Ordinance No. 652- "# 4b�
ORDINANCE NO. 652
AN ORDINANCE MAKING IT UNLAWFUL FOR ANY OIL OR GAS
WELL TO BE DRILLED WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF
THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS; PROVIDED THAT THIS ORDI-
NANCE SHALL NOT AFFECT ANY DRILLING OPERATIONS NOW
IN PROGRESS AND ANY WELLS HERETOFORE DRILLED MAY BE
REWORKED, BUT THAT SUCH REWORKING OPERATIONS SHALL
NOT RESULT IN OIL OR GAS PRODUCTION FROM NEW SANDS;
REPEALING ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT HEREWITH; CONTHIN-
ING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PRESCRIBING A MAXIMUM PENALTY
OF TWO HUNDRED ($200.00) DOLLARS; AND PROVIDING FOR
THE PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
WHEREAS the City of Baytown has an ordinance which regulates the drilling,
reworking and production of oil and gas wells within its corporate limits; and
WHEREAS, such ordinance was adopted for the purpose of protecting the
water - bearing sands underlining said City and the health, safety and welfare of
the citizens of this community; and
WHEREAS, there is a school of thought, supported by Petroleum and Water
Engineers, to the effect that other regulations may be adopted by the City Coun-
cil which will produce additional safeguards to life and property in Baytown;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Baytown believes that our present
oil well ordinance should be suspended and no new oil and gas well drilling op-
erations should be permitted until proper rules and regulations are promulgated
for the benefit of Baytonians; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN:
Section 1: That henceforth, until further enactment by ordinance by the
City Council of the City of Baytown, it shall be unlawful for any oil or gas well
to be drilled within the corporate limits of the City of Baytown, Texas. That
this ordinance shall not affect any drilling operations in progress and any wells
heretofore drilled may be reworked; provided, that such reworking operations
shall not result in oil or gas production from new sands.
Section 2: Repealing Clause: All ordinances or parts of ordinances in-
consistent with the terms of this ordinance are hereby repealed; provided, how-
ever, that such repeal shall be only to the extent of such inconsistency, and in
all other respects this ordinance small be rumvilati.ve of other ordinanees.regu-
lating and governing the subject matter covered by this ordinance.
Section 3: Savings Clause: If any provision, exception, section, sub-
section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance or the applica-
tion of same to any person or set of circumstances shall for any reason be held
unconstitutional, void or invalid, such invalidity small not affect the validity
of the remaining provisions of this ordinance or their application to other per-
sons or sets of circumstances and to this end all provisions of this ordinance
are declared to be severable.
Section 4: Penalty: Any violation of any of the terms of this ordinance
whether herein denominated as unlawful or not, shall be deemed a misdemeanor and
any person convicted of any such violation shall be fined in a sum not exceeding
Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars. Each day of the continuation of such violation
shall be considered a separate offense, and any person, agent or employee en-
gaged in any such violation shall on conviction be so punished therefor.
Section 5: Effective Date: This ordinance shall take effect from and
after ten (10) days from its passage by the City Council. The City Clerk is
hereby directed to give notice hereof by causing the caption of this ordinance
to be published in the official newspaper of the City of Baytown at least twice
within ten (10) days after the passage of this ordinance.
INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, on this the _.,_day o '
1962.
ATTEST:
Edna Oliver, City Clerk
Al Clayton, Mayor