City of Rockwall Mayor Issues Revised Declaration of Local State of Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency

The City of Rockwall Mayor Jim Pruitt has issued the following revised disaster declaration in public health for the City of Rockwall, following Governor Greg Abbott’s recent Executive Orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 :

WHEREAS, beginning in December 2019, a novel coronavirus, now designated SARS-CoV2 which causes the disease COVID-19, has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization; and

WHEREAS, the symptoms of COVID-19 can cause a severe illness, including coughing, fever, shortness of breath and cause further complications including death; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 virus mainly spreads between people who are in close contact with one another through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes; and

WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, the Governor of the State of Texas issued a revised proclamation certifying that COVID-19 poses an imminent threat of disaster in the state and declaring a state of disaster for all counties in Texas and setting certain restriction on mass or community gatherings, restaurants and bars and other establishments; and

WHEREAS, the City of Rockwall, Texas, is taking extraordinary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and prevent the spread throughout the City of Rockwall, including the banning of community gatherings of over ten (10) people within the city limits and also adopting the same provisions adopted the Governor; and

WHEREAS, said state of disaster requires that certain emergency protective measures be taken pursuant to the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 relating to Emergency Management and Public Health, pursuant to Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ROCKWALL, TEXAS:

SECTION 1. That a local state of disaster for public health emergency is hereby declared for the City of Rockwall Texas, pursuant to Section 418.108(a) of the Texas Government Code.

SECTION 2.  That pursuant to Section 418.108(b) of the Texas Government Code the state of disaster for public health emergency shall continue until April 7, 2020.

SECTION 3. That pursuant to Section 418.108(c) of the Texas 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 Secretary.

SECTION 4.  That pursuant to Section 418.108(d) of the Texas Government Code, this declaration of a local state of disaster activates the City of Rockwall, Texas, emergency management plan.

SECTION 5.  That pursuant to Section 122.006 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, this declaration authorizes the City to take any action necessary to promote health.

SECTION 6.  That this declaration hereby limits the gatherings to not more than 10 people and mandates the cancellation of all such gatherings that exceed until further notice.

SECTION 7.   That this declaration hereby prohibits the issuance of any permits for any activities that are known to attract more than the established 10 persons.

SECTION 8.  For purposes of clarity, gatherings do not include the following: (i) places of employment; office space, hotels or residential buildings; (iii) grocery stores, shopping malls, outdoor markets; (iv) hospitals, medical facilities and shelters; (v) jails and detention centers; (vi) transit facilities; (vii) manufacturing facilities and (viii) government buildings providing essential services.

SECTION 9. That this declaration hereby orders that no person shall eat or drink at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visit gyms or massage parlors; provided, however, that the use of drive thru, pickup, or delivery options are allowed.

SECTION 10. That this declaration hereby orders that no person shall visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.

SECTION 11. That the City Manager takes measures to facilitate online payments and authorize the waiver of online transaction fees.

SECTION 12. That all applications for permits and development be submitted online or through the U.S. Mail.

SECTION 13. That this declaration directs that any meeting of any City of Rockwall Board or Commission is cancelled.

SECTION 14.  In accordance with Texas Government Code §418.173, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this declaration commits an offense, punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00 or confinement in jail for a term that does not exceed 180 days.

SECTION 15. Pursuant to Section 418.108(b) of the Texas Government Code, the state of disaster for public health emergency shall continue until April 7, 2020. That this declaration shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance and be effective until April 7, 2020, unless extended or modified by City Council. The City Council of the City of Rockwall has ratified this Declaration on March 19, 2020.

DECLARED this 19^th day of March, 2020.

Jim Pruitt, Mayor

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