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ORDINANCE NO. Z l Z
AN ORDINANCE TO GRANT THE MAYOR EXTRAORDINARY
POWERS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF WEST
MEMPHIS INHABITANTS AND TO PASS AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE
WHEREAS, "municipal corporations shall have the power to make... ordinances .
which as to them shall seem necessary to provide for the safety, preserve the health... of such
corporations and the inhabitants thereof" (A C.A. §14-55-102 Purpose generally); and
WHEREAS, the Covid-19 virus presents a grave and growing danger to the health of our
citizens and residents so that the City Council should empower Mayor McClendon to take
needed measures as recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Arkansas
Department of Health, or other iecogmzed scientific and health authorities to slow the spread of
this pandemic, and
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1: That the City Council of the City of West Memphis, Arkansas hereby
enacts the following: EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO COVID-19 VIRUS PANDEMIC BY
GRANTING NEW POWERS TO MAYOR MCCLENDON TO PERSERVE THE HEALTH OF
WEST MEMPHIS RESIDENTS.
WHEREAS, the City of West Memphis's most important duty is the perseverance of
health and safety of its citizens and other inhabitants, and
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS THAT:
Ordinance No. Z S 4 Z
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WHEREAS, the Covid-19 Pandemic now presents a grave threat of illness and death to
every American and every West Memphis resident; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that West Memphis s public health and
safety require that the City Council place extraordinary powers with the Mayor's authority to
better protect our citizens during this pandemic emergency.
IT IS THEREFORE AGREED AND ENACTED that Mayor McClendon shall have
the following powers and duties during West Memphis's efforts to protect its citizens beginning
immediately upon the passage and enactment of this ordinance and emergency clause.
(1) Mayor McClendon may regulate or prohibit gathering of residents in public or private
places serving the public, including revocation of current business licenses in
accordance with city Ord. No. 727, § 3(part)
(2) Mayor McClendon may locally enforce recommendations for the Center of Disease
Control (CDC), Arkansas Department of Health and other recognized scientific or
health authorities with regulations or prohibitions of activities that could increase
spreading of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
(3) Mayor McClendon may take other necessary actions to promote and preserve the
health and safety of our citizens and residents.
(4) All regulations and actions taken by Mayor McClendon pursuant to this ordinance
during this emergency shall have the full force of law and shall be interpreted and
enforced pursuant to Chapter 1: General Provisions of the Code of Ordinances,
Cup of Writ Mernphi+
Ordinance No.
Z
Page Two
SECTION 2: EMERGENCY CLAUSE.The West Memphis City Council recognizes
that West Memphis and its citizens are under dire threat from the CoN it-19 Pandemic and
that our citizens' health and safety require that this ordinance granting the Mayor
extraordinary powers to protect our citizens constitutes an emergency such that this
ordinance must and will go into full force and effect immediately upon its passage and
approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this I,-,— day of April 2020.
MARCO MCCLENDON, MAYOR
ATTE T:
PATRICIA LANE, SENIOR DEPUTY CLERK
SPONSORED BY:
F
REGEM
Ordinance No. /�''5
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