City Council Minutes 2021 05 18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes May 18, 2021 Page 4 of 9 Oberholzer added that the mask rule had its place, but the time has come to repeal it. If people have a choice they will go where they don't have to wear one. Please repeal it to relieve confusion and align with the County. Mayor Stolzmann stated there is a lot of misunderstanding about what the current County order is and it is nearly impossible to enforce. She hopes the County comes out with a new order that is less confusing quickly. She would support our repeal taking effect when the County order aligns with the state. Councilmember Lipton stated most people do what is right and wear a mask if asked, but having our rules in place on top of others is confusing. He would like to find a way to make it easy for people to understand. He stated he is comfortable aligning with the County order. He would like it simplified and keep the City out of making public health decisions. Councilmember Dickinson stated he supports aligning with the County as one way to make things more clear for residents. Mayor Pro Tem Maloney agreed aligning with the County makes the most sense although he still has concerns for those under 12 who cannot get vaccinated. Separate from that, the City will make its own rules for City facilities. Councilmember Fahey agreed it makes the most sense to repeal the local ordinance and follow the County one. MOTION: Councilmember Brown moved to approve the ordinance as presented this evening and that the effective date be the date the County updates its Public Health order and also to give direction to staff that the City's child care and summer camps participants two and older wear masks indoors through August; Mayor Stolzmann seconded. Councilmember Brown stated the science shows that unvaccinated people can get severely ill or die and they can pass on COVID to others. The current CDC guidance states that unvaccinated people should still wear masks and social distance. Therefore, he would like to see masks on children who can't yet be vaccinated. Mayor Stolzmann stated she supports the motion to get our rules aligned with the County and we have to enforce those anyway. Councilmember Lipton asked how the Rec Center is currently handling masking for children under 12. Director Mosley stated they are requiring masks for children over the age of two when in the building but it is becoming more difficult to enforce. Councilmember Brown stated he supports keeping the mask requirement for children as it is consistent with what they are doing in schools and with CDC recommendations regarding unvaccinated people.