Lakeland Sets Curfew in Conjunction with Polk County
Curfew Hours: 8 p.m. - 5 a.m.
Declaration of State of Local Emergency - City of Lakeland, FL (PDF)
LAKELAND, FL (June 1, 2020) | The Lakeland City Commission voted unanimously to instill a City-wide curfew mirroring the Polk County Sheriff Department’s curfew that goes into effect at 8 p.m. this evening and expires at 5 a.m. in on the morning of June 2nd. The Lakeland City Commission also gave the City Manager authority to put in place additional curfew hours based on issues and intelligence that may arise leading up to the weekend. Mayor Bill Mutz said, “City Manager Delgado was given the authority by the City Commission to set a curfew if issues within the community warrant such actions in order to help maintain law and order.” He added, “The authority granted to the City Manager is for one week and we as a Commission will revisit next Monday (June 8, 2020) if we need to do so. Many of us participated in the peaceful protest in Munn Park to show solidarity and to voice our feelings on the injustices that happened in the tragic death of George Floyd. We applaud those that participated peacefully and those agitators who seek destruction must know that we don’t have a place for that in our community.”
DECLARATION OF STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
CITY OF LAKELAND, FLORIDA
WHEREAS, on May 31, 2020, a peaceful protest related to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota was held in Munn Park within the City of Lakeland; and
WHEREAS, at some point during the protest, a splinter group of approximately 150 to 200 individuals left the protest and began to engage in acts of civil unrest and other criminal activities, primarily at the intersection of N. Florida Avenue and Memorial Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, actions engaged in by this group included blocking traffic and surrounding vehicles, throwing bottles and rocks at law enforcement officers and patrol vehicles, and, in one instance, stopping a vehicle driven by a civilian, breaking the windshields of the vehicle and punching the driver in the face through the window (the statement of Lakeland Police Chief Ruben Garcia describing said events is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein by reference); and
WHEREAS, similar and more severe acts of violence are occurring in other communities around the country; and
WHEREAS, conditions exist which imminently threaten the public health, safety, welfare and security of the citizens, residents and visitors of the City of Lakeland, Florida; and
WHEREAS, in order to mitigate or prevent this threat, the City Commission of the City of Lakeland, Florida finds that it is necessary to declare a state of local emergency within the entire incorporated limits of the City of Lakeland pursuant to Chapter 26 of the Code of the City of Lakeland, Florida, Section 252.38, Florida Statutes, and the City’s home rule authority, including that set forth in Article VIII, Section 2(b), Florida Constitution, and Section 166.021, Florida Statutes; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the declared state of local emergency, the City Commission finds that it is necessary in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare to declare a curfew within the incorporated limits of the City of Lakeland as provided herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, DECLARED AND PROCLAIMED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKELAND, FLORIDA AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The foregoing findings are true and correct and are hereby adopted and incorporated herein.
SECTION 2. A state of emergency exists and is declared within the entire incorporated limits of the City of Lakeland.
SECTION 3. A curfew is hereby established and imposed within the entire incorporated limits of the City of Lakeland commencing at 8:00 P.M. on June 1, 2020 and expiring at 5:00 A.M. on June 2, 2020, and no one shall leave the property of their residence during such period of time except as provided herein. Said curfew may be extended or re-imposed as necessary beyond the dates specified herein by written order of the City Manager, subject to termination by the City Commission, provided that the City Manager may not extend or re-impose the curfew provided herein beyond 5:00 A.M. on June 8, 2020 without further action of the City Commission.
SECTION 4. The curfew imposed herein shall not apply to individuals engaging in, going to, or returning from employment, including, but not limited to, federal, state and local government employees, judicial personnel, those providing hospital and other health care services, first responder and correctional personnel, child protection and child welfare personnel, housing and shelter personnel, veterinary services personnel, postal and shipping services personnel, and those performing utility and telecommunications repairs. Medical patients in need of transport, persons seeking medical care, and persons seeking emergency veterinary services for a domestic animal are also excluded from this curfew. This curfew does not prohibit a person from walking a pet animal on or immediately adjacent to the premises of the residence at which the animal is being maintained.
SECTION 5. The state of local emergency declared hereby shall continue in effect through June 8, 2020 unless extended by the City Commission.
SECTION 6. Violations of this Declaration of State of Local Emergency, and orders issued pursuant thereto, shall be punishable as provided in Section 1-14 of the Code of the City of Lakeland, Florida, or as otherwise provided by law.
SECTION 7. If any word, sentence, clause, phrase or provision of this Resolution, for any reason, is held to be unconstitutional, void, or invalid, the validity of the remainder of this Resolution shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 8. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage.
PASSED AND CERTIFIED AS TO PASSAGE this 1st day of June, A.D. 2020.
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About Lakeland
The City of Lakeland was incorporated in January 1885 and has grown to become one of the largest inland communities in Florida. With a current population of over 100,000, Lakeland continues to grow. It has been designated a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area by the US Census Bureau for over 30 years. With tourist attractions and gulf beaches only an hour away, Lakeland continues to capitalize on its ideal central Florida location along the I-4 corridor. The City owns and operates Lakeland Electric, the third-largest publicly owned utility in Florida and it was one of the first to offer power in the Sunshine State over 110 years ago.
For additional information about the City of Lakeland, please explore lakelandgov.net.
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