Special City Council Virtual Meeting

>> Before we can discuss it, we have to call it to order. So a meeting to order. So a roll call from the deputy city clerk? >> vice mayor were waiting on. >> councilmember? >> here. >> brown? >> here. >> ray. >> here. >> mayor? >> here. >> city manager? >> here. >> attorney? >> here. >> city clerk is present. >> okay. First of all, welcome cathy to our first zoom meeting with city council. You well know we're waiting on a decision from the county level before we can have a relevant discussion. So, we adjourn the meeting until 7:00 P.M., check back in then we convene and if we have to do it a second time or third, we can do that to keep on track. Is that acceptable for everyone? >> sounds great. I would like to make sure that we get this nailed down tonight, so hopefully, they will figure it out. >> all right. >> let's adjourn until 7:00 P.M. And reconvene, thanks, everybody. >> all right. Thank you. >> at this point, I don't think they are -- we know anything new and dealing with public comment. City manager. >> they just went into recess for a moment to take a break. They have been going at it approximately five hours. >> they also said they are not taking anymore comments. >> they shut them off, literally, that last person. So good. >> yes, sir. >> I imagine they will go quickly, go for a 7:30 reconvene, I imagine it will go fairly quickly when they come back. >> did they say how long the break was? >> I didn't hear it on the -- tv. >> no, they didn't say. >> no, they didn't say. >> well -- >> we might want to wait until 8:00. >> the council prefer to go with 8:00? >> or, how about, split the difference and go 7:45. >> 7:43. >> all right. 7:44. No, one more. [Laughter] >> all right. Let's try 7:45 then and hopefully, we will have our answer by then and move forward with our discussion. Okay. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> mayor henderson: our break, at 8:15. >> I think that is the right thing. >> mayor henderson: okay. Good going in 30 minute increments until we get this wrapped up. >> okay. >> mayor henderson: it is all right with council, we will adjourn until 8:15 and try to again. Perseverance. We will see you soon. >> okay. Bye. [Council is in recess until 8:15]. >> all right. Let's reconvene. Let's go to the deputy city clerk for the e-mail public comments. >> okay. This one is from a u d r e n. D I e n m a I strongly feel that masks should be a must in public spaces where people exercise. Inside of the perimeters inside of the distances including the patio spaces except for seated at a table such as a restaurant. This one is from don is s h a v e r. Cities provide large trash and recycling cans, why don't they follow the lead? If they (Indiscernible). Twice a week pick up can be reduced to once a week, this is a greener way to reduce the truck and help the environment providing composting bens will eliminate trash discarted and it will help to keep it out of the landfill. And I will drop off my class at the recycling containers, thank you for listening. >> I want to be clear that public comment is directly for discussion item on this one. Okay. I have this from jerry reed. And I would like to thank you for your attention in covid19. We do not enjoy the fact that the residents cannot receive the -- face time and zoom visits but rather they come in and hug them, we do enjoy bringing joy and smiles, but realize that it is not the same, but try, we wear masks outside of work because we want to protect our loved ones, because we care, as health care providers we frequently stay home and Miss Outings with family and friends because we want to protect our loved ones, and right now we cannot be the only ones. We know that we need the come units to do their part. We need everyone hearing this to wear a mask to washing their hands for 20 seconds, we need to flattened the curve and help everyone. If wear ago I mask, makes you uncomfortable you'll hate being under the ventilators. We're saving our mother, grandmother, or grandfather. Help us help others. This is not a farce, or an intellectual issue. It's that simple. >> that's it. >> okay. Thank you very much. Anybody calling in any hands raised. >> yes, if at this time, if you don't know, you have to hit star nine, if you want to do it by phone, I do have one I believe it's -- let's see if we can get her on here. Can you hear us margaret. >> is anyone there? >> hello. >> there she is. Are you there margaret? >> hello. Margaret. Can you hear me, thank you. Okay. So let me start again, I want to thank you all for your patients is and waiting for the county commission and thanking ray for bringing this up and thank you all for having the -- than the commission had I would say that for me the entire mask issue is very personal and it all goes back to, um, um, you know, my mother dying at barely 65 of the anti immune disease, neither does my mother or my daughter, I would know that it was brought up, that there were a number of cities and counties that issued the same orders by executive order and didn't require commissioner meeting, and I think that something we could have done last week, I'm sorry that in the past, folks have been against that and this is an emergency state and it's no different than a hurricane and we paid our city manager to do that and we received that, and making the decisions to go forward, lastly, I put this in a letter, and I read a lot and heard a lot from different restaurants that the messaging is bad and I think that you alluded to that mayor, and city manager, and I think that you alluded to that in the past, and a lot of these people -- the tweaks and in between, exactly to what the rules are and so forth and I'm wondering if there's any way if you consider in the future, maybe in the workshops with some represent if I haves to being the areas so that they are more comfortable with what they are doing, so thank you very much. >> thank you. >> there's no one else, sir. >> thank you, much appreciate it. So coming to the discussion point of the special meeting. Um, city manager, I know that we have some -- if you don't mind giving us the brief of where they ended up a couple of months ago. First of all, the county did pass the three that were proposed. With that said, it would be effective tomorrow evening at 5 p m. They were very adamant about that I know that many of you watch and listened and with that said, they did about four changes to it to be more in concert with the city of saint peter's *berg issue and they did -- in the county commission did -- I'm sorry, I have to get to the depth of this, um, did address the issue number one in children, and they are adopting the city of saint peter's *berg, that the person's use of face covering is left to the discretion of the adult with the c d c saying that it's not appropriate for children under the age of two. And they also did amendment the exception with the sections and this is important and it is permanent to that, because of some of the businesses and that these requirements, do not apply for less than ten people in the location, and the people in that location maintain social distances. And social distancing means keeping yourself away 6 feet, and arm's length. And they also address the religious rituals saying that these requirements do not apply with them. In the participation of religious ritual. And that was the changes that they made, and they required for that to be include in there for -- with that said, I provided the ordinance that they did adopt. If there's any special questions, I'll be happy to answer them, one thing that I have to provide clarifications. For the county commissioner, and the county administrator that if this applies to all municipalities by the county attorney if this applies to all municipalities what the county administrators are addressing the governmental -- that we were not exempt from this and it was applied by the city of the golf course. And it's applied and with that said, it's leaving us to be self determinant in regards to the government determination and placed in all of those already. And it's significant to the -- the definition to the public and we happen to be invited to the office spaces and things to that effect. And we have numerous areas in place to address these. Where they spoke of. And with that said, we are covered through licensing and such and we have a set of criteria to participate, and the children will be wearing masks that's in a nutshell, how we're preventing -- not preventing, I shouldn't use that word, but requiring the employees if they interact with the public, that if that impacts -- other than that we'll follow the ordinance and we'll start first thing in the morning notifying the community in many way that's we can. And getting staff out there to tell the individual businesses, and the residents that this is applicable here in the city as of 5 o'clock tomorrow. And I any that there's some things in there that we will, um have some issues communicating, but I understand that this is a county wide ordinance. I will waited to see the final order. And I'm going to start to see the order. Seeing it clockwise. >> and I have one more other thing. >> and other things, giving out mass, we're standing on there. We have the masks to give anyone business or individual that needs a mask, what we'll do is stand up and walk up in the location in the casino. And catch the dinner crowd and we can also start earlier, and we have the drive through location in the 49 center, to provide any individuals that feel that they need masks, if cannot afford it. But we are prepared and we'll start dispersing them. And if you need them they are available. Thank you very much. One thing that I do want to cover really quick before we move on, correct me if I'm wrong, if we go with what the county has done, then we don't have to do anything with adopting anything. >> I'll let the city attorney speak on that? >> correct, you're correct. >> the only thing that I want to throw in there, in the absence of the executive order, based on the personals that have been arising to the number of cases and the number of cases that are arising, I am not personally responsible for the public meeting again, for the first meeting in July, so I'm asking the counsel to the end, knowing that we can push the items to the July 21st agenda and get it -- if something changes, and if for some reason, I don't expect it, and if for some reason, it's extending. If we can meet virtually, then wonderful and if we're taking these kind of measures, in the city of at that point that, to provide other people with other places. I'll start with councilmember ray for any commentary that he has on there first. I'm good with what the county did. 18 and under if it's up to the family, I didn't quite agree with that. I think that this should have been, 15 years and younger, I'm not going to sit there, and argue minor points, the majority of it was to my liking of the I believe if I remember correctly, they are still saying that the total number of people in the restaurant would in the number 50 or in a bar. And that way it gives us an easier number to count? >> no, they did not adopt that. That was in the -- if I May, mayor, I apologize for interrupting. >> go ahead. >> that was in another order that they did not include that, one in the three versions where they were trying to do that. You'll stay under the 50 percent guidelines. But you would have to be sitting in the bar, and no areas in congregating and if you are receiving food or drinks, you have to be seated, there's no open area that they can gather. There's no dance floors, which is the reference that they use. >> it's going to be easy to be able to count 50 percent. And it makes it more -- I was hoping that they were going to adopt that, any way, other than that, I'm for what they have done. Hi. >> I agree to what the county did to a point, and I think that it should require that all patrons must wear a mask inside of the store, I'm not sure if the county addressed that or not. I was confused. >> yes, they do require any if both the retail individual -- and where, if you will look at -- all persons must wear a face covering while any indoor public place within the county. And the issue is, if the individuals are practicing social distancing, and I need to stress this very much. If the individuals and the tenants in the stores are practicing social distancing, and they are not required. That was the language used. They were not talking about smaller businesses with that one. >> what um -- where -- um, what about the library? If you come to the library you have to be wearing a mask. If you have to sneeze or cough, the library cannot walk behind what they touched. And the next person touches something in a short period of time has to be -- if you're inside of that library, unless you fall under the exemptions -- >> I have to interject. Because, not wearing a mask. Or gloves, it won't prevent you from getting it. >> or shield? The only concern that I have with this is that there's still the aspect that if individuals can, um, practice social distancing which can take place that's something that david and I can discuss, but I can say that you come in, and you're following social distancing, I think that you would be taking a step outside of almost weakening this -- and you're starting to now add things to this process. We have to look at that a lot. And there's people who come to the library, that practices the 6-foot distancing but not all -- >> I understand that, but it doesn't stop the individual who's got the virus, or mighty susceptible to touching to something. And five minutes later did touch the same thing, so, social distancing is not going to prevent that from happening. So we need to pass the regulation saying that if you're inside of the library, and unless you fall under the category, you must wear a mask or a shield. Maybe, you can put ten people there and this is within reach of you. And everybody must wear a mask inside of the businesses regarding the social distancing. Can I add one more? >> they didn't stipulate under that? >> yes, they do. >> it's in there. >> it's from the center of the table or outside of the table? >> so people have (Multiple speakers) >> if I May quote the language? >> tables must be faced such as no person or their companions seated at a table is less than 6 feet from another seat or person and their companions at a different table. That was important. In regards to -- oh, I know, to (Indiscernible). To prevent people from standing, if you drive by some of our bars -- people standing at the bar, are the police going to enforce this, or will this fall on the property owner, and will do what they are supposed to do, what are the repercussions? >> well, we're going to start with -- talking to each of you with the goal to get that started and we'll do that respectively, and the language here provides to ensure that every individual and that establishment complies with the establishment. And establishes rule for that. And establishing has establishment, established that, with the rules of that establishment, which has other protective measures from county and employees of the guidance (Indiscernible). So yes that's part of the business owners. >> and as you go further down on page five, it -- it services -- it must comply then there's specific ones for bar and restaurants and including all bar and restaurants that services food or drink must comply with all of the following, social distancing must be maintained no food or drinks May be served for patrons for on sight consumption. Standing at the bar, which is not prohibited. And tables must be spaced that with no person or companions is less than 6 feet from another seat or person or companions at a different tables. People sitting at the bar must be 6 feet from the other person or their companions, understand that you May have a group of the ten companions, that's one thing that they do. No group larger than ten. Or issue not maintain spaces that will have the -- it must be un-permitted to remain unseated at the table of the bar, unless waiting to be seated. Any areas must be remained socially distanced in groups larger than ten. >> councilmember brown? >> um yes, I do have a couple of things, this he talked about indoor public spaces, so they are not talking about riding your bike or walking your dog in the park, they are talking about indoor public spaces and that includes commercial places like the beach bizarre or mcdonalds or anything like that. So, I, I want to make sure that everybody understands that because they said, if you maintain social distancing, you don't have to wear a mask. If you go to mcdonalds at 8 o'clock at night, and you are the only ones in there. And you don't have to wear a mask. >> -- >> and social distancing, correct? >> correct. >> social distancing does not change. I worry about the people walking their dogs or on jogging, I encourage everyone to go out and do that. I already saw on facebook that someone is saying, the commissioners are required to a face mask. I wanted to ask you about city workers, when they are out there doing their job they don't have to wear their mask >> what we have adopted, if they are riding in a vehicle, they need to have their masks on. If not out there doing the tasks, then we have not required it. And if her riding in a vehicle or in a closed building that would require them. But if they choose to wear a mask, of course, they have to wear a mask, if that makes it uncomfortable. But we don't -- what we have done and many of you I met with some of you individuals with the parties, that we met with the city council chambers, in social distancing. Okay. And it is a process, as staff brings this to your attention, and we have those in place. >> and if someone comes into city hall, do they have to wear a mask. If they have to repair the water bill, do they have to wear a mask if they come in? >> they don't have wear a mask if they come in. >> (Multiple speakers) >> I understand that. >> but up to tonight, we recommend that. We recommend mass bes and sanitizing and washing your hands, and all of those things. To see the change, if you come into city hall for whatever reason, you would be required in the area. But then the question becomes, it's not as simple as black and white. If it's not ten people in the lobby, you don't need a mask. It's not as simple as telling you that we to have do this. We can, because it's our building and we can require it. But as of the way that this is written today, the determination is based on our decision as a city. But that -- I just wanted to make sure that we're clear on that. And just saying okay. It's open, and the rules to provide what's enforceable. Do we want everyone to come in with a mask, that's why the signs are out front. And that's a question, are we going to preclude from someone -- at this point, we want it to reduce the amount that's in here. And taking water bills, and payments, cash payments in the window and the drop box, and the public comes in, we can require that, and at this point, we put a lot of -- we put barriers, about you we keep the social distancing and the interactions to a minimum and that's something that my staff and I will discuss in the morning. >> but I'm -- I'm concerned with the spring -- we're actually still on -- >> vice mayor, we're still on councilmember brown's comments -- (Multiple speakers) >> okay. Go ahead, christine. So the county's -- are we going to give warnings, are we not going to handout one hundred or 250 dollar tickets, we're going to just try to be a little bit more, come on now, you know what you're supposed to do. Just do it. >> okay. Very candid, as I spoke earlier. Our goal is to get compliance, we're going to go out to talk to these folks. And if we have issues to go off that. If someone says, we're going to have masks, you reach the level of enforcement, and we don't get the money, the county does, correct. So it's a violation. -- >> can we opt out of this. If we wanted to, because we're in the county. >> I see that. >> I see that. -- sorry, I was responding to an e-mail. >> oh, yes, we have to follow what the county mandate is in this stipulation. >> we can be more stringent, and what about -- andy, I have had several questions, and I see that it's really from the conceal questions, I thought that it was a little bit confusing when the county was talking about it. But it is a class four felony for someone to have the concealed -- (Multiple speakers) >> that's an interesting question, I guess we have to get a clarification on that you know, this is -- it's not intended for that kind of mask -- >> right. >> at least, from the written enforcement, we're going to be enforcing that. And the county -- the county does not require the face covering in a manner that violates the florida statues chapter 876. >> perfect. >> so that's the guidance there. >> okay. >> okay. So I talked to peter's -- peter had addressed that. And had spoken to the state and they said, no, it does not apply. >> thank you very much. That's all that I have. >> councilmember [Inaudible]. >> I was really pleased to see that they have the table distancing between the patrons. Trying to go out, and make sure like we did before. And now the table is with the people at them, with the 6 feet apart, so that's great, and I agree with paul, that I would have liked to see an age younger than 18. So be it. And so and um, small businesses can still require people to wear masks they can put a sign up and require it. I want them to have -- all indoor businesses require a mask. And I know one thing, I thought when I was hearing them talk about being in the key and all of the businesses are requiring masks, so that the people felt safe to be there. And if we do that, it's possible to advertise both and come here and everybody is wearing a mask and you feel safe and enjoy shopping and eating or whatever in a safe environment and we May get more patrons. The police to have masks and hand them to people if they need them. And even senior center, I know that had he have -- >> I can assure you that senior center has lent bonnie of those. As a city, we can do that and makes sense. And it's safer for them for the issues that -- >> to pass this, because we don't live in a bubble here. And that consistency is important here. And they jumped the ball and left everyone else to reality to it. And what they pass to it -- what they pass is a good measure. And it's extremely important there. And we put on masks at a minimum based on the law it would be unwise to go somewhere where you have one come in with you. Where there's less than ten. And we should all have the mask for us. And basically -- no matter what version we chose, is an enforcement nightmare. For the business owners, for their own establishments and there's a lot of people -- from where we are now and when we talk about the word safe, it is like the word clean in the environmental world, there's no safe, but it's safer. It's a safer measure than what we are doing and I trust city staff to come up with our own policies to how we handle things internally, and if we can make improvements on those, and to see what the county has done with the sake of consistency, let's move ahead on that. I basically agree with what we're suggesting and this is part of the county thing, and if it is the city requiring masks, and that's something that the city can do, so it's still within that, and it's not changing anything from the county. >> we cannot be less stricter than the county. >> yeah, that's what I'm saying. >> council men, or vice mayor? >> I believe. What we said was we can't be less restrictive but more restrictive on the city bases. I'm going to go back and make a motion if I can do that, that, the motion is (Indiscernible). Will require all public buildings, library and etceteras, if you go in, you must wear a mask unless you fall into the category of all of the health issues that we discussed -- (Multiple speakers) >> you (Multiple speakers) >> you have to make a consensus. >> if we're just looking for a consensus for direction in the administration. >> can we make a motion if no one has to make -- (Multiple speakers) >> there's no resolution of ordinance. Just have a consensus. We don't have a resolution or ordinance to vote on. >> I would like for the consensus to all wear a mask. And if you walk into a business, you wear a mask. And you're going to do it with or without. >> going with the -- >> I think that we should require all people with the aging brackets, to wear a mask or both. >> you asked for consensus with all three -- >> I'll go with consensus number one. With the consensus that all public buildings to wear a mask. >> I need to address the issue with the children's recreation program. Just the same issue with the county administrator spoke of. >> we are talking about city buildings. (Multiple speakers) >> right now, the children don't wear masks, right? >> yes. >> what about the adults? >> the adults to be required because they are my city staff, no one from outside. >> (Multiple speakers) >> but that's okay then -- >> that's fine. >> because kids under 18 don't have to do it. >> we don't have to do that -- >> that's a little off -- I can't do that andy?