BROOKINGS – Brookings city councilors will hold another reading, discussion and possible action Tuesday on Ordinance 20-010, a move to keep business regulations in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The special city council meeting starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers of the Brookings City & County Government Center.
First up on the agenda are the oaths of office for Joey Collins and Ope Niemeyer, winners of the recent Brookings City Council election. The only other major item on the agenda is consideration of Ordinance 20-010.
Ordinance 20-010 amends Emergency Ordinance 20-007, “to address a public health crisis and to revise certain measures which have been deemed necessary to slow the community spread of COVID-19,” according to an attachment to the council agenda.
Ordinance 20-007 was enacted to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and provides additional requirements for restaurants, bars, grocery stores, casinos, gyms, salons as well as other similar businesses.
The rules currently in place include:
Restaurants/bars
• Maximum of 10 customers or 50% occupancy, whichever is greater
• Groups of 10 or less and 6 feet apart
• Cleaning of high-touch areas/materials between users
• Screening employees recommended
• Employees required to wear masks
• Cleaning of used spaces before and after each customer
• No self-serve buffets or salad bars
• No sharing of condiments unless wiped between use
Grocery, casinos, gym and recreational facilities
• Cleaning of equipment after use by customer and/or employee
•Maximum of 10 customers or 50% occupancy
• Employees of grocery stores will wear masks
• Protective measures/operations will be provided
Salons/barber shops
• Customers 6 feet spacing and recommend service by appointment-only
• Employees will wear masks
• Clean equipment before and after each customer
• Adequate social distancing for waiting customers
Administrative exemptions allow for requested flexibility.
Ordinance 20-007 is set to expire July 14. Last week, Ordinance 20-010 was read to extend the current regulations with the addition of bars. Councilors voted 6-1 on the first reading of the extension, with Leah Brink casting the lone “no” vote.
On Tuesday, the council has the options of approving the ordinance as presented, amending the ordinance, denying the ordinance or doing nothing.
If approved, the ordinance would be extended for an additional 60 days, according to the council agenda attachment.
“Should the ordinance fail, an emergency resolution will be required or the current ordinance will expire by the next regularly scheduled meeting,” City Manager Paul Briseno said in a memo to the council, attached to the agenda.
Contact Jill Fier at jfier@brookingsregister.com.
