Extension of Mayor's Declaration of Local Disaster to January 14, 2021ORDINANCE N0. 2020-035
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 NOS. 2020-014, 2020-017, 2020-023, AND
2020-030 FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120)
DAYS; 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, the first confirmed case in Lamar County, Texas was
announced on March 19, 2020, and WHEREAS, as of July 20, there were 483
confirmed cases in the county, and WHEREAS, as of September 6, 2 02 0, there
were 961 confirmed cases in the county; and
WHEREAS, as of September 6, 2020, there have been 26 deaths related
to COVID-19 in Lamar County; and
WHEREAS, the continued worldwide spread of COVID-19 presents an
imminent threat of widespread illness, which requires emergency action; 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 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, since that time, the City Council has extended the
declaration of disaster by Ordinance Nos. 2020-014, 2020-017, 2020-023, and
2020-030; and
WHEREAS, it is advisable for the City Council to extend the declaration
of disaster an additional one hundred twenty (120) days in case such
declaration is necessary 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 one hundred twenty (120) days, or until January 24, 2021 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 Nos. 2020-014, 2020-
017, 2020-023, and 2020-030 is hereby extended for an additional one
hundred twenty (120) days, or until January 14, 2021 at 11:59 p.m., under the
terms contained herein.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 S. 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 6. 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 7. 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 sixty (60) days, or until September 26, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., unless
continued or renewed again by the City Council.
SECTION 8. That the recommendations contained in the declaration and
extended by Resolution No. 2020-001 and Ordinance Nos. 2020-014, 2020-017,
and 2020-023 shall remain in full force and effect until September 26, 2020 at
11:59 p.m. unless otherwise rescinded, amended, or extended by City Council.
SECTION 9. In the event the conditions improve between date of
adoption and January 24, 2021 at 11:59 p.m., the City Council shall re-evaluate
this declaration at that time.
SECTION 10. 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 11. 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 12. That this Declaration and ordinance shall take effect
immediately from and after its issuance.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 14th day of September, 2020.
Cl
ATTEST: r G
�..,�� a ,.. �% '•: "�" .—
e Ellis, City Clerk
e H. Harris, City Attorney
Paula Portugal, Mayor Pilch -Tem
`SNE