11/14/2020
At the November 3 City Commission meeting the City Commissioners were petitioned to take up the face covering request. A Special Meeting was held on November 11 at 10:00 am. After public comments and Commission discussion, Ordinance No. 2884-2020 passed 3-2 and becomes effective on Monday, November 16, 2020. Here are the exemptions:
• Persons age five (5) years or under; children age two (2) years
and under in particular should not wear a face covering
because of the risk of suffocation;
• 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 a face covering without
assistance;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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 six (6) foot distance between
individuals (not including individuals who reside together or
who are seated together), with only infrequent or incidental
moments of closer proximity;
• Athletes who are engaged in an organized sports activity that
allows athletes to maintain a six (6) foot distance from others
with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity;
• 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 face covering;
• Persons who are discharging duties as a first responder (law
enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians),
when the wearing of a face covering would interfere with the
safe and efficient performance of their duties;
• Persons engaged in a court-related proceeding held or
managed by the Kansas Judiciary; and
• Persons engaged in any lawful activity during which wearing a
face covering is prohibited by law.
• Persons engaged in religious activities protected by the First
Amendment to the United States Constitution, including, but
not limited to, worship services.
From and after November 16, 2020, this ordinance shall be effective until December 16, 2020. If the Governing Body intends to extend for an additional thirty (30) days, the date this ordinance will continue to be effective, it shall do so by a majority vote of the Governing Body at their meeting on December 15, 2020.
For questions regarding the ordinance, please contact Jennifer Cunningham at [email protected] or 620-276-1157
More information and the full ordinance can be found here: https://www.garden-city.org/Home/Components/News/News/1255/16