HomeMy WebLinkAbout2589-20 - ADMIN Ordinance - City Council - 2020/07/21Emergency Ordinance No. 2589-20
An emergency ordinance requiring
face coverings within buildings in St. Louis Park
Whereas, when issuing Executive Order 20-74 Governor Walz has strongly encouraged
Minnesotans “to wear a manufactured or homemade cloth face covering when they leave their
homes and travel to any public setting where social distancing measures are difficult to
maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) and to follow face covering guidelines issued by
the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). Such face coverings are for source control (to help limit the person wearing
the covering from infecting others)”; and
Whereas, the CDC and MDH along with other public health experts have determined
that the virus can be transmitted before an infected individual shows symptoms and that a
significant portion of individuals with COVID-19 do not have symptoms and can still transmit
the virus; and
Whereas, the CDC and MDH are urging the general public to wear non-medical grade
face coverings to help curb the spread of COVID-19, by preventing the transmission of
respiratory droplets that contain the virus; and
Whereas, pursuant to the authority granted to the Mayor pursuant to Minnesota
Statutes, §12.29 and the St. Louis Park Peace Time Emergency Resolution 20 -066, the Mayor
has proclaimed an emergency action which requires cloth face coverings in places of public
accommodation as recommended by the federal and state government and health
organizations; and
Whereas, the St. Louis Park City Charter §3.06 allows the City to enact an emergency
ordinance when it is “necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health,
morals, safety or welfare in which the emergency is defined and declared.”
Now, therefore, be it ordained by the City Council of the City of St. Louis Park as follows:
1. Individuals are required to wear a face covering while in a space of public
accommodation as defined below.
2. All owners and managers of enclosed buildings or rooms which house a space of public
accommodation must:
a. Post face covering signs at each public entrance. This sign must be at least 8
inches by 10 inches and say: the City of St. Louis Park requires individuals to wear
a face covering or a mask while inside this building.
b. Include in their COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that all employees wear a face
covering when the individual is within six feet of another person.
c. Inform customers, visitors, and guests to wear a face covering before entering
spaces of public accommodation and that they are required to wear the face
covering until exiting.
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3. The following shall also apply to the face covering requirement in sections 1 and 2:
a. Restaurants and Bars. Are required to include in their COVID-19 Preparedness
Plan that all customers wear a face covering when not seated at their table.
b. Public Transportation. Individuals are required to wear a face covering before
boarding any mode of public transportation and wear the face covering until the
individual exits.
c. Entertainment Venues. Individuals are required to wear a face covering when
the individual is within six feet of another person. When the individual is seated
and is maintaining social distancing and not within six feet of a person they may
remove the face covering, but are required to wear the face covering when
walking to or from their seat and while standing in or walking through pub lic
areas such as lobbies and restrooms.
d. Common Spaces in Multi-Family Residential and Multi-Tenant Office Buildings.
Residents of multi-family housing buildings, and their guests; and tenants,
employees and their guests in multi-tenant office buildings are required to wear
a face covering when in common spaces such as hallways, corridors, lobbies,
restrooms, mail rooms, elevators, trash and recycling rooms, fitness rooms,
recreation rooms, laundry rooms, and other space owned and used in common
by the residents, employees, and tenants of the building.
4. Definitions:
a. “Space of public accommodation” means a business, refreshment,
entertainment, or recreation facility, or an institution of any kind, whether
licensed or not, whose goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or
accommodations are extended, offered, sold, or otherwise made available to the
public. Examples include retail stores, rental establishments, City of St. Louis Park
government buildings, and service establishments as well as recreational
facilities, and service centers. This definition includes establishments and
facilities that offer food and beverage not for on-premises consumption,
including grocery stores, markets, convenience stores, pharmacies, drug stores,
and food pantries.
b. “Face covering” means a cloth or other covering that fully covers an individual’s
nose and mouth, secured to the head with ties or straps or simply wrapped
around the lower face. The terms “mask” and “face covering” are synonymous.
c. “Physical distancing” means maintaining six (6) feet of separation between
individuals of different households.
5. This Emergency Ordinance does not apply to the following persons and places of public
accommodation:
a. Individuals actively eating or drinking;
b. Children under the age of five (5);
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c. Individuals unable to wear a face covering due to medical reasons, disabilities, or
developmental reasons;
d. Individuals speaking or performing to an audience, whether in person or through
broadcast, as long as the speaker remains six feet or mo re away from other
individuals;
e. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing or an individual who is speaking to
someone who is deaf or hard of hearing and requires the mouth to be visible to
communicate;
f. Individuals who are unable to remove the face covering without assistance;
g. Individuals temporarily removing the face covering for identification purposes;
h. Participants in youth and adult sports are exempt from this Emergency
Ordinance but subject to all requirements under the governor’s executive
orders;
i. Facilities operated by the county, state, or federal government;
j. Personal care services (i.e. salons) that already have state face covering
requirements;
k. Medical facilities that already have face covering requirements;
l. Athletic facilities are encouraged to follow CDC and MDH guidelines. Patrons are
not required to wear face coverings or masks while actively participating in
athletic activities but are encouraged to wear face coverings when not actively
training;
m. Voting sites and polling places;
n. Office areas where physical distancing is maintained between individuals and
workstations;
o. Places of worship; and
p. Public and private school facilities.
6. This Emergency Ordinance is not a substitute for other critical health practices such as
hand washing, staying home when sick, and physical distancing. Even when outside,
every individual is encouraged to wear a face covering when physical distancing cannot
be maintained.
7. Any person who violates this Emergency Ordinance shall be guilty of a petty
misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished for a fine not to exceed
$300.00.
8. This Emergency Ordinance shall be effective Monday, July 27, 2020.
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Reviewed for administration: Adopted by the City Council July 21, 2020
Thomas K. Harmening, city manager Jake Spano, mayor
Attest: Approved as to form and execution:
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Soren Mattick, city attorney
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