City Council Meeting Recap 5.12.20

Here is the video from today’s meeting:

Here are a few of the main items the Birmingham City Council discussed at the May 12th, 2020 Meeting

Morehouse -Tuskegee Football Classic Contract — Referred to Committee of the Whole

The Birmingham City Council heard a presentation from Mayor Randall Woodfin about two items dealing with Legion Field hosting an HBCU football classic event between Morehouse College and Tuskegee University, and voted to refer the items to a Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting.

One of the items, if approved, would finalize contracts with each school to receive $50,000 ($100,000 total) for two years, with the first game to be held in October of this year. The other item would finalize an Agreement to provide up to a combined $500,000 of incentives and in-kind services for the Morehouse — Tuskegee Classic for each year.

“Shelter in Place” Ordinance Amendment

The Birmingham City Council voted to amend the City’s “Shelter in Place Order” to remove the curfew, but to continue compliance with the orders of the State Health Officer. The amended order will now be in place until 11:59pm on May 22nd.

Here are the provisions of the amended Ordinance:

(a) The public safety curfew imposed by Ordinance №20–71 shall no longer apply.

(b) All businesses within the City of Birmingham shall comply with the Order of the State Health Officer, as amended May 8, 2020, as it is or may be amended. The restrictions detailed in the Order of the State Health Officer are hereby adopted by reference in this ordinance. Businesses should refer to and comply, to the maximum extent possible, with the related guidance for various businesses published by the Alabama Department of Public Health and available here.

© All non-work gatherings of any size where a consistent distance of at least six feet cannot be maintained are prohibited, until further released by order of the State Health Officer. This provision does not apply to gatherings within a single household or living unit. “Drive-in” gatherings of any size are permitted if they comply with the conditions set out by the State Health Officer’s Order of May 8, 2020. Gatherings may be held at places of worship, subject to the conditions in the State Health Officer’s Order and should refer to the guidance published by the Alabama Department of Public Health, as noted in (b), above.

(d) Social distancing and recommended hygienic practices shall be observed, to the maximum extent possible, when traveling by local public transit or public service vehicles. Transportation in Interstate Commerce is not governed by this ordinance.

(e) Workplaces, businesses and activities closed by order of the State Health Officer shall remain closed to the public.

(f) Retailers allowed to reopen pursuant to the State Health Officer’s Order as of 5:00 p.m. on April 30, 2020 shall do so in compliance with the rules set out therein. (Emergency maximum occupancy rate of 50% of the normal occupancy load as determined by the fire marshal, with the rate posted in a conspicuous place and employees posted at entrances and exits to enforce the requirement; requiring customers or patrons to maintain social distancing of six feet between individuals; and reasonably comply with CDC and Alabama Department of Public Health COVID-19 sanitary guidelines.) Restaurants and bars, athletic facilities, places of worship, and close contact services businesses reopening on or after May 11, 2020 shall comply with the rules set out in the State Health Officer’s Order of May 8, 2020.

(g) The City shall work with governmental and nongovernmental partners to provide emergency shelter, to the extent possible, to unhoused persons in the City. Providers shall make all efforts to provide protection from the spread of COVID-19.

(h) Future, more stringent measures, if any, imposed by order of the Jefferson County Health Officer, made with the approval of the State Health Officer, or by the State Heath Officer related to matters referenced in this ordinance shall apply. The council may impose a new curfew if conditions worsen and require stronger measures to further reduce the spread of COVID-19.

(i) The provisions of this ordinance shall not be independently used by a law enforcement officer as reasonable cause for a traffic stop.

Face Covering Ordinance Extended

The Birmingham City Council voted to extend the City’s Face Covering Ordinance until 11:59pm on May 22nd.

The exceptions to the Ordinance are listed below, with a new addition allowing for face coverings to not be worn while eating or drinking in a restaurant.

Exceptions:

(1) Face coverings or masks are not required to be worn over the face during individual outdoor exercise, for example, walking or jogging, but must be worn when encountering and interacting with groups of other people in a park or other public place. For the purposes of this subsection, “exercise” includes other forms of physical exertion, whether for recreation or work, where unrestricted breathing is needed to perform the activity.

(2) a. Children two (2) years of age and under, as face coverings or masks may pose a risk of choking, strangulation or suffocation to infants and young toddlers. Carriers and strollers with coverings that allow the child to breathe comfortably are alternatives for infants and young toddlers.

b. Parents, guardians, and caregivers shall be responsible for ensuring proper masking of children over the age of two (2) years when in public but must ensure that the face covering or mask does not pose a choking hazard for children older than two (2) and can be safely worn without obstructing a child’s ability to breathe.

c. Parents, guardians and caregivers of children eight (8) years old or younger shall exercise judgment regarding the ability of those children to consistently wear a face covering or mask.

d. Parents, guardians and caregivers shall exercise judgment and avoid bringing children not wearing face coverings or masks into public places, especially where contact with vulnerable individuals is expected, due to concerns of health officials that children may be asymptomatic spreaders of COVID-19.

e. Daycares and other childcare establishments shall provide parents with information on the facility’s procedures for use of face coverings or masks. Where the consistent use of face coverings or masks are not possible due to supervision of multiple children, the facility shall adhere to sanitary, hygienic and face covering practices to the maximum extent practicable.

(3) Patients in examination rooms of medical or dental offices or clinics or hospitals where there is a necessity to examine or treat the mouth or nasal area, subject to the direction of the medical or dental professionals in charge of the office, clinic or hospital.

(4) When wearing a face covering or mask poses a greater mental or physical health, safety or security risk such as anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance. For purposes of this subsection, “safety risk” shall include external factors, such as, but not limited to, where wearing a face covering or mask may pose a risk to persons working on ladders or at height, wearing other respiratory protection, heavy physical exertion or operating heavy equipment or operating in an environment where a face covering or mask hinders communications. However, employers are encouraged to structure work to promote social distancing and limit close content as much as possible within in workplaces where face coverings or masks may pose such risks.

(5) When eating or drinking in public at a restaurant, bar or other food or beverage establishment operating under conditions required by the state health officer’s order.

Full Agenda

International Nurses Day

Council President William Parker took some time to honor nurses on International Nurses Day and throughout 2020 National Nurses Week.