The city council prohibits skateboarding in public areas after accidents occur. This action is an exercise of the city's:

The correct answer reflects the city council's ability to regulate behavior in public safety matters through its police powers. Police powers refer to the inherent authority of local, state, and federal governments to enact laws and regulations to promote the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the public. When the city council prohibits skateboarding in public areas following accidents, it is taking action to protect the community and ensure public safety. Such measures are a fundamental function of government to control certain activities that may pose risks to individuals or the community at large.

In contrast, the power of eminent domain allows the government to take private property for public use, which does not relate to regulating behavior. The right of priority pertains to priority access or rights in transactions or services, and the right of escheat involves property reverting to the state when an individual dies without heirs, neither of which connects to the regulation of public conduct. Thus, police powers correctly describe the authority exercised by the city council in this scenario.