Tag Archives: Mandatory face coverings

#Masks4All, Benicia City Council, Benicia city staff, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Mandatory face coverings

Benicia City Council considers mandatory face mask order – staff recommends approval

The following business item is on the Benicia City Council agenda for Tuesday, June 16, 2020.  Below you will find instructions for sending your comment to staff and council members.

14.A – RESOLUTION REQUIRING THE WEARING OF FACE COVERINGS IN BENICIA (Assistant City Manager)

At the May 26, 2020 City Council study session, the City Council deliberated the merits of mandating the wearing of face coverings in Benicia. Council directed staff to collect data on COVID-19 infections and prepare a resolution requiring the public to wear face coverings indoors and in enclosed public spaces in Benicia. Staff has returned to Council with the requested data and resolution.

Recommendation:
Move to adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) requiring the wearing of face coverings in indoor and enclosed public spaces in Benicia.

COVID-19 Data from Bay Area Counties – click for larger view, or download PDF version.

 

HOW TO SEND YOUR THOUGHTS TO STAFF AND COUNCIL

(from a Benicia Happenings post by Jennifer Hanley)

ALL THE INFO YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, JUNE 16th @ 7pm!
**They’ll be voting on the mask mandate, so send in your comments and explain why it is so important!!

-View live broadcast Ch 27, Tuesday, 6/16 at 7:00pm
-Watch Online at http://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agenda
-Re-broadcasts on Ch 27: Thurs & Tues following the meeting, 8:30am

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS BY EMAIL
(copy the below email group and paste into “To:” field of email)

LWolfe@ci.benicia.ca.us, EPatterson@ci.benicia.ca.us,  CStrawbridge@ci.benicia.ca.us, TCampbell@ci.benicia.ca.us , SYoung@ci.benicia.ca.us, LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us, LTinfow@ci.benicia.ca.us, AShear@ci.benicia.ca.us, BStock@ci.benicia.ca.us

You may choose to identify yourself, or remain anonymous. Briefly state which issue you will be speaking to. Limit submission to 750 words, or about 5 minutes reading length for clerk. ** Emails received PRIOR to 3pm on the meeting day will be distributed to council members, read privately, and recorded. Emails received AFTER 3pm & BEFORE 7pm on the meeting day will be collected by the clerk and read out loud during the council meeting broadcast.

SHARE COMMENTS VIA TELEPHONE DIAL-IN

Call in via Zoom: (669) 900-9128
Follow prompts, Meeting ID: 826 4906 6719 — Password: 440887
You will be placed in a virtual waiting room/queue. You will be prompted by the city clerk when it is your turn to share your comments. You will only have five minutes to speak (hard stop, no exceptions). Once complete, you will be muted to the council.

MAIL IN COMMENTS VIA USPS
Comments may be submitted by letter via the postal service. Standard postage will apply.
MAIL TO: City Clerk, Lisa Wolfe, 250 E L. Street, Benicia, CA 94510
Mailed comments must be received by end of business day on the day of the meeting and a copy will be distributed to each attendee.

For questions re: agenda, how to connect, submissions, contact:
City Clerk, Lisa Wolfe
250 E. L. Street, Benicia, CA 94510
LWolfe@ci.benicia.ca.us or (707) 746-4200
Business office hours 8am – 5pm.

View Current/Scheduled Meeting Agendas:
https://tinyurl.com/BeniciaCityCouncilAgenda

Guide to Council Meetings & Public Comment:
https://tinyurl.com/BeniciaCityCouncilGuide

Previous Council Meeting Agendas & Minutes:
https://tinyurl.com/BeniciaCCMPastMeetings

[Other City Officials that may Attend}
Lisa Wolfe – City Clerk
Lori Tinfow – City Manager
Alan Shear – Asst City Manager
Ben Stock – City Attorney
mgiuliani@ci.benicia.ca.us – Economic Dev, Mario Giuliani
police@ci.benicia.ca.us – Police Chief Erik Upson
JChadwick@ci.benicia.ca.us – Fire Chief, Josh Chadwick
mdotson@ci.benicia.ca.us – Parks & Community, Mike Dotson

#Masks4All, Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, Face coverings

Don’t want to wear a mask? (update: DON’T) Come to Benicia!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: See Benicia City Council adopts mandatory face mask order, June 17, 2020

Want to open your business to customers without masks?  Good thing your store is here in Benicia!

By Roger Straw, May 28, 2020

As COVID-19 deaths topped 100,000 in the US, and on the same day that our sister city Vallejo ratified an emergency order requiring the mandatory wearing of face coverings in enclosed public spaces, Benicia’s City Council, after 4 ½ hours of contemplation,  decided to leave it up to you.

Gee, that’s nice.

Well, hold on a minute – the City RECOMMENDS that masks be worn in enclosed spaces.  And officially, we abide by the Solano County guidelines, that STRONGLY recommend face coverings.

But for now there’s no order, no mandate, no requirement – wear one or don’t!  And if the store you want to shop at requires face coverings, sniff around – you can probably get by without a mask at some other store here in good ol’ business-friendly Benicia.

Business owners can decide for themselves whether to require masks.

Oh but not so fast, business owners: Prepare to be “educated” into requiring masks in your facility.  As Vice Mayor Christina Strawbridge said at the Council meeting: “I believe the City’s attempt to educate rather than legislate will be the best solution.”

Um, what’s wrong with educate AND legislate??  Seems a good way to get more compliance.

As for me, for now I think I’ll shop in Vallejo.

Here’s the Benicia City Council on May 26, hearing from a bazillion residents begging for a mandatory face covering order and deciding to do, well, basically nothing.  (Warning – 4 ½ hours long!)

Benicia CA, Benicia City Manager, Mandatory face coverings

City of Benicia This Week – a great source for local news

Today’s weekly newsletter from Benicia City Manager Lorie Tinfow is  full of important and interesting information.

Today for instance, you will find excellent clarifying info on Solano/Benicia rules for retail openings, and short articles on upcoming City Council consideration of mandatory face coverings, Benicia Farmers Market, Library book drops, public works week, high heat warnings, the 2020 Census and various press releases.  See below…

You can sign up to receive City of Benicia This Week at http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1101367385783

 

City of Benicia This Week

read it – watch it – like it – share it

Highlights:  City Sets a Modified Reopening for June 1, Outdoor Activities and Encroachment for Business Order, Downtown Business Walk, Library Book Drop, Farmers Market Returns, Public Works Week, Census Reminder, High Heat This Week

May 25, 2020

Happy Memorial Day!
Today is the traditional start of summer and a heat wave is forecast for the next few days. In times past, the City’s facilities-the senior center, the library, and the pool-served as cooling centers for those who don’t have air conditioning at home. This year is different with those facilities remaining closed because of the pandemic emergency. Even so, we are still here for you! If you need assistance, please call the Community Services Phone Line at 707.746.4285, Monday through Friday, 8:30 – 5:00 or email pcs@ci.benicia.ca.us. And remember the following heat wave safety tips:
  • Check in on those most susceptible to heat impacts
  • Reduce outdoor activities, especially in the afternoon
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Wear light, loose-fitting clothing
  • Apply sunscreen regularly when outdoors
  • Know where shade is available
  • Don’t leave pets or children in cars
It’s never been more important than it is now to check on your senior neighbors, friends and family members, during the pandemic when seniors need to stay home. We will be checking on the seniors who regularly participated in our programs. Please join us in reaching out to those you know and let’s take care of each other!
On a different topic, last Friday, Solano County amended its shelter-at-home order to allow more business sectors to begin the safe reopening process under a set of specific safety parameters. Businesses newly allowed include destination retail stores (such as bookstores, jewelry stores, toy stores, clothing stores, home furnishing, sporting goods, florists), shopping malls, swap-meets, dine-in restaurants, and office-based business operations. Patrons visiting businesses should look for social distancing protocols, occupancy limits, and extra sanitary activities such as use of hand sanitizer. Face coverings are not required but are strongly recommended. Businesses are also required to post signage certifying compliance with the regulations that apply to their business type. For more information about restaurants, please see the COVID-19 Dine-in Restaurants Checklist and for retail, please see COVID-19 Retail Checklist. Risk of virus transmission remains an active threat so please take steps to protect yourself and if the business you want to visit doesn’t meet the requirements, don’t patronize it! For questions about the regulations, Solano County has a warm line about COVID-19; call 707.784.8988 or email covid19@solanocounty.com, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tomorrow night, the Council is holding a study session to discuss ideas related to assisting businesses during COVID-19 as well as how to proceed related to face coverings in Benicia. This meeting will be held via teleconferencing; click here for the agenda. The meeting is broadcast in the usual ways-on Channel 27 and via the City’s website. Speaking of helping businesses, please take a look at the press release at the bottom of this newsletter to learn about City action taken last Friday to streamline the process for outdoor dining and shopping.
Thank you for your interest in the City of Benicia This Week! 
Lorie Tinfow
City Manager
COVID-19 News
memorial-day-cemetery.jpg

City Sets a Modified Reopening for June 1:  Typically, we would be announcing that we are closed today in observance of Memorial Day. But as most City facilities have been closed due to the State’s shelter-at-home order, we are taking the opportunity to remind that the City will begin reopening with modified services on Monday, June 1. Details were shared in last week’s message.

The annual Memorial Day Ceremony, sponsored by Benicia Historical Society, has been canceled this year. Due to the historically large turnout for this event, it has been canceled for the health and safety of attendees. Please take time today to honor military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
outdoor-breakfast-man.jpg

Outdoor Activities and Encroachment for Business Order:  Late Friday, City Manager Lorie Tinfow signed her third order as Emergency Services Director. The order streamlines the process for businesses to expand operations into outdoor locations to allow for social distancing, allowing for businesses to set up seating in their parking lots, on neighboring property with owners’ permission, or in the public right of way.  Click here to view the order. Business owners will find the Temporary COVID-19 Outdoor Activities and Encroachment Agreement application beginning on page 5 of the order. The completed application and property permission should be submitted to City Manager Lorie Tinfow at ltinfow@ci.benicia.ca.us or Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani at mgiuliani@ci.benicia.ca.us.

A big THANKYOU goes to Republic Services. In recognition of increased outdoor dining and picnicking, they have agreed to add an additional day of garbage pick up from cans on First Street at no additional charge to the City of Benicia.
Library Book Drop:  Benicia Public Library will begin accepting book returns with a new process. Due to the need to quarantine items for 72 hours before staff handles them, (Covid-19 lives that long on plastic), library staff will open the outside book drops twice a week. Upcoming dates are:
  • May 26, 12 – 6 p.m. or until full
  • June 1, 12 – 6 p.m. or until full
  • June 5, 12 – 6 p.m. or until full
More dates are to be announced. Books may also be returned to any Solano Library location, open daily. Library staff ask that you do not return Link+ items, LaunchPads, or eBook Readers. If you are unable to return items during these hours, do not worry. Fines are not being accrued until further notice. Please note that the library is unable to accept book donations at this time.

Farmers Market Returns:  After review by City staff in the special events process, one of the first events to return from quarantine is Benicia Main Street’s  Certified Farmers Market, on Thursdays, 4-8 p.m., starting June 4. Please note, however, that this farmer’s market will be smaller and operate with more rules than in the past. Details follow.

The farmers market provides fresh, healthy food for our community. Best practices will be implemented to protect customers, farmers, and staff to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, with guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Department of Food & Agriculture, and California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets.
Per orders of the State & County only farmers and prepackaged food vendors may participate in the market. No sampling will be allowed. There will be no hot food, arts & crafts, jump houses, face painter or music at this time.
If you plan to attend, Benicia Main Street asks that you:
  • Come prepared and limit your visit time.
  • Wear a face mask/face covering before entering the market.
  • Clean/Sanitize your hands.
  • Honor social distancing of six feet while at the market.
  • Observe all posted signage and demarcated lines, which signal where customers should wait, six feet apart, while in line.
  • High risk groups should send another family/household member or neighbor to shop for them.
  • Always stay home if you are sick.
  • Visit booths with shorter lines first.
  • Always cough or sneeze, into your arm or a tissue, away from people and food.
  • As always, wash your fruits and veggies when you return home.
City News
Benicia Public Works Week 2020
Benicia Public Works Week 2020
Public Works Week:  “The Rhythm of Public Works” was the theme behind American Public Works Association’s (APWA) annual National Public Works Week, held this year May 17-23.
APWA’s municipalities across the country celebrated the Week by teaching their communities the importance of public works to improve the quality of our daily lives, giving a voice to the impact that the many facets of public works have on a community.
From providing clean water at your tap, disposing of solid waste, to engineering and administrative services that maintain, operate, repair, and where necessary, improve City public facilities, responding to natural or manmade disasters, public works services determine a society’s quality of life.
 
Benicia Public Works invites you to view this video showing what Public Works does in the City of Benicia. You can honor the vital contribution public works professionals make every day and celebrate their quiet dedication and indispensable influence on our way of life. Show your appreciation by spreading the word on social media with the hashtag #NPWW or #TheRhythmofPublicWorks.

Census Reminder:  If you have completed the 2020 U.S. Census, thank you! If you haven’t taken it yet, please do so as soon as possible. Taking the census now will avoid a census working having to come to your home to complete the census for your address.

You can take the Census online, by phone or by mail. It’s confidential, quick and easy. Your response helps determine how $1.5 trillion in funding is allocated to our community every year. Click here to take it online. Additional information is available at https://solanoedc.org/census/complete-count-2020/.
High Heat This Week:  Our first heat wave of the year is forecast for this week with the highest temperatures occurring Tuesday through Thursday. The Benicia Public Library is typically used as a cooling center but as it remains closed, along with the James Lemos Swim Center, due to their being classified as phase 3 closures, residents should take extra precautions to remain hydrated, limit time outdoors, and dress for the heat.
Press Releases
Recent City of Benicia press releases are available on the City of Benicia website under Main/Announcements.
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City of Benicia This Week is published weekly. Previous editions are available here.

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#Masks4All, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Mandatory face coverings, Vallejo CA

Vallejo City Council to consider order on mandatory face coverings

Vallejo City Council asked to OK requirement that face coverings be worn in all public buildings

The Vallejo City Council will decide on Tuesday whether to ratify an order requiring persons in town to wear a face covering when entering a public building, and outside when unable to be six feet apart. Chris Riley – Times-Herald file photo.

Vallejo Times-Herald, by John Glidden, May 23, 2020

Vallejo leaders will be asked Tuesday to ratify an order requiring the mandatory wearing of face masks when entering any enclosed space open to the public in the city of Vallejo.

The order, requested by the mayor and several other members of the Vallejo City Council, would extend to all persons entering grocery stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, laundromats, dry cleaners, hardware stores, commercial office buildings, tobacco stores, restaurants, bars or pubs, any medical facility, senior care facilities, and any religious building in Vallejo.

The order also extends to all government buildings, police station, marina, and fire stations in the city of Vallejo.

“There is significant evidence that the wearing of face masks, especially in enclosed public places, reduces the risk of transmitting the Novel Coronavirus which causes the disease COVID-19,” city staff wrote in a report to the city council. “However, it is not a guarantee that someone will not contract the virus.”

Vallejo City Manager Greg Nyhoff, serving as the city’s director of emergency services, issued the order which stipulates persons are not required to wear a face mask when outdoors “unless it is not possible to maintain a distance of six feet from every other person.”

“In the event that a person cannot maintain the aforesaid six feet outdoors, then that person shall be required to wear a face mask,” the order states.

The order applies to individuals over the age of 5, and face coverings are not required to anyone “who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance, anyone with a disability or medical condition for whom wearing a face mask is not recommended by their healthcare professional, and/or any other person exempted by any federal, state or local law or regulation.”

It also requires any person entering residential buildings consisting of at least two dwelling units to wear a face mask when in the lobby, hallway, stairwell, elevator, laundry room, garage or any other enclosed areas which are accessible to more than one dwelling.

Staff admitted that enforcement of the order may be problematic.

“Officers who are already spread thinly may receive multiple calls from the public about people who are not wearing masks,” staff added. “This, along with the current level of service calls, may increase work loads and potentially other more important calls.”

Solano County has not issued any order requiring the wearing face masks while out in public.

The emergency order will take effect at midnight on the day it’s signed by Nyhoff.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vallejo City Council will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, via teleconference. Those wishing to address the council on the emergency order can submit a comment via https://opentownhall.com/8868.