UPDATE: Story now includes information from the city concerning the date the ordinance is expected to go into effect.
On Monday night, the Salina City Commission passed Ordinance No. 20-11034 requiring the wearing of masks or other face coverings in public spaces.
The ordinance addresses the requirements of persons, businesses, organizations, and non-profit associations; outlines specific exemptions from the requirement of wearing masks or other face coverings; and addresses the penalties for a first, second, and any subsequent violations of the ordinance.
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption and publication once in the official city newspaper, the Salina Journal, which is anticipated to be Thursday, July 9, according to a news release issued by the city Tuesday evening. The mask requirement will remain in place until repealed by the city commission, the news release noted.
Following is a copy of the ordinance. You also can read it on the city's website by clicking here.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 20-11034
AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING THE WEARING OF MASKS OR OTHER FACE COVERINGS IN PUBLIC SPACES.
WHEREAS, securing the health, safety, and economic well-being of residents of the City of Salina is the priority of the City Commission; and
WHEREAS, the United States Departments of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for COVID-19 beginning January 27, 2020, with now more than 2,580,000 cases of the illness and more than 126,000 deaths as a result of the illness across the United States; and
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020; and
WHEREAS, a State of Disaster Emergency was proclaimed for the State of Kansas on March 12, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant an emergency declaration for all states, tribes, territories, and the District of Columbia pursuant to Section 50 1 (b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5121-5207 (the "Stafford Act''); and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 of the National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. § 1601, et seq. and consistent with Section 1135 of the Social Security Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 1320b-5), declared a national emergency that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency beginning March 1, 2020; and
WHEREAS, as of this date, in Kansas there have been 14,990 reported positive cases of COVID-19 spread among 97 counties, including 272 deaths; and
WHEREAS, after a steady trend of decreasing metrics, recent weeks have seen the numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths spike in Kansas and across the nation; and
WHEREAS, in Saline County, there is a recent increase in cases as is reported; and
WHEREAS, this of increased COVID-19 spread is a danger to the health and safety of residents of Salina and also presents a serious threat to reopening and reviving the Salina economy; and
WHEREAS, wearing a mask in public is the easiest and most effective way to protect each other and help keep our businesses open and our economy running; and
WHEREAS, the City of Salina must remain flexible to account for the evolving nature and scope of the unprecedented public health emergency posed by COVID-19, while also simultaneously safely, strategically, and incrementally reopening business and facilitating economic recovery and revitalization; and
WHEREAS, for the aforementioned and other reasons, and in recognition and furtherance of our responsibility to provide for and ensure the health, safety, security, and welfare of the people of the City of Salina, requiring that masks or other face coverings be worn in public spaces is necessary to promote and secure the safety and protection of the civilian population, SO NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED by the Governing Body of Salina, Kansas:
Section 1. Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings:
a. "Mask or other face covering" means a covering of the nose and mouth that is secured to the head with ties, straps, or loops over the ears or is simply wrapped around the lower face. A mask or other face covering can be made of a variety of synthetic and natural fabrics, including cotton, silk, or linen. Ideally, a mask or other face covering has two or more layers. A mask or other face covering may be factory-made, sewn by hand, or can be improvised from household items such as scarfs, bandanas, t-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels.
b. “Public space” means any indoor or outdoor space or area that is open to the public; this does not include private residential property or private offices or workspaces that are not open to customers or public visitors.
Section 2. Requirements of persons. All persons in the City of Salina shall cover their mouths and noses with a mask or other face covering when they are in the following situations:
a. Inside any indoor public space where distancing of 6 feet at all times is not possible;
b. In line and waiting to enter an indoor public space;
c. Obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings, including but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank, unless directed otherwise by an employee or healthcare provider;
d. Waiting for or riding on public transportation or while in a taxi, private car service, or ridesharing vehicle; or
e. While outdoors in public spaces and unable to maintain a 6-foot distance between individuals (not including individuals who reside together) with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity.
Section 3. Requirements of businesses, organizations, and non-profit associations. All businesses, organizations and non-profit associations in the City of Salina must require all employees, customers, visitors, members, or members of the public to wear a mask or other face covering when:
a. Employees are working in any space visited by customers, members of the public or co-workers, who are present at the time;
b. Employees are working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others;
c. Customers, members, visitors, or members of the public are in a facility managed by the business or organization; or
d. Employees are in any room or enclosed area where other people (except for individuals who reside together) are present and are unable to maintain a 6-foot distance except for infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity.
Section 4. Exemptions. The following individuals are exempt from wearing masks or other face coverings in the situations described in Sections 2 and 3:
a. Persons age five years or under; children age two years and under in particular should not wear a face covering because of the risk of suffocation;
b. Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering—this includes persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a face covering could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance;
c. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, or communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication;
d. Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines;
e. Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service;
f. Persons who are seated at a restaurant or other establishment that offers food or beverage service, while they are eating or drinking, provided they maintain a 6-foot distance between individuals (not including individuals who reside together or are seated together) with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity;
g. Athletes who are engaged in an organized sports activity that allows athletes to maintain a 6-foot distance from others with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity;
h. Persons who are engaged in an activity that a professional or recreational association, regulatory entity, medical association, or other public-health-oriented entity has determined cannot be safely conducted while wearing a mask or other face covering;
i. Persons engaged in an activity or event held or managed by the Kansas Legislature;
j. Persons engaged in a court-related proceeding held or managed by the Kansas Judiciary; and
k. Persons engaged in any lawful activity during which wearing a mask or other face covering is prohibited by law.
Section 5. Enforcement, violations and penalties.
a. Any person, business, organization, or non-profit association violating the provisions of this ordinance shall be guilty of misdemeanor, punishable by:
1. A fine of no less than twenty-five ($25.00) dollars upon a first violation.
2. A fine of no less than fifty ($50.00) dollars upon a second violation.
3. A fine of no less than one hundred ($100.00) dollars upon a third or subsequent violation
b. Each occurrence of a violation of this ordinance shall be considered a separate and distinct violation.
Section 6. Effective. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption and publication once in the official city newspaper by the following summary:
Ordinance No. 20-11034 Summary
On July 6, 2020, the City Commission passed Ordinance No. 20-11034. The Ordinance requires the wearing of masks or other face coverings in public spaces; addresses the requirements of persons, businesses, organizations, and non-profit associations; outlines specific exemptions from the requirement of wearing masks or other face coverings; and addresses the penalties for a first, second, and any subsequent violations of the Ordinance. A complete copy of the Ordinance can be found at www.salina-ks.gov or in the office of the City Clerk, 300 W. Ash, free of charge. This summary is certified by the City’s legal counsel.