar County Judge and the Paris -
Lamar County Health Department recommends following the attached
Social Distancing Recommendations, and personal hygiene measures
such as hand sanitizer and tissues should be provided when possible.
Section 4. Enforcement. The Paris Police Department is hereby
authorized to enforce this order. A violation of this order regarding extended
curfew hours for children shall be punished in accordance with Code of
Ordinances Section 21.55 except that a child and his or her parent or guardian
may be cited for an offense upon the first violation of the curfew regulations. A
violation of this order regarding engaging in gatherings of more than (10)
people shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00 in accordance with
the City of Paris Code of Ordinances Sec. 1-6.
Section S. Effective Date and Duration. This Supplemental order shall
go into effect at 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, and shall remain
effective for the duration of the Mayor's Declaration of Local Disaster for Public
Health Emergency and Order dated March 19, 2020 and as extended and
Amended by the City Council of the City of Paris in Resolution No. 2020-011,
and throughout any further extensions thereof unless otherwise repealed or
withdrawn.
Section 6. Postin . The City of Paris shall post this Supplemental Order
No.1 on its website. In addition, the owner, manager, or operator of any facility
that is likely to be impacted by this Order is strongly encouraged to post a copy
of this order onsite.
Section 7. Severability. If any subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or
word of this Supplemental Order No. 1 or application of it to any person,
structure, gathering, or circumstance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional
by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, then such decisions will not
affect the validity of the remainder of the order.
ORDERED this 31St day of March, 2020.
..� . ,,,
Ste e�,:. Clifford, M.h ., Mayor
ATTEST:
N
a ice Ellis, . Ci
' City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM
IT�
Stet'. ha ie H. Harris, City Attorney
FY hib j4 A
ARTICLE III. CURFEW REGULATIONS FOR CHILDREN
Sec. 21-51. Short title.
This Article shall be known and may be cited as the 'Curfew Ordinance.' (Ordinance 2016-009, sec. 2, adopted
3/14/16)
Sec. 21-52. Purpose and findings.
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this article is to protect the welfare of children by:
(1) Reducing the likelihood that children will be the victims of criminal acts during curfew hours;
(2) Reducing the likelihood that children will become involved in criminal acts during curfew hours;
and
(3) Aiding parents, guardians, custodians, or other responsible persons, in carrying out their
responsibility to exercise supervision of the children entrusted to their care.
(b) Findings. In determining that a need exists for this article, the city council finds and determines as
follows:
(1) The city is a stable family community where parental responsibility for the whereabouts of children
is the norm.
(2) During nocturnal hours children are at greater risk for victimization or becoming involved in
delinquent or criminal behavior.
(3) As parental control increases, the likelihood of children being victimized or becoming involved in
delinquent or criminal behavior decreases.
(4) The victimization of children and involvement of children in crime and violent crime have reached
an unacceptable and alarming level compelling the city council to adopt this article for the public good,
safety, and welfare.
(Ordinance 2016-009, sec. 2, adopted 3/14/16)
Sec. 21-53. Definitions.
For the purposes of this article, the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the following
meaning given herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future,
words in the masculine include the feminine, words in the plural number include the singular, and words in the
singular number include the plural. The word 'shall' is always mandatory and not merely directory.
City means the City of Paris.
Child means a person who is under seventeen (17) years of age.
Criminal ngg1ig,ence. A person acts with criminal negligence, or is criminally negligent, with respect to circumstances
surrounding his conduct or the result of his conduct when he ought to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable
risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such nature and degree that the failure
to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under
all the circumstances as viewed from the actor's standpoint.
Custodian means the adult with whom the child resides.
Emergency means an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate
action. The term includes, but is not limited to, a fire, a natural disaster, an automobile accident, or any situation
requiring immediate action to prevent serious bodily injury or loss of life.
Establishment means any privately owned place of business operated for a profit to which the public is invited,
including, but not limited to, any place of amusement or entertainment.
Guardian means the person who, under court order, is the guardian of the person of the child or the public or private
agency with whom the child has been placed by a court.
Intentionall�r. A person acts intentionally, or with intent, with respect to the nature of his conduct or to a result of his
conduct when it is his conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result.
Knowingly. A person acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to the nature of his conduct or to
circumstances surrounding his conduct when he is aware of the nature of his conduct or that the circumstances
exist. A person acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to a result of his conduct when he is aware that his
conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result.
Law enforcement officer means a city police officer.
Motorized wvehicle means a self-propelled vehicle subject to registration under the Certificate of Title Act (Article
6687-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
Other resonsible erson means an adult, eighteen (18) years of age or older, other than a parent, guardian or
custodian, in whose care and under whose individualized supervision the child has been placed by the parent,
guardian, or custodian, and under circumstances which demonstrate actions indicating oversight and concern for
the child.
Parent means the mother, the father, or an adoptive parent, but does not include an individual whose parental
rights have been terminated.
Public olace means any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access and includes, but
is not limited to, streets, highways, and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings,
transport facilities and shops.
Recklessi . A person acts recklessly, or is reckless, with respect to circumstances surrounding his conduct or the
result of his conduct when he is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the
circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that its disregard
constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the
circumstances as viewed from the actor's standpoint.
Remain means to walk, run, stand, drive, ride about, stay or be otherwise present.
Street means a way or place, of whatever nature, open to the use of the public as a matter of right for purposes of
vehicular travel or, in the case of a sidewalk thereof, for pedestrian travel. The term `street' includes the legal right-
of-way, including, but not limited to, the traffic lanes, curb, sidewalk, whether paved or unpaved, and any grass
plots or other grounds found within the legal right-of-way of a street. The term "street" applies irrespectively of what
the legal right-of-way is formally named or called, whether alley, avenue, court, road or otherwise.
Time of night means the prevailing standard of time, whether Central Standard Time or Central Daylight Savings
Time, generally observed at that hour by the public in the city, prima facie the time then observed in the city's police
department's communication division.
Year of aoe continues from one (1) birthday, such as the sixteenth, to (but not including) the day of the next, such
as the seventeenth birthday, making it clear that sixteen (16) or less years of age is herein treated as equivalent to
the phrase `under seventeen (17) years of age.
(Ordinance 2016-009, sec. 2, adopted 3/14/16)
Sec. 21-54. Curfew.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any child sixteen (16) years of age or less (under seventeen (17)) to
intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence be in or remain in or upon the streets, a
public place or an establishment within the city limits during the following nighttime curfew hours:
(1) From 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. the following day on any week night (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday nights);
(2) From 12:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. the same day on any weekend night (Saturday and Sunday
mornings).
(b) It shall be unlawful for any child sixteen (16) years of age or less (under seventeen (17)) to
intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence be in or remain in or upon the streets, a
public place or an establishment within the city limits during daytime curfew hours from 9:00 a.m. until
2:30 p.m. weekdays (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday).
(c) It shall be unlawful for a parent, guardian or custodian having custody and control of a child
sixteen (16) years of age or less (under seventeen (17)) to intentionally or knowingly permit or, by
insufficient control to allow such child to be in violation of the curfew imposed in subsection (a)(1), (a)(2)
or (b).
(d) It shall be unlawful for the owner, operator or other employee of an establishment to knowingly
allow a child to remain upon the premises of the establishment during daytime curfew hours (from 9:00
a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) or during nighttime curfew hours (from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00
a.m. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights or from 12:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. the
same day on any weekend night (Saturday and Sunday mornings) curfew hours.
(e) It shall be unlawful for a parent, guardian or custodian to fail to respond to any notification by a
law enforcement officer to take custody of a child, unless reasonably hindered from doing so.
(Ordinance 2016-009, sec. 2, adopted 3/14/16)
Sec. 21-55. Penalties.
(a) A child (upon proof that a written notice of violation was given to the parent, custodian or guardian
of the child for the child's first violation as set forth in subsection (b)) shall commit a first offense upon
the second violation of sectk)i)urm 21...54. For such first offense, and for any subsequent offenses, a child,
upon conviction, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) for any one (1) offense. A
municipal court may, however, defer charges against a child arising out of a violation of .�. 1-5, to
a teen court program as provided in Article 46.55 of the Code of Criminal Procedure when guidelines for
such referral, if necessary, have been approved by the juvenile court of the county.
(b) Upon the first violation by a child of segfion 21...54., the chief of police or his authorized designee,
shall give written notice of such violation to a parent, guardian, or custodian of the child with a warning
that any subsequent violation will result in full enforcement of this chapter, including enforcement of
parental responsibility and applicable penalties. Such notice shall be given by personally delivering a
copy to the parent, custodian or guardian, or by sending the notice to the parent, custodian or guardian
by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(c) A parent, guardian, or custodian (upon proof that a written notice of violation was previously
issued to them for a prior curfew violation, as set forth in subsection (b)) shall commit a first offense
upon the second violation of �
p ��etioirm 21-54 by their child or a child for which they are guardian or over
,
which they have custody. For such first offense, and for any subsequent offenses, a parent, guardian or
custodian, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) for any one (1)
offense.
(d) Jurisdiction for violation of this article shall be in the municipal court of the city.
(Ordinance 2016-009, sec. 2, adopted 3/14/16)
Sec. 21-56. Law enforcement procedure.
(a) A law enforcement officer may stop and detain a person who the officer has developed
.
reasonable suspicion to believe has committed a violation of �� _ (i.i....11 :1-"1.
(b) Prior to making an arrest or issuing a citation for a violation of this chapter, a law enforcement
officer shall inquire as to the person's age, and the reason for being on the street or in a public place, or
in an establishment within the corporate city limits during curfew hours.
(c) The law enforcement officer shall not make an arrest or issue a citation under this chapter unless
the officer reasonably believes that an offense has occurred and has determined, based upon inquiry
and investigation, that none of the affirmative defenses set forth in segfiori21-5 to the observed
violation.
(d) A law enforcement officer, upon finding or having his attention called to any child in prima facie
violation of this chapter, shall deliver the child to a parent, guardian, custodian, or other responsible
person (under appropriate circumstances) and inform the parent, guardian, custodian or other
responsible person to report to the city police department juvenile officer on a next working day so that
the department may discuss with the parent, guardian or custodian the prima facie violation and
enforcement of the chapter, including parental responsibilities and applicable penalties.
(e) Children under ten (10) years of age.
(1) A law enforcement officer, upon finding or having his attention called to any child under ten (10)
years of age in prima facie violation of this chapter, shall take the child to the city police department
juvenile officer if the child's parent, guardian, custodian or other responsible person cannot be located
for release of the child. While the child is being detained by a juvenile officer at the police department,
the juvenile officer having custody of the child shall again attempt to contact another responsible person
into whose custody the child may be released.
(2) If a law enforcement officer or a juvenile officer is unable to locate the parent, guardian, custodian,
or other responsible person to whom a child under ten (10) years of age may be released, the juvenile
officer shall notify the Texas Department of Human Services, Child Protective Services, for assistance
in finding temporary housing for the child. This procedure will be consistent with already established
procedures concerning neglected, abandoned, or abused children.
(Ordinance 2016-009, sec. 2, adopted 3/14/16)
Sec. 21-57. Affirmative defenses.
(a) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution undereg��ii�iii�.i 21-54 that:
(1) A child is accompanied by a parent, guardian, custodian or other responsible person as defined in
this chapter.
(2) A child is legally married, divorced or widowed.
(3) A child is the parent of a child.
(4) A child is on the sidewalk of his residence.
(5) A child is legally employed and is upon the premises of the child's place of employment or is
returning home, without any detour or stop, from an occupation which requires the child to remain out
beyond the curfew hours.
(6) With respect to ecti 1 1 (b), that the offense occurred during the scheduled vacation of or on
a holiday observed by the school in which the child is enrolled, or that the child has graduated from high
school or received a high school equivalency certificate, or that the child has permission to be absent
from school or be in a public place from an authorized school official. In the case of a child being
educated in a home school, a parent shall be deemed a school official.
(7) A child is attending or traveling directly to or from, without any detour or stop, an activity involving
the exercise of First Amendment right of free speech, freedom of assembly, or free exercise of religion.
Such child shall evidence bona fide proof of such exercise by carrying a written communication signed
by such child and countersigned, if practicable, by a parent, guardian, custodian, or other responsible
person, which shall state:
a. The name, address, and telephone number of such child;
b. The name, address, and telephone number of the parent, guardian, or custodian for the child;
c. The height, weight, sex, color of eyes and hair, and other relevant physical characteristics of such
child;
d. Specifying when, where, and in what manner said child will be out (during hours when this chapter
would be otherwise applicable to said child) in the exercise of a First Amendment right specified in such
communication.
(8) The child is, with the consent of the parent, guardian, or custodian of said child, engaged in
normal travel in a motorized vehicle within the city limits under circumstances not otherwise covered by
subsections (a)(5), (a)(7), (a)(9), (a)(10) or (a)(11). Such child shall evidence the bona fide proof of such
consent by carrying a written communication signed by the parent, guardian, or custodian for the child
which shall state:
a. The name, address, and telephone number of such child;
b. The name, address, and telephone number of the parent, guardian, or custodian for such child;
c. The height, weight, sex, color of eyes and hair, and other relevant physical characteristics of such
child;
d. A brief description of facts showing the applicability of this subsection (a)(8).
For purposes of this subsection, a child "engaged in normal travel in a motorized vehicle" shall be deemed to
include children who are waiting at a designated area for public transportation in an area specified in the parent's,
guardian's, or custodian's written communication of consent.
child
"engaged purposes
ts() ( ) and
cai1_µ
means a child driving
along the stree s in a lawful manner, without any detour or top, which dates clear intent
of traveling from
place of origin to place of destination.
(9) A child is engaged in interstate travel beginning, ending or passing through the city.
(10) A child is attending or traveling directly to or from, without any detour or stop, an activity that is
sponsored by an educational, religious, or other nonprofit organization within sixty (60) minutes of the
termination of the activity. Such child shall evidence bona fide proof of such activity by carrying a written
communication signed by the parent, guardian, custodian, or other responsible person, which shall
state:
a. The name, address, and telephone number of such child;
b. The name, address, and telephone number of the parent, guardian, or custodian for the child;
c. The height, weight, sex, color of eyes and hair, and other relevant physical characteristics of such
child; and,
d. a brief description of the activity and evidence that said activity is sponsored by an educational,
religious, or nonprofit organization.
(11) A child is engaged in an emergency errand, without any detour or stop, and the child has in his
possession, if practicable, a written statement signed by the parent, guardian, custodian or other
responsible person, which states that the errand is directly related to the health or safety of the parent,
guardian, custodian or other responsible person, or a family member and that describes the nature of
the errand and the safety emergency.
(12) A case of reasonable necessity and urgency has arisen such that the parent, guardian,
custodian, or other responsible person is unable to accompany the child. In such cases, the child must
carry a written communication from the parent, guardian, custodian, or other responsible person which
shall state:
a. The name, address, and telephone number of such child;
b. The name, address, and telephone number of the parent, guardian, or custodian for the child;
c. The height, weight, sex, color of eyes and hair, and other relevant physical characteristics of such
child; and,
d. A brief description of facts amounting to reasonable necessity at a designated time for a described
purpose including points of origin and destination.
(13) Each of the foregoing provisions and their several limitations, such as provisions for notification,
are severable, as hereinafter provided.
(Ordinance 2016-009, sec. 2, adopted 3/14/16)
Sec. 21-58. Enforcement.
The city police department will serve as the primary agency in the effective implementation of this chapter. This
chapter, as all other laws and ordinances, shall be enforced in a fair, equitable and nondiscriminatory manner
throughout the city. (Ordinance 2016-009, sec. 2, adopted 3/14/16)
Sec. 21-59. Continuing evaluation.
Before the third anniversary of the adoption of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived, and every third
year thereafter, the city council shall:
(1) Review the chapter's effect on the community and on the problems that the chapter was intended
to remedy;
(2) Conduct public hearings on the need to continue the chapter; and
(3) Abolish, continue, or modify the chapter..
(Ordinance 2016-009, sec. 2, adopted 3/14/16)
Secs. 21-60-21-74. Reserved.