HomeMy WebLinkAboutCivil Emergency Proclamation 11.23.2020PROCLAMATION DECLARING
A CIVIL EMERGENCY
ISSUED BY MAYOR QUENTIN HART
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has reported an outbreak of thousands of
cases of COVID-19 in multiple countries, causing illness and deaths, and has declared the
outbreak a global pandemic; and
WHEREAS, The Governor of Iowa issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency
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on March 17, 2020, and since that date has continued to implement measures to limit communit
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spread of the virus; and
WHEREAS, over time, the City of Waterloo has taken several steps to slow the spread of
the virus by closing and limiting access to public facilities, closing cityparks, and adopting p g a
resolution urging the Governor of Iowa to order residents to stay "Safe at Home", and instituting
a mask mandate; and
WHEREAS, Black Hawk County cases of COVID-19 remain at a high level, meaning
community spread of the virus continues to occur within the county; and
WHEREAS, Iowa Code Section 372.14(2) and Waterloo City Code Article 5-2B grants
the mayor power in emergency circumstances when public danger exists to take extraordinary
ary
step
s to protect the public health and safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE FORGOING AND OTHER
VALID EMERGENT CONCERNS, I, QUENTIN HART, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
WATERLOO, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE FOLLOWING:
Section 1. That a state of civil emergency continues to exist in the City of Waterloo due
to the presence of COVID-19 in Black Hawk County and the risks it imposes on the publi
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health and safety of all citizens.
Section 2. That the Police Chief and Fire Chief of the City of Waterloo shall enforce this
Proclamation, subsequent proclamations, and any proclamation issued bythe Governor of
State of Iowa.
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Section 3. That all emergency powers extended to the Mayor of the City of Waterloo,
pursuant to Iowa Code Section 372.14(2) and Waterloo City Code Article 5-2B, may be
exercised in accordance with this Proclamation.
Section 4. All public meetings held by the city shall continue in an electronic format in
accordance with Iowa Code Chapter 21 and Iowa Governor'sproclamation dated 24,
. July 2020
and subsequent proclamations. Council members may continue to in council
participate
meetings by phone or video conferencing. Physical presence of the public at such meetings g shall
be pursuant to capacity limits and social distancing outlined in the Iowa Governor's
proclamation dated November 16, 2020. However, commencingDecember 7 2020 all
meetings
shall be electronic, as meeting in public is impossible or impractical due to concerns for or the
health and safety of Council members, staff and the ublic resented b COVID-1 p p y 9. The clerk
shall publish instructions consistent with the law for public participation.
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Section 5. That this Proclamation Declaring a Civil Emergency ispart of an ongoing
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response by the City of Waterloo to protect the health and safety of the citizens, and may be
modified or superseded with more restrictive proclamations at any time as circumstances
warrant.
Section 6. That pursuant to Section 5-2B-4 of the Waterloo City Code, the violation of
this Proclamation of Civil Emergency or of any subsidiaryproclamation thereto, shall
be
punishable as a misdemeanor as provided by Section 1-3-1 of the Waterloo City Code of
Ordinances.
Section 7. That this Proclamation Declaring a Civil Emergency shall be in effect until
December 25, 2020.
PROCLAIMED THIS 25TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2020 BY THE AUTHORITY
VESTED IN ME BY THE CODE OF IOWA AND THE CITY OF WATERLOO CITY CODE.
Quentin Hart, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kelley �elchle
Kelley Felchle, City Clerk
SEAL
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