Laserfiche WebLink
ORDINANCE NO. ________ <br />An ORDINANCE Relating to Obstructing a City Public Works Worker, AMENDING Chapter 10.12 EMC. <br />WHEREAS, <br />A.The City of Everett Public Works employees and contractors perform many vital tasks to the public <br />health and safety of the city, such as infrastructure improvements and roadwork, maintenance of <br />city rights-of-way including streets, sidewalks, and utility easements, and utility maintenance and <br />water safety sampling. Public Works employees and contractors interact frequently with the <br />public and have experienced some members of the public intentionally obstructing these <br />employees in completing their official duties. <br />B.The Everett Municipal Code does not currently criminalize the intentional obstruction of a city <br />public works employee or contractor engaged in the employee’s official duties, although such <br />ordinances are in effect for obstruction of a law enforcement officer (EMC 10.12.180), obstructing <br />watershed patrol (EMC 8.64.200), obstructing an animal control officer (EMC 6.04.080), <br />obstructing a park ranger (EMC 9.06.036), and hindering or obstructing a sealer or deputy sealer <br />(EMC 9.70.410). <br />C.The City of Everett has the power to provide for the punishment of all practices dangerous to <br />public health or safety, and to make necessary for the preservation of public health, peace, and <br />good order, and to provide for the punishment of all persons charged with violating any city <br />ordinance. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF EVERETT DOES ORDAIN: <br />Section 1. Chapter 10.12 EMC is amended to add the following section as EMC 10.12.185: <br />Except as otherwise provided in Chapter 1.20 EMC, a person commits the offense of obstructing a city <br />public works worker if: <br />1.That person intentionally uses or threatens to use force to obstruct someone who that person knows <br />or should reasonably know is a city public works worker and such city public works worker is acting in <br />the discharge of the worker’s official powers or duties; or <br />2.That person intentionally does any act which that person knows or should reasonably know will <br />interfere with or obstruct someone known to be or who should reasonably be known to be a city public <br />works worker and such city public works worker is acting in the discharge of the employee or <br />3958-23