HomeMy WebLinkAbout25. 21-221APRIL 27, 2021 21-221 ORDINANCE
FIRST READING
(CARRIED 5-2 LOST_______ LAID OVER_______ WITHDRAWN_______)
AS AMENDED
PURPOSE: CREATE ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE FACE COVERINGS IN
RESPONSE TO COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY
(PROPOSED EXTENSION OF EXISTING ORDINANCE TO MAY 31,
2021)
INITIATED BY: CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh
adopted Resolution #20-103 declaring a state of emergency in the City of Oshkosh as a
result of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the City of Oshkosh has broad authority to act for the health, safety
and welfare of its citizens and others within its boundaries under Chapters 62, 64 and 66
of the Wisconsin Statutes and in particular Sections 62.04 and 62.11(5) of the Wisconsi n
Statutes; and
WHEREAS, the emergency power granted to governing bodies by Wis. Stat. §
323.14(4)(a) includes the general authority to order, by ordinance or resolution, whatever
is necessary and expedient for the health, safety, protection, and welfar e of persons and
property within the local unit of government in the emergency; and
WHEREAS, many individuals with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or may
experience a delayed onset of symptoms, during which time such individuals may
transfer the virus to others; and
WHEREAS, wearing a cloth face covering over both the nose and the mouth
greatly reduces the risk of continued community spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends
the use of cloth face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for all people 2 years
of age and older in public settings and when around people who do not live in
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their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to
maintain; and
WHEREAS, despite the progress and the development of vaccines, the COVID-
19 virus continues to spread within the community and new and variant strains of the
virus have developed which may be more contagious and spread more easily; and
WHEREAS, Studies have shown that wearing a cloth face covering can prevent
the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, a Scientific Brief: Community Use of Cloth Masks to Control the
Spread of SARS-CoV-2 (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/masking-
science-sars-cov2.html) published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) concludes: “Experimental and epidemiological data support community masking
to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The prevention benefit of masking is derived from
the combination of source control and personal protection for the mask wearer. The
relationship between source control and personal protection is likely complementary and
possibly synergistic, so that individual benefit increases with increasing community
mask use.... Adopting universal masking policies can help avert future lockdowns,
especially if combined with other non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social
distancing, hand hygiene, and adequate ventilation”; and
WHEREAS, the City of Oshkosh has an interest in protecting the public health,
safety, and welfare of the citizens of Oshkosh from the continued spread of COVID-19
throughout the community; and
WHEREAS, an ordinance requiring face coverings to be worn by any person in a
public place within the City of Oshkosh directly serves that interest by avoiding and/or
reducing the further spread of COVID-19 and minimizing the strain on health care
resources, while enabling the continuation of essential services, businesses, and social
and commercial life during the state of emergency; and
WHEREAS, based upon information and input from federal, state and local public
health officials the City of Oshkosh determined that a face covering requirement was
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necessary to protect persons within the City of Oshkosh and adopted a Face Covering
Ordinance on March 9, 2021 with an expiration date of April 30, 2021 ; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council desires to extend the City of Oshkosh Face
Covering Ordinance to May 31, 2021.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH DO
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. City of Oshkosh Ordinance: Face Coverings Required, is hereby
created to read as follows:
FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED
(A) Within Buildings and other Enclosed Spaces.
Except as otherwise specifically provided below, every person age five (5) years and older
who is present in any Enclosed Space Accessible to the Public shall wear a Face Covering
that completely covers their nose and mouth when another person or persons who are
not members of the individual’s household or living unit are present in the same room or
enclosed space.
Property owners, businesses, organizations or other entities owning or controlling
Enclosed Space Accessible to the Public shall require every person age five (5) years and
older who is present in areas subject to this ordinance to wear a Face Covering that covers
their nose and mouth when another person or persons who are not members of the
individual’s household or living unit are present in the same room or enclosed space.
(B) In or on Public Transportation or In Transit Facilities.
Except as otherwise specifically provided below, every person age five (5) years and older
who is driving or riding in or on Public Transportation shall wear a Face Covering that
covers their nose and mouth. Owners and/or operators of any vehicle offered for Public
Transportation shall require every person age five (5) years and older to wear a Face
Covering that covers their nose and mouth while in or on Public Transportation.
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Except as otherwise specifically provided below, every person age five (5) years and older
who is present in or at the Downtown Transit Center or a Transit Shelter or who is in line
for Public Transportation in any outdoor area that is unable to maintain a social distance
of at least six (6) feet from any other persons not within their same household unit shall
wear a Face Covering that covers their nose and mouth.
(At the time of adoption of this ordinance. Public Transportation is covered by an
order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention effective February 1,
2021 requiring persons age two (2) years and older to wear a face mask that completely
covers both the nose and mouth while awaiting, boarding, disembarking, and
traveling on public transportation and while at public transportation facilities or bus
stops.)
Definitions
For purposes of this ordinance the following definitions shall apply:
“Face Covering” means a manufactured or homemade covering of cloth or other material
that completely covers a person’s nose and mouth and that is secure and remains affixed
in place without the use of one’s hands. Face Coverings shall be secured with ear straps
or otherwise tied so as to prevent slipping, fanning up or gaps in coverage. Face
Coverings include, but are not limited to, bandanas, medical masks, cloth masks,
disposable or paper masks, and scarves, provided that they are worn in such a way that
completely and securely cover the person’s nose and mouth. Face Covering does not
include mesh coverings or coverings with holes, exhalation valves/vents or openings.
“Enclosed Space Accessible to the Public” means any interior area of any structure or
premises open to or used in whole or in part by the public, and to which the public
customarily has access, but does not include any private residence.
“Public Transportation” means public transportation in or on City Transit Department
vehicles or paratransit vehicles, whether such vehicles are operated directly by the City
Transit Department or under contract with a private contractor ; taxis; ride-sharing
vehicles; or any other vehicle for hire.
“Transit Facilities” means the City of Oshkosh Downtown Transit Center and any City
of Oshkosh transit shelters.
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Exceptions
(A) Governmental Facilities.
This ordinance shall not apply in governmental facilities owned or operated by United
States of America, State of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin and Fox Valley Technical
College, Winnebago County, and Oshkosh Area School District facilities.
Individuals are encouraged to wear a face covering but this ordinance shall not be
interpreted to limit persons from registering for or exercising the right to vote within City
Hall or polling places for Federal, State or local elections.
(B) Public Transportation.
This ordinance shall not apply in or upon Public Transportation or Public Transportation
Facilities which are subject to a current order issued from the State or Federal
Government.
(At the time of adoption of this ordinance. Public Transportation is covered by an
order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention effective February 1,
2021 requiring persons age two (2) years and older to wear a face mask that completely
covers both the nose and mouth while awaiting, boarding, disembarking, and
traveling on public transportation and while at public transportation facilities or bus
stops.)
(C) Temporary Removal of Masks Authorized.
Individuals may temporarily remove their face covering under the following
circumstances:
1. While eating, drinking, or sleeping
2. When communicating with an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing and
communication cannot be achieved through other means
3. When, to the extent necessary, a Face Covering must be removed in order to
receive services (for example certain medical and dental services)
4. When necessary to confirm the individual’s identity
5. When federal or state law or regulations prohibit wearing a face covering
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(D) Exemptions.
The following persons are exempt from the requirement to wear a Face Covering:
1) persons who are having difficulty breathing, unconscious, incapacitated or
otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance
2) persons who have chronic upper-respiratory conditions
3) persons within work settings where a Face Covering would create a risk to the
person related to their work as determined by government regulation
4) persons with medical conditions, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental
health conditions or sensory sensitivities that prevent or impair the person’s ability
to wear a Face Covering
5) persons engaged in exercising at a gym or other indoor facility so long as
separation is at least 6 feet and the individual wears a Face Covering when not
actively engaged in exercising
6) persons engaged in sporting competitions or practices at a gym or other indoor
facility so long as the individual wears a Face Covering when not actively engaged
in the competition or practice
7) while a single individual is giving a religious, political, media, educational, artistic,
cultural, musical, or theatrical presentation for an audience, the single speaker
may remove the face covering when actively speaking. While the face covering is
removed, the speaker must remain at least 6 feet away from all other individuals
at all times
Non-Compliance
Any property owner, business, organization or entity that fails to comply with this
ordinance shall be referred to the Winnebago County Department of Health.
Owners, businesses, organizations and other entities are encouraged to offer
accommodations for those persons wishing to receive goods or services but who are
unable or unwilling to abide by the requirements of this ordinance within buildings open
to and accessible by the general public such as online ordering, drive thru services, pick-
up and delivery.
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Any person who fails to comply with this ordinance may be asked to leave by any
property owner, business, organization or entity. Persons refusing to leave when asked
may be subject to citation for trespass or other applicable law or regulation based upon
their conduct.
Effective Date / Duration
This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and publication and shall remain in effect
until May 31, 2021, or until 50% of Winnebago County Residents have completed the
vaccine series as reported by the Winnebago County Health Department, or until
termination of the state of emergency in the City of Oshkosh as a result of COVID-19
declared by Resolution #20-103, whichever is earlier; unless extended or earlier
terminated or modified by the Oshkosh Common Council or by passage of regulations
by the United States Congress, State of Wisconsin or other entity with authority to
supersede this ordinance which explicitly repeals or invalidates this ordinance, in which
case this ordinance shall automatically repeal upon the superseding authority becoming
effective with no further action required.
In the case of regulations by the United States Congress, State of Wisconsin or other entity
with authority to supersede this ordinance which do not specifically and/or explicitly
repeal or invalidate this ordinance, this ordinance shall remain in effect until the date
specified above, unless extended or earlier terminated by action of the Common Council.
It is the intention of the Common Council that unless specifically and/or explicitly
repealed, superseded or otherwise invalidated by the action of the United States
Congress, State of Wisconsin or other entity, that this ordinance shall be superseded only
by legislation at least as restrictive as this ordinance and only for the duration of the
superseding legislation, but shall not be repealed and shall automatically become
effective upon termination of the superseding legislation without further action of the
Council being required.
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Publication Notice
Please take notice that the City of Oshkosh enacted ordinance #21-221 CREATE
ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE FACE COVERINGS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY on April 27, 2021. The Ordinance extends the already
existing requirements for face coverings for anyone age five (5) years or older in buildings
and other enclosed spaces when another person or persons not a member of the same
household are present. The ordinance does not apply to other governmental entities
including the school district, state and federal entities which may establish their own
rules. The ordinance also recognizes that face coverings in or on public transportation
including GO Transit, taxi cabs and ride share services are currently required for persons
age two (2) years and older under federal order, but would apply to public transportation
should that federal order terminate. The ordinance allows for a number of exceptions
common with State and other municipal orders including while eating and drinking;
when necessary to receive certain services, persons with chronic upper respiratory or
other medical or other disabilities that may prevent or impair the person’s ability to wear
a mask; persons engaged in exercise and individual speakers or performers. The
proposed ordinance anticipates soft enforcement, with owners of businesses not in
compliance referred to the Health Department for education and individual enforcement
limited to those refusing to leave if asked by a business or property owner being subject
to citation for trespass or other applicable violations.
The ordinance becomes effective upon passage and publication and terminates on May
31, 2021. The ordinance would automatically repeal should the County, State or Federal
Government adopt regulations specifically repealing or invalidating the terms of this
ordinance. Should the County, State or Federal Government adopt regulations not
specifically repealing or invalidating local requirements, the ordinance would be
superseded for the period of the County, State or Federal regulation then remain in effect
until terminated on May 31, 2021 or until 50% of Winnebago County Residents have
completed the vaccine series as reported by the Winnebago County Health Department,
or as may be provided by further action of the Common Council.
The full text of the ordinance may be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk, 215 Church
Avenue and through the City’s website at www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. Clerk’s phone:
920/236-5011.
Bold & Italics Indicates Amendment