Mayor of Fernandina Beach makes masks mandatory

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — Mayor John Miller has made masks in Fernandina Beach mandatory.

Thursday he signed an emergency order, by unanimous decision by the Commission making the following requirements:

• Every person over the age of 6 in an indoor space
• Every operator, employee, customer or patron of a business establishment must wear a face mask or covering at all times while indoors at that business establishment

EMERGENCY ORDER — COVID19-MANDATORY MASKS

RESOLUTION 2020-94

In part...

WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, in response to the World Health Organization's declaration of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order Number 20-51, declaring a State of Florida Public Health Emergency associated with the threat to Florida residents associated with COVID-19 and invoking the State of Florida emergency response actions by the Florida Department of Health and the State Health Officer; and

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, in response to eight counties in Florida with positive COVID-19 cases, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order Number 20-52, directing the Director of the Division of Emergency Management, as the State Coordinating Officer, to execute State of Florida's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other response, recover, and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency; and

WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, the City Manager and Mayor John A. Miller declared a local state of emergency via Resolution 2020-48 pursuant to the City of Fernandina Beach Emergency Management Plan; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to invoke the City's Home Rule Powers under the Florida Constitution and the City's Emergency Management Plan in order to enable the City of Fernandina Beach to respond to its obligations under Governor DeSantis' Executive Orders 20-51 and 20-52 and to appropriately respond to the needs of the City of Fernandina Beach and its citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, THAT:

(1) Every person over the age of six (6) who is in a public indoor space must wear a face mask or covering when not able to engage in social distancing.

Every operator, employee, customer or patron of a business establishment must wear a face mask or covering at all times while indoors at that business establishment unless he or she is able to engage in social distancing or unless wearing a face mask or covering significantly interferes with the provision or receipt of goods or services offered or received at that establishment (i.e. patrons at a restaurant, clients at a barber shop or hair salon, patients at a dentist's office).

Public safety, fire, law enforcement, and other life safety personnel are exempted from this requirement, as their personal protective equipment requirements will be governed by their respective agencies.

ADA ACCOMMODATION. When a customer of a business establishment asserts that he or she has a disability that prevents the individual from wearing a face mask or covering, the owner, manager, or employee of the business establishment may exclude the individual, even if they have a disability, as they pose a direct threat to the health and safety of employees and other customers, even if asymptomatic, and shall accommodate the disabled individual in a manner that does not fundamentally alter the operations of the business establishment nor jeopardize the health of that business’s employees and other customers, such as providing curb service or delivery or other reasonable accommodation.

EFFECTIVE DATE. This Emergency Order Resolution 2020-94 is effective immediately upon executing and will expire thirty (30) days from the date below unless extended by subsequent order.

NOT IN CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW. This Order is in addition to any Executive Orders issued by Governor DeSantis.

ENFORCEMENT. This Emergency Order will be enforced pursuant to Section 252.47, Florida Statutes by local law enforcement. Violation of this Emergency Order is punishable pursuant to Section 252.50, Florida Statutes as a criminal misdemeanor of the second degree.

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