031320 Press Release - City of Denton Declaration and Order 1O1-
`FJ60 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DENTON Ryan Adams • (940) 349-8565 • Ryan.Adams@cityofdenton.com
Mayor Issues Declaration of Local Disaster for COVID-19
DENTON, TX, March 13, 2020 (5:30 p.m.)—On Friday, March 13, Mayor Chris Watts signed
a declaration of local disaster for public health emergency to minimize the potential impact of
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in the City of Denton. Mayor Watts also issued an order prohibiting
mass gatherings of 250 people or more in the City of Denton, effective from 5 p.m. Friday,
March 13 until 5 p.m. Friday, March 20.
The declaration of disaster for public health emergency will last for the next seven days unless
otherwise extended by the Denton City Council.
With a disaster declaration and this order in effect, the City of Denton is able to:
• Gain access to short-term funding opportunities.
• Activate the emergency management plan.
• Postpone non-essential Municipal Court proceedings.
• Suspend all utility shutoffs for residential customers unable to pay.
• Provide the City Manager authority to expend up to $50,000 in funding to the United
Way of Denton County to assist individuals and families in the City of Denton, who have
experienced income or job loss due to COVID-19, in eviction avoidance.
The City of Denton strongly urges organizations that serve high-risk populations, as defined by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), to cancel gatherings of more than 20
people. Residents are urged not to attend non-essential gatherings to help slow the spread of
COVID-19.
The City of Denton continues to closely monitor the developing situation with COVID-19.
See the attached declaration and order for more information. Visit
www.cityofdenton.com/coronavirus and www.dentoncopRty.gov/coronavirus for additional
updates.
Contact: Ryan Adams, (940) 349-8565, Ryan.Adams@cityofdenton.com
Visit www.cityofdenton.com for more news and to stay updated.
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DECLARATION OF LOCAL DISASTER
OF FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
DENTON
WHEREAS, beginning in December 2019, a novel coronavirus, now designated SARS-CoV2
which causes the disease COVID-19, has spread throughout the world and has now been declared
a global pandemic by the World Health Organization; and
WHEREAS, symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, and in
some cases the virus has caused death; and
WHEREAS,the known cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in the State of Texas is currently increasing
daily with 13 positive or presumed positive cases across North Texas and several persons under
observation in Denton County following presumed exposure; and
WHEREAS, extraordinary measures must be taken to contain COVID-19 and prevent its spread
throughout the City of Denton and Denton County, including the limitation of community
gatherings of over two hundred fifty (250)people and potentially requiring individuals, groups of
individuals, or property to be subject to additional measures that prevent or control the spread of
disease; and
WHEREAS, the State Office of Court Administration, in consultation with the Supreme Court,
Court of Criminal Appeals, and Regional Presiding Judges has provided guidance recommending
postponement of all non-essential court proceedings, minimizing staff, and taking all other
appropriate measures to prevent the spread of disease;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON:
I. That a local state of disaster for public health emergency is hereby declared for the City of
Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation, pursuant to Section 418.108(a) of the Texas
Government Code and Section 9-21 of the City of Denton Code of Ordinances.
2. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 418.108(b) and Section 9-27 of the City of
Denton Code of Ordinances, the state of disaster for public health emergency shall continue for a
period of not more than seven (7) days from the date of this declaration unless continued or
renewed by the Denton City Council.
3. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 418.108(c) and Section 9-25 of the City of
Denton Code of Ordinances,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 Secretary.
4. Pursuant to Section 418.108(d) of the Texas Government Code, this declaration of a local
state of disaster activates the City of Denton emergency management plan and grants the Mayor
the powers set forth in Section 9-22 of the City of Denton Code of Ordinances; including the power
to temporarily close City buildings, facilities, and certain uses thereof; to temporarily postpone all
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non-essential municipal court proceedings; to temporarily suspend all City utility shut-offs to
residential customers affected by COVID-19; and to prohibit all public and private gatherings
wherein two hundred fifty(250)people or more are expected,as well as those gatherings of twenty
(20) or more people where high-risk individuals, as defined by the United States Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) are in attendance.
5. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 122.006, the City may adopt rules to protect
the health of persons in the City and provide for the establishment of quarantine stations,
emergency hospitals, and other hospitals.
6. That this proclamation shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance.
DECLARED this the Z5�day of March, 2020.
Honorab e Chris Watts
City of Denton Mayor
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Irry
OF
DENTON ORDER OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON
DATE ISSUED: MARCH 13, 2020
Summary: The virus that causes 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is easily transmitted
through person to person contact, especially in group settings, and it is essential that the spread of
the virus be slowed to protect the ability of public and private health care providers to handle the
influx of new patients and safeguard public health and safety. Because of the risk of the rapid
spread of the virus,the need to protect the most vulnerable members of the community,this Order
closes certain City buildings and non-essential services or uses. This order prohibits community
gatherings of two hundred fifty(250)persons or more within the City of Denton beginning at 5:00
p.m. on March 13, 2020, and continuing seven days through 5:00 p.m. on March 20, 2020, as
defined below. The City of Denton strongly recommends following the social distancing protocols
attached to this Order. Additionally,the City of Denton urges high-risk individuals, as defined by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC),to cancel, reschedule, or not attend events
that will have or will likely have 20 or more people.
PURUSANT TO THE MAYORAL PROCLAMATION OF MARCH 13, 2020 AND THE
AUTHORITY IN SECTION 9-22 OF THE DENTON CODE OF ORDINANCES AND
SECTION 416.108 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CITY OF DENTON
MAYOR CHRIS WATTS HEREBY ORDERS:
1. Effective as of 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020, and continuing until 5:00 p.m. on
March 20, 2020, public or private Community Gatherings (as defined in Section 4 below) are
prohibited anywhere in the City of Denton.
2. The City of Denton strongly urges organizations that serve high-risk populations, as
defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to cancel gatherings of more
than 20 people. These recommendations are based on the social distancing practices promulgated
by the CDC as well as the "Implementation of Mitigation Strategies for Communities with Local
COVID-19 Transmission"issued by the CDC. The City of Denton urges people not to attend non-
essential gatherings during the duration of this Order in order to help slow down the spread of the
COVID-19 virus.
3. All non-essential court proceedings in the Municipal Court No. 1 of the City of Denton are
postponed. All such proceedings will be rescheduled following the term of this Order. No fine,
penalty, or punishment shall issue against a party because of the postponement ordered herein.
Municipal Court No. 1 shall continue to hear all proceedings deemed essential by the state Office
of Court Administration, including search and arrest warrant requests, arraignments, criminal
magistration proceedings, and requests for temporary restraining orders.
4. Definitions:
a. For purposes of this Order, a "Community Gathering" is any indoor or outdoor
event or convening, subject to the exceptions and clarifications below, that brings together or is
likely to bring together three hundred (300) or more persons at the same time in a single room or
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other single confined or enclosed space, such as an auditorium, theater, stadium (indoor or
outdoor), arena or event center, meeting hall, conference center, large cafeteria, gymnasium, or
any other confined space.
b. For purposes of clarity, a "Community Gathering" does not include the following so long
as visitors are generally not within arm's length of one another for extended periods:
i. spaces where 250 or more persons may be in transit or waiting for transit, such as
airports, bus stations, or terminals;
ii. office space or residential buildings;
iii. grocery stores, shopping malls, or other retail establishments where large numbers
of people are present but it is unusual for them to be within arm's length of one
another for extended periods; and
iv. hospitals and medical facilities.
C. Specifically excluded from the definition of"Community Gathering" is the following:
i. gathering of people in multiple, separate encloses spaces in a single building, such
as a multiplex movie theater, school, church,or office tower, so long as 250 people
are not present in any single space at the same time; and
ii. the use of enclosed spaces where 250 or more people may be present at different
times during the day, so long as 250 or more people are not present in the space at
the same time.
5. It is further ordered that all City of Denton utility shut offs for residential customers are
suspended, even for nonpayment, during the pendency of this Order upon proof of income or job
loss directly resulting from COVID-19.
6. The City Manager is given authority to expend up to $50,000.00 as funding to the United
Way of Denton County to assist individuals and families living in the City of Denton, who have
experienced income or job loss directly resulting from COVID-19, in eviction avoidance.
7. This Order shall be effective until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2020, or until it is either
rescinded, superseded, or amended pursuant to applicable law.
8. Copies of this Order shall be promptly provided to the City Secretary for filing and posting
on the City's website and in other conspicuous places.
IT IS SO ORDERED
G!%Gi
or Chris Watts
City of Denton
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