Whenever, in his judgment, the Mayor determines that an emergency
exists as a result of mob action or other civil disturbance, or the
threat thereof, causing or likely to cause danger of injury or damage
to persons or property, he shall have the power to impose by proclamation
of emergency any or all of the following regulations necessary to
preserve the peace and order of the City:
A.
To impose a curfew upon all or any portion of the City, thereby requiring
all persons in such designated curfew areas to forthwith remove themselves
from and to remain off the public streets, alleys, parks or other
public places during the curfew period; provided, however, that physicians,
nurses and ambulance operators performing medical services, utility
personnel maintaining essential public services, firefighters and
City-authorized or -requested law enforcement officers and personnel
may be exempted from such curfew.
B.
To order the closing of any business establishments anywhere within
the City for the period of the emergency; such businesses to include,
but not be limited to, those selling alcoholic beverages and liquors,
gasoline or firearms.
C.
To designate any public street, thoroughfare or vehicle parking area
closed to motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
D.
To call upon regular and auxiliary law enforcement agencies and organizations
within or without the City to assist in preserving and keeping the
peace within the City.
The proclamation of emergency provided for by the provisions
of this article shall become effective immediately upon its issuance
and dissemination to the public by appropriate news media. The Chief
of Police shall cause such proclamation, forthwith upon its issuance,
to be delivered to all news media within the City, and he shall also
use public address systems or other sound devices throughout the City
to notify the public of said proclamation and curfew.
Any emergency proclaimed in accordance with the provisions of
this article shall expire not later than the adjournment of the first
regular meeting of the City Council after the state of emergency is
declared, or upon the issuance of a proclamation determining an emergency
no longer exists, whichever occurs first.
Any emergency proclaimed pursuant to the provisions of this
article may be extended for such additional periods of time as determined
necessary by resolution of the City Council.
Any person who shall wilfully fail or refuse to comply with
the orders of duly authorized law enforcement officers or personnel
charged with the responsibility of the proclamation of emergency authorized
herein shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
