CCMIN 02162021 - Laserfiche WebLink

In response to Councilmember Balch's inquiries, City Manager Fialho confirmed state officials review county level and not something as specific as the Tri-Valley. He confirmed the Tri-Valley cities could not create their own health rules superseding the County. In response to Councilmember Balch's inquiries, City Manager Fialho reported less than five Pleasanton businesses have required more than one visit by either the PPD or code enforcement officers to gain mask compliance. He advised there was opposition to the closure of certain activities early on in the pandemic, but eventually, everyone understood the significance as the pandemic grew. In response to Councilmember Balch's inquiries, City Manager Fialho advised he could not speak for the PPD's interest in this matter but noted he shared the statistics to show there is no correlation between each Tri-Valley city's enforcement policies and its case numbers. He credited the City's well- informed, educated, law-abiding residents for self-policing and a high participation rate for mask- wearing. He commented the PPD will do as it is directed and while they would rather not be put in a position where there is a conflict with the public they will enforce the laws. He advised the initial touch with this mandate would be light and education-oriented. In response to Councilmember Narum's inquiries, City Manager Fialho clarified the City itself has to follow the County order just like any other business. He advised there is signage at city-owned building entrances and screeners at the front doors looking for masks. He added it is an employment mandate for City employees. He reported the guidance on the national and regional level is for those who have been vaccinated to still wear a mask because they could still be a carrier. He advised that unless health orders are amended as vaccinations become more prevalent the City would rely on the more restrictive order between the County and State. In response to Mayor Brown's inquiries, City Manager Fialho theorized that calls to PPD regarding mask non-compliance would be weighed based upon the current call volume and the urgency of those calls. He reported the City has responded to complaints about businesses and others not complying but does so without the ability to issue citations. He explained it would be an extra tool for the officers. He commented that residents and officers alike would simply have to trust the residents are being truthful in regards to people with them who are in their daily social bubbles because it would be hard to verify in many cases. He advised the City would take guidance from Dublin and Livermore which have the mechanism for public enforcement but the reality is the enforcement is targeted towards businesses creating an unsafe environment because that is where the spread originates. In response to Mayor Brown's inquiry, City Manager Fialho clarified Alameda County gives cities the right to create enforcement policies. He noted no police agency in the County wants to issue citations for non-mask compliance and having it placed on people's criminal records. He advised Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley does not plan to adjudicate those cases leaving cities with the administration. He confirmed Livermore and Dublin are the only two cities in Alameda County with such a mask-wearing ordinance. Mayor Brown opened public comment. Emma Reddy expressed support for a meaningful mask-enforcement mandate on behalf of her many friends and family members who have contracted COVID-19 due to the preventable selfishness of others. She recommended many good uses for money generated from the fines. Isabella Mariano reported she regularly sees maskless people in City parks and asked the Council to consider a monetary fine quickly. Juliana Meirelles expressed concern for Pleasanton citizens and asked the Council to consider a better enforcement method including fines to help get back to normal sooner. City Council Minutes Page 12 of 16 February 16, 2021