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ORDINANCE NO. 879
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING UKIAH AS "NUCLEAR
WEAPONS FREE ZONE" AND PROHIBITING INVESTMENT
OF MUNICIPAL FUNDS IN CERTAIN BUSINESSES.
For purposes of "security" and "morality," this initiative
measure proposes to establish the City of Ukiah as a nuclear
weapons free zone. To accomplish this objective the proposed or-
dinance would prohibit any person or organization from knowingly:
1. transporting on Ukiah roads, waterways, railways or air-
ports nuclear weapons and delivery systems or their component
parts and weapons-related material and wastes; and
2. designing, producing, deploying, launching, maintaining
or storing nuclear weapons or their components within the City
limits.
The prohibition on transportation of nuclear weapons would
not apply to roads, waterways, etc., exclusively regulated by
State or Federal law.
The prohibition on the design, production, etc. of nuclear
weapons within City limits will not apply to any person or or-
ganization currently engaged in these activities inside the City,
until two years after the effective date of the ordinance.
In addition, the proposed ordinance would prohibit the City
of Ukiah from purchasing or investing more than $500 per year in
any company and institution that knowingly or intentionally
produce nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons delivery systems or
their components. Any existing contracts violating this require-
ment must be terminated at the earliest possible date. The City
Council is exempt from this prohibition, if after a diligent
search the City Manager advises the Council that goods or serv-
ices needed by the City cannot be obtained from any other source.
The City Council must hold a public hearing before relying upon
this exemption
The proposed ordinance defines "component" of a nuclear
weapon or delivery system as a device, radioactive or non-
radioactive, the primary function of which is to contribute to
the operation of a weapon or system. The ordinance does not
prohibit or regulate the research or application of nuclear
medicine or the use of fissionable materials for smoke detectors,
light-emitting watches or other applications of~ fissionable
material the primary function of which is unrelated to nuclear
weapons development or fabrication.
If enacted a violation of the ordinance would be punishable
as a misdemeanor by imposition of a $500 fine, 30 days in jail or
both. It would also require signs on the north and south ends of
the City declaring Ukiah a Nuclear Free Zone.
HISTORICAL NOTE: NOT PASSED BY ELECTORAL VOTE NOVEMBER 8, 1988