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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC ORD 1941-685 Blackout regulations (Repealed by 1366)685 ORDINANCE NO. 685 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE,AUTH- ORIZING THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL CITY EMERGENCY DEFENSE COUNCIL TO PROCL.IIM AND ENFORCE RULES AND REGU- LATIONS PERTAINING TO AIR RAID AND BLACKOUT PLANS IN- VOLVING THE PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH AND SAFETY, DEFIN- ING OFFENSES AND PRESCRIB- ING PENALTIES. WHEREAS, The United States is engaged in active warfare with the Empire of Japan, and all Axis pow- ers, and the enemy's warships are reported to be within striking dis- tance of the California coast, and ene- my air squadrons have been reliably reported actually to have flown over California coast cities for recon- naissance purposes, which may at any moment be followed by raids and bombing attacks; and WHEREAS, the City of National City, by reason of the concentration here of military establishments and defense plants, naturally invites bombing attacks and raids by the enemy; and WHEREAS, the destruction of life and property resulting from such bombings may be lessened by rigidly controlling the night lighting within the city, and it is necessary, there- fore, for the protection of life and property and the general security that measures be taken at once to that end, and this ordinance is hereby de- clared to be an emergency measure; NOW THEREFORE, The City Council of the City of Na- tional City, California, does ordain as follows: Section 1.. That the City of National City is hereby declared to be in an alert condition, and it shall consti- tute an alert area for the duration of the present war or until the City Council of the City of National City shall otherwise by ordinance declare. Section 2. The representative of the City Council, as Chairman of the National City Emergency Defense Council is hereby authorized and di- rected to proclaim and publish rules and regulations which shall have the force and effect of law fur the forma- tion and execution of blackout plans and to give all possible cooperation to the local Naval and Military auth- orities in connection therewith. The Chairman of the National City Emer- gency Defense Council is also here- by empowered, whenever requested so to do by the Military authorities, or upon his own initiative whenever in his judgment the safety of life and property may require it, to order partial or total blackout in various sections of the City of National City, in euding the entire City. The Chairman of the National City Emergency Defense Council may call upon all persons enrolled for volun- tary service with the National City Emergency Defense Council, togeth- er with all groups and organizations within the City, to aid in enforcing such rules and regulations. Section 3. It shall be unlawful to wilfully refuse or neglect to obey any such rules and regulations as are proclaimed by the Chairman of the Defense Council pursuant to this or- dinance or to wilfully refuse or ne- glect to obey any order of the Chair- man of the National City Emergency Defense Council in connection there- with or any call made for aid in enforcing the same. Section 4. This ordinance shall con- stitute an exercise by the City of National City of its governmental functions for the protection of the public peace, health and safety and neither the City nor any individual responding to the regulations law- fully proclaimed and published by the Chairman of the National City Emergency Defense Council or called upon to assist in enforcing the same, shall be liable in a suit for damages in connection therewith. Section 5. Violation of or failure to comply with any of the provisions of this ordinance, or of the rules or regulations proclaimed by the Chair- man of the National City Emergency Defense Council, or any order issued by him in connection therewith, shall be punishable by a fine of not ex- ceeding five hundred dollars ($500.- 00), or by imprisonment in the City Jail for not exceeding six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprison- ment. Section 6. This is an urgency ordi- nance for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property and safety for reasons set forth in the preamble hereof and shall take effect immediately. Upon its passage and before the expiration of fifteen (15) days after its passage it shall be published once with the names of the members voting for and against the same in the National City News, a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of National City. PASSED, APPROVED ANI) AD- OPTED this llth day of December, 1941. Frederick J. Thatcher, Mayor of the City of National City, California. The above ordinance was adopted by the following vote: Councilman Cordingly absent. Councilman Warner absent. Councilman Fritz voting aye. Councilman Newberry voting aye. Councilman Thatcher voting aye. ATTEST cry hand and the seal of the City Council of the City of Na- tional City this llth day of Decem- ber, 1941. (Seal) DALE SMITH, CITY CLERK NATIONAL CITY, CALIFOR- NIA. by Helen G. Lamb, Chief Depu- ty. 1 insertion 12-12-41