Edmond extends mask mandate, but no emergency
EDMOND—Edmond' s City Council has extended the city's ordinance requiring citizens to wear masks in public by almost five weeks.
Council members voted 3-2 in favor of an amendment extending the city' s mask mandate until Oct. 12. The ordinance was originally set to expire Sept. 8. During the meeting, supporters and opponents of the amendment dialed in to the virtual meeting to discuss the mandate.
The council passed the mask mandate in late July, but it won't go into effect until Aug. 26. The panel hasn't mustered the four votes needed to declare the ordinance an emergency, which would allow it to be implemented i mmediately. An ordinance goes into effect 30 days after passage unless declared an emergency.
Before passing t he ordinance, council members voted to “strongly recommend” that citizens wear masks in public.
Edmond resident Christin Mug gs poke in favor of the amendment, saying that the original 12-day mandate would not be effective.
“The current mandate doesn't seem to have made an impressionable difference in the reduction of our numbers in the Edmond community,” she said.
Leslie Ma hans aid she feels the city has already done enough to combat the coronavirus.
“I feel, just as the other people were saying, that we have already flattened the curve,” she said. “We've been doing everything that they have been asking us to do, and I don't feel that we should be extending this ordinance out any further than we've got.”
Council members discussed whether they would consider extending the ordinance in the future. Mayor Dan O'Neil, who voted against Monday's amendment, said each council member would have to decide individually whether to vote for an amendment in the future.
“We'll look at the numbers when we see it and we'll make our best judgement at that time,” O'Neil said. “I don't think you can ask us to do anything else. We think that we will have some trend lines that are positive, but you never know, OK?”
City Manager Larry Stevens said law enforcement officials will respond to reports of mask mandate violations, but that the city hopes Edmond residents will continue to voluntarily wear a face covering in public.
“Our goal is always and remains voluntary compliance,” he said.
To report a mask mandate violation, citizens can contact the city's code administrator at 580-359-4793. They may also visit the city's website at https://edmondok.com and click on the “Report a concern” tab.