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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-036 CCR Member Ryan introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 2022-36 RESOLUTION REPEALING EMERGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 2022-01 REQUIRING THE USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS WITHIN THE CITY WHEREAS, on August 9, 2021, the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota ("City") adopted Emergency Ordinance No. 2021-01 requiring the use of face coverings in public buildings within the City as a result of the spread of the Delta Variant of the COVID-19 virus; and WHEREAS,Emergency Ordinance No. 2021-01 provided that face coverings were required within public buildings during times when Hennepin County is classified as being either a substantial or high transmission area by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention("CDC"); and WHEREAS,Emergency Ordinance No. 2021-01 was amended on August 16,2021 and re-enacted by the City Council on September 27, 2021 and January 24, 2022 (Emergency Ordinance No. 2022-01); and WHEREAS, in addition to requiring face coverings only when Hennepin County is classified as being either a substantial or high transmission area by the CDC,the current version of the face covering requirements, set forth in Emergency Ordinance No. 2022-01 adopted on January 24, 2022, expires (1) sixty-one (61) days after its effective date, (2) upon repeal of the Emergency Ordinance by the City Council, or (3) the enactment of a statewide emergency order by Governor Walz requiring face coverings in indoor areas; and WHEREAS, the residents of the City have been hit hard by the pandemic, both from a health perspective and financially, and the spread of the Delta and Omicron variants of the COVID-19 virus created enhanced risks to public health and significant surges in the spread of the virus; and WHEREAS, although Hennepin County experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the Omicron Variant, cases and hospitalizations have decreased significantly, and in response to the downward trend in cases and hospitalizations and high vaccination rates, the CDC no longer finds Hennepin County to be an area of high transmission, and it currently defines Hennepin County as a low transmission area; and WHEREAS, as a low transmission area, the CDC provides that wearing a mask is a personal preference based on an individual's personal level of risk; and RESOLUTION NO. 2022-36 WHEREAS, the City has been conducting meetings by electronic means as authorized under Minnesota Statutes, section 13D.021, and is working to transition back to in- person meetings while exploring options to allow the public to continue to attend at least regular City Council meetings electronically; and WHEREAS, on March 14, 2022, the Mayor, as the presiding officer for the City, issued an updated statement providing that the City shall return to in-person meetings as of 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2022; and WHEREAS,due to the CDC's identification of Hennepin County as a low COVID- 19 transmission area, and the diminished public health risk, the City Council determines that it is in the best interests of the City and its residents to end the face covering requirements as of 11:59 p.m. on March 14, 2022. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center as follows: 1. Emergency Ordinance No. 2022-01 requiring face coverings in public buildings within the City shall end and is repealed effective as of 11:59 p.m. on March 14, 2022. 2. The Mayor, City Manager, City staff, and City attorney are authorized and directed to take any and all additional steps and actions necessary or convenient in order to accomplish the intent of this Resolution. March 14, 2022 Date Mayor ATTEST: WV City Clerk The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Graves and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Butler, Elliott, Graves, Lawrence-Anderson, Ryan and the following voted against the same: None whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.