DENTON, TX, March 20, 2020 (7:40 p.m.) – On Friday, March 20, the Denton City Council voted to amend the declaration of local disaster for public health emergency, which was previously adopted on Tuesday, March 17. At Friday’s emergency meeting, Council also voted to postpone the May 2 General and Special Elections for City Council to Nov. 3, 2020, based upon Gov. Greg Abbott’s March 18 Proclamation authorizing local governments to postpone elections to Nov. 3, 2020.

The amended declaration of disaster order shall be in effect beginning at 12:01 a.m. on March 21 and continuing through 11:59 p.m. on April 30 or until otherwise acted upon by the Council.

Under the amended declaration of disaster order:

Community gatherings of 50 persons or more are prohibited within the City of Denton.

Social gatherings of more than 10 persons are prohibited within the City of Denton beginning at 12:01 a.m. on March 21, 2020 and continuing through the duration of Gov. Abbott’s Executive Order GA 08, signed March 19.

High-risk individuals, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are urged to cancel, reschedule, or not attend any gatherings during this time.

All non-essential City of Denton Municipal Court proceedings are postponed until after April 30, 2020.

Restaurants, microbreweries, micro-distilleries, and wineries within the City may only provide take out, delivery, or drive-through services.

All City of Denton utility non-payment shut-offs are suspended through April 30, 2020.

Up to $500,000 of funding is authorized to be spent for COVID-19 response activities.

Up to $50,000 of funding is authorized to be provided 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.

With the postponement of the May 2, 2020 General and Special Elections, all current holders of seats would remain in those seats. The City Council also directed staff to join a petition to the State government to provide an election date alternative that is prior to Nov. 3, 2020.

Click here to see the declaration of disaster order for more information and specific clarifications and exceptions to community-gathering prohibitions. Visit www.cityofdenton.com/coronavirusand www.dentoncounty.gov/coronavirusfor additional updates.

Contact: Ryan Adams, (940) 349-8565, Ryan.Adams@cityofdenton.com

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Source: City of Denton