City of Clarion issues emergency proclamation, with curfew for minors

Information provided by City of Clarion

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic there has been many changes in the normal operation of the City of Clarion. Today, April 1st, Mayor Duane Asbe signed an Emergency Proclamation (#2020-1) with new changes and explains some that have already taken place (Example – city facilities being closed to the public).

New is the implementation of a CURFEW FOR MINORS starting today. Curfew of minors unaccompanied by their parent or legal guardian shall be from 10:00 pm on any given night of the week until 5:00am the following day of the week. No minors, who are unaccompanied by their parent or legal guardian, shall remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the City during curfew hours outlined above.

See the full Emergency Proclamation 2020-1 below.
 

CITY OF CLARION, IOWA

EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION 2020-1

WHEREAS, COVID-19 poses a serious threat to the public health and safety of the City of Clarion, Iowa, as outlined by the Center for Disease Control ("CDC"); and

WHEREAS, the Iowa Department of Public Health ("IDPH") has now determined that community spread of COVID-19 has occurred in the State of Iowa; and

WHEREAS, the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, has recommended that people should not congregate in gatherings of over ten (10) persons; and

WHEREAS, the CDC has recommended that persons do not congregate in gatherings of over ten (10) persons in an attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the general public; and

WHEREAS, the Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has recommended that all school districts within the State of Iowa close for a period of four (4) weeks to help to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the State; and

WHEREAS, the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Community School District has heretofore closed until at least April 13, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Section 15.02(2) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Clarion, Iowa and Section 372.14(2) of the Code of Iowa (2019) grant the Mayor powers to declare an emergency and govern through proclamation to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Clarion, Iowa.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Duane Asbe, the duly elected Mayor of the City of Clarion, Iowa, do hereby proclaim until further notice the following:

1. That a state of emergency or public danger exists within the City of Clarion, Iowa because of the threat of the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

2. That based upon the advice of the CDC and other public health agencies, I hereby declare that all City-owned, non-essential public facilities, including City Hall and the Public Library, shall be closed to the public until further notice. Staff shall report in accordance with previously established guidelines as provided by the City Council and/or City Administrator.

3. That all official meetings of the Clarion City Council shall be exclusively handled electronically with proper notice being provided to the public pursuant to Iowa Code Section 21.8.

4. That pursuant to CDC recommendations, gatherings of ten (10) or more people are strongly discouraged until further notice.

5. That to limit the unnecessary burden of police responses and risk to health placed on our Police Department during these challenging times, I hereby declare that a curfew for minors unaccompanied by their parent or legal guardian is necessary until further notice. The “curfew hours” shall be from 10:00 p.m. on any given night of the week until 5:00 a.m. the following day of the week. Pursuant to this Emergency Proclamation, no minor, whom are unaccompanied by their parent or legal guardian, shall remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the City during curfew hours outlined above.

6. That to limit unnecessary risk to the health of our citizens, all City-sponsored recreation programming shall be suspended until further notice. All members of the public are asked to avoid playground areas, however, City-managed trails, green spaces and public water access facilities will remain open until further notice.

7. That this Proclamation of Emergency may be modified and/or superseded by future proclamation of the Office of the Mayor of Clarion, Iowa as future events warrant.

8. That this proclamation of the Office of the Mayor of the City of Clarion, Iowa, shall be enforceable by the Clarion Police Department and any violation of the same shall be a violation of Section 15.02(2) of the Code of Ordinances and punishable as a simple misdemeanor.

9. That Governor Kim Reynold's proclamation dated March 17, 2020 shall be enforceable by the Clarion Police Department, in its entirety.

10. More information will be shared with the public as it becomes available.