2020-017 - Ordinance Extending the Mayor's Declaration of Local Disaster for thirty days or until June 25ORDINANCE N0. 2020-017
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS, EXTENDING THE MAYOR'S DECLARATION OF LOCAL
DISASTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND ORDER DATED
MARCH 19, 2020, AS EXTENDED BY RESOLUTION NO. 2020-011
AND BY ORDINANCE NO. 2020-014, FOR AN ADDITIONAL THIRTY
(30) DAYS; REPEALING THE EXTENSION OF THE CURFEW FOR
JUVENILES CONTAINED IN SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER NO. 1; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT;
AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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 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, 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 May 10, 2020, the number of reported cases in the State
of Texas had risen to 37,860 with 1049 deaths; and
WHEREAS, the first confirmed case in Lamar County, Texas was
announced on March 19, 2020, and WHEREAS, as of May 10, 2020, there were
a total of 96 confirmed cases in the county; and
WHEREAS, as of May 10, 2020, there have been 5 deaths related to
COVID-19 in Lamar County; 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 287 in
the State of Texas as of April 13, 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, including the
quarantine of individuals, groups of individuals, and property and,
additionally, including compelling individuals, groups of individuals, or
property to undergo additional health measures that prevent or control the
spread of disease; 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 said declaration has been extended twice and is in full
force and effect; and
WHEREAS, on March 26, 2020, in Resolution No. 2020-011, City Council
extended the Declaration and Order for an additional thirty days until April 26,
2020 and adopted Lamar County Commissioner's Court Resolution No. R2020-
007 and incorporated same by reference; and
WHEREAS, on March 31, 2020, pursuant to the authority granted to him
by the City Council in Resolution No. 2020-011, the Mayor issued Supplemental
Mayor's Local Disaster for Public Health Emergency Order No. 1
("Supplemental Order No. 1"), included in which was an extension of the
existing curfew for minors to run from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Monday through
Sunday; and
WHEREAS, on April 13, 2020 by Ordinance 2020-014, the City Council
extended the declaration of disaster and all orders and supplemental orders
until May 26,2020; and
WHEREAS, Governor Greg Abbott has issued several executive orders
relating to COVID-19, the most recent having been issued on April 27, 2020,
which restrict certain areas of daily life and of the conduct of commerce in the
State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, it is legally necessary for the City Council to extend the
declaration of disaster an additional thirty (30) days to be eligible for certain
state and federal disaster aid relating to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, therefore, the City Council finds that it is in the best interest
of the residents of the city to extend said declaration of disaster for an
additional thirty (30) days, or until June 25, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. unless
otherwise rescinded, amended, modified, or superseded;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DECLARED, ORDERED AND ORDAINED
pursuant to the authority granted in the Texas Disaster Act of Texas
Government code Chapter 418, as follows:
SECTION 1. The findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are
hereby in all things approved.
SECTION 2. The Mayor's Declaration of a local state of disaster made
pursuant to Section 418.108 (a) of the Texas Government Code, as extended by
Resolution No. 2020-011 and as extended by Ordinance No. 2020-014, is
hereby extended for an additional thirty (30) days, or until June 25, 2020 at
11:59 p.m. under the terms contained herein.
SECTION 3. Section 2, "Curfew Regulations for Children Extended," in
Supplemental Mayor's Local Disaster for Public Health Emergency Order No. 1,
is hereby repealed effective immediately. The "Curfew Regulations for
Children" set forth in the City of Paris Code of Ordinances in Chapter 21, Article
III as they existed prior to the issuance of Supplemental Oder No. 1 remain in
full force and effect.
SECTION 4. By this Declaration and ordinance, the City of Paris'
Emergency Management Plan remains activated and all other statutory powers
vested in the Mayor and all officers of the City of Paris to act in this local state
of disaster continue to be activated. This Declaration shall also activate all
recovery and rehabilitation aspects of applicable local and inter -jurisdictional
emergency management plans and authorizes the furnishing of all aid and
assistance as deemed necessary or desirable by those administering such
plans;
SECTION S. By this Declaration and ordinance, the City Council
declares all rules and regulations that may inhibit or prevent prompt response
to this threat be suspended for the duration of this declaration and any
extension thereof.
SECTION 6. Pursuant to the authority granted to the Paris City Mayor
under the Texas Disaster Act of Texas Government Code Chapter 418, the
Mayor shall exercise any and all necessary powers set out thereunder and the
Mayor hereby authorizes the use of all available resources of city government
and political subdivisions to assist in the City of Paris' response to this disaster.
SECTION 7. Pursuant to the authority granted under the laws of the
State of Texas, the City of Paris may take all legal actions necessary to protect
the health of persons in Lamar County, Texas.
SECTION 8. Pursuant to Section 418.108 (b) of the Texas Government
Code, the state of local disaster shall continue for an additional period of not
more than thirty (30) days from the expiration of Ordinance No. 2020-014, or
until June 25, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., unless continued or renewed again by the City
Council.
SECTION 9. That the requirements and recommendations contained in
the declaration and extended by Resolution No. 2020-001, and Ordinance No.
2020-014, shall remain in full force and effect until June 25, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.
unless otherwise rescinded, amended, or extended by City Council.
SECTION 10. A violation of this extended Declaration of local disaster is
punishable as a Class C misdemeanor by a fine not to exceed $500.00.
SECTION 11. In the event the conditions improve between date of
adoption and June 25, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., the City Council shall re-evaluate this
Declaration at that time.
SECTION 12. Pursuant to section 418.108(c) of the Government Code,
this Declaration of a local state of disaster for public health emergency shall be
given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the City
Clerk.
SECTION 13. Pursuant to section 418.108(d) of the Government Code,
this Declaration of a local state of disaster activated the City of Paris Emergency
Management Plan, and said Emergency Management Plan remains activated by
this action by City Council.
SECTION 14. That this Declaration and ordinance shall take effect
immediately from and after its issuance.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 11th day of May, 2020.
APPROVED AS TO FORM
Stephakiie H. Harris, City Attorney
Stevell �����lifford,
Mayor