[Call to Order, Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance]
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REGARDING UNCHARLTED CHARTERED TERRITORY. T GOD BE WITH THE FIRST RESPONDERS. LORD, WE GIVE YOU THIS MEETING TO HELP US TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT REFLECT YOUR GODLY WISDOM. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE
INDIVISIBLE. >> WE'RE HERE TO TALK PRIMARILY ON THE COVID-19 SITUATION.
AND THE IMPACT ON MIDLOTHIAN, ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH THE UPCOMING EVENTS.
HOWEVER, ARE THERE ANY CITIZENS HERE WHO WISH TO BE HEARD ON SOME OTHER TOPIC? THEN WE'LL GO ON TO ITEM 2020-216 REVIEW OF THE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS REGARDING PUBLIC
[Item 2020-216]
GATHERINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND DIRECT STAFF AS NECESSARY. I WANT TO START WITH OUR SPEAKERS. WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS. I'LL BEGIN WITH JACKIE MCDONALD. IF YOU'LL GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.I'LL GIVE YOU A ONE MINUTE WARNING. I THOUGHT WAS I GETTING GOOD AT THIS. OKAY. DO I NEED TO SAY IT ALL AGAIN FOR THE RECORD? I JUST WANTED TO COME TO YOU TODAY BECAUSE I PERSONALLY SIGNED UP FOR THE PARADE ON SATURDAY. VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. IT'S SOMETHING MY KIDS ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT.
THEY'VE BEEN PLANNING ON HOW TO DESIGN OUR GOLF CART FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW.
I THINK THAT THERE IS A WHOLE LOT MORE TO THE DECISION THAT YOU'RE MAKING TODAY.
I UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF PEOPLE GATHERING IN MASSES. I GET IT.
WE'RE ALL VERY SCARED, NERVOUS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. A LOT OF US DON'T ENJOY WEARING MASKS. BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE IS OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO PLAY, INCLUDING SOCIAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.
PHYSICAL IS VERY IMPORTANT, ABSOLUTELY. BUT THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE SUFFERING BECAUSE THEY'RE IN ISOLATION. I THINK THE PARADE IS A GOOD THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THE OTHER FESTIVALS AND THE MOVIE NIGHTS IN THE PARKS, SOME OF THE OTHER EVENTS SCHEDULED ARE NEEDED FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE EMOTIONAL AND THE MENTAL WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE PHYSICAL.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SPEAK TODAY ON THE FINANCIAL ASPECT.
I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. I AM A BUSINESS OWNER, NOT WORKING. DOING MY THING. BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY INTO THESE EVENTS, INCLUDING THE CITY.
SO I THINK IT SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR DECISION. BUT PLEASE PLEASE CONSIDER LEAVING IT OPEN. DON'T SHUT US DOWN, DON'T ISOLATE US, PLEASE.
THAT'S ALL. THANKS. >> NEXT SPEAKER IS ALLIE
I WORK FOR MIDLOTHIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS THE SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR.
SO I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE WINE ARTS FESTIVAL THAT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR JULY 11TH.
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THIS FESTIVAL DOES BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER INTO TOWN, WHICH WE KNOW IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE AND IT'S VERY NEW. WE HAVE THINGS LIKE MASKS AND HAND SANITIZER TO HELP US PROTECT OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER FROM POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS AND CONCERNS. WE HAVE THINGS THAT ARE IN PLACE SOCIALLY LIKE SOCIAL DISTANCING THAT HELP US TO AVOID RISK. FESTIVALS DO PROMOTE OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. AND AS WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE PROBABLY SOME OF OUR HARDEST HIT CITIZENS IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW. SO PROMOTING BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW IS A BIG FACTOR THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER DURING THIS AS WELL AS HEALTH CONCERNS AS KEEPING OUR CITIZENS SAFE AND BUSINESS OWNERS SAFE DURING THIS TIME.SO WE JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT WE DO SUPPORT YOUR DECISION EITHER WAY OF WHAT WE SHOULD DO IN THE FUTURE. BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE VOCALIZE THAT WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES AND SUPPORT OUR ECONOMY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW AND HEAL LONG AFTER THIS WHOLE THING IS OVER. SO THANK YOU GUYS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LAURA. LAURA, I'LL GIVE YOU EXTRA TIME BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE YOU TO
EXPLAIN YOUR PLANS. >> ALL RIGHT. >> I LIVE AT 2429 MOON DANCE LANE HERE IN MIDLOTHIAN. CEO AT THE MIDLOTHIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS EVENT WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED WINE AND ARTS FESTIVAL WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 25TH. AND THEN IT WAS RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13TH.
AND OF COURSE, NOW THE LATEST DATE IS JULY 11TH. LAST WEEK, WHEN THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED NEW RESTRICTIONS, WE ADJUSTED OUR FESTIVAL TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THE SECURITY OF OUR ATTENDEES, OUR VOLUNTEERS, OUR VENDORS AND MY STAFF. WE ADJUSTED SEVERAL THINGS.
WE HAD DECIDED TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE ALL VENDORS SO THAT THE VENDOR BOOTHS WOULD NOT BE SET UP AT ALL. WE WOULD JUST MAKE IT A WINE WALK.
17 WINERIES IN A SIX-BLOCK AREA. WE FELT LIKE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD COME TO THE EVENT WOULD BE THE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE WINE WALK.
THAT WOULD GREATLY DECREASE THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES, DOWN TO ABOUT 500 TO 1000.
OUR PLAN THAT WE IMPLEMENTED WAS TO HAVE PEOPLE WHEN THEY PURCHASED THEIR TICKETS, ONLY BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THEM ONLINE SO THAT THERE WOULD BE NO STANDING IN LINES AT THE EVENT TO PURCHASE WINE TICKETS. WE WERE GOING TO IMPLEMENT A SELECT, LIKE THE DALLAS ZOO, WHEN YOU GO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS FOR THE DALLAS ZOO, YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM WHAT WINDOW OF TIME YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE. WE WERE PLANNING TO IMPLEMENT THREE-HOUR SLOTS. SO YOU WOULD BE PURCHASING TICKETS FOR TWO TO FIVE OR THREE TO SIX OR FOUR TO SEVEN AND SO FORTH. THE EVENT IS FROM TWO TO NINE.
WE THOUGHT THAT WAY GROUPS AND FAMILIES WHO WON'T TO ENJOY THE EVENT TOGETHER CAN ALL PLAN TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE SAME TIME SLOT. YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED I USED THE PAST TENSE ON ALL OF THAT BECAUSE IN SPITE OF ALL OF OUR HARD WORK, WE CAN'T GO FORWARD.
WE FEEL LIKE THAT WE'RE NOT SURE THAT WE COULD ENSURE SAFETY AND THE CHAMBER DARE NOT BRING CRITICISM TO THE COMMUNITY. IF WE HOST AN EVENT THAT BRINGS ILLNESS TO OUR CITIZENS. WE'VE INVESTED A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY AND IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION TO MAKE. BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND THE REST OF THE YEAR WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL PLAY OUT. BUT ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ASK ME QUESTIONS, ARE YOU? SO THE PLAN IS THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO CANCEL. WE CAN'T RESCHEDULED. FIRST OF ALL, IS IT EVEN PRACTICAL TO RESCHEDULE AGAIN? WE'VE ALREADY RESCHEDULED TWICE.
NOW WE'VE MOVED OUR GOLF TOURNAMENT INTO THE FALL. WE HOPE OUR GOLF TOURNAMENT WILL BE ABLE TO GO FORWARD. WE'RE UNSURE ABOUT THE FALL FESTIVAL.
YOU KNOW, THE FALL FESTIVAL HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE, I DON'T KNOW, THE '70S.
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AND WHEN THE CHAMBER FIRST HOSTED THE FALL FESTIVAL TO RAISE MONEY FOR RENOVATIONS OF THE CIVIC CENTER. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNEW THAT IS HOW THE FALL FESTIVAL GOT STARTED. AND THEY DIDN'T RAISE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE RENOVATION, SO THEY HAD TO DO IT AGAIN THE NEXT YEAR. THAT IS HOW AN ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL STARTED. SO THE FUTURE FOR THE CHAMBER DEPENDS UPON OUR MEMBERS REMAINING STRONG AND ACTIVE AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE THE CITY AND EDC AND SCHOOL DISTRICT CONTINUING TO SUPPORT US. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?>> LAURA, I APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AND EVERYTHING. YOU HAVE FULL SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL AND MYSELF. I CAN FEEL FOR YOU. BECAUSE I KNOW, I'VE WATCHED THIS NOW HOW MANY YEARS HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON, FIVE OR SIX?
>> I THINK SIX. >> SIX. EACH YEAR IT'S GOTTEN BETTER AND BETTER. SO WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL. COUNCIL MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR? WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF
LUCK. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO WISH TO SPEAK AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THIS POINT? ALL RIGHT.
COUNCIL, WE HAVE THREE PRIMARY THINGS TO CONSIDER. TWO NOW.
THE FIREWORKS, THE PARADE AND NOW THE WINE FESTIVAL HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM OUR CONSIDERATION.
AND THERE ARE OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE SUMMER. SO YOU'VE SEEN TWO EXAMPLES OF DECLARATION OR STATEMENT THAT CAN BE MADE. IT ONLY TAKES THE MAYOR'S DIRECTIVE TO ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO GO PAST THE GUIDELINES AS GIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR. BUT I WOULD NOT DO THAT WITHOUT THE INPUT AND SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL. THE FIREWORKS I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF.
THE PARADE, QUITE FRANKLY, I'VE WRESTLED WITH THAT. RIGHT NOW I'M SAYING NO. BUT IT'S NOT A HARD NO. AGAIN, I GO BACK AND FORTH ON THE PARADE.
THE BENEFIT OF IT VERSUS THE RISK. >> WE SAT AROUND AS A FAMILY THE OTHER NIGHT AND TALKING ABOUT THE PARADE. WE CAME UP WITH A DECENT IDEA THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE THEME OF WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. KEEPING PEOPLE APART AND MAKING SURE, I CAN AGREE WITH JACKIE, WE WOULD NEED IT MORE MENTAL THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
GIVE ME A SECOND HERE, BECAUSE IT WAS KIND OF STUPID WHEN IT STARTED COMING OUT.
BUT IT MADE A LOT OF SENSE WHEN WE GOT DONE. BETWEEN GEORGE HOPPER AND 287, THAT SECTION OF ROAD RIGHT THERE, HAS A HUGE MEDIUM IN IT. WE PUT THE PARADE ITSELF IN THE MEDIAN SITTING STILL, PEOPLE CAN STAY IN THEIR OWN CARS, MAKE A LOOP.
IT KEEPS THE DISTANCE, KEEPS PEOPLE SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER.
THE PARADE PARTICIPANTS, FLOATS AND EVERYTHING, JUST SIT. THE CARS DRIVE BY.
THE FAMILIES WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE CAN DRIVE BY IT OR STAY HOME.
IT ALLOW US TO HAVE A PARADE WITH 100 PERCENT CONTROL OVER THE PARTICIPANTS AND PEOPLE INSIDE. WE JUST BLOCK OFF BOTH ENDS OF 14TH STREET.
>> I WANT TO GO WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. MY WIFE IS UP IN REHAB AND THEY HAD A PARADE FOR ALL OF THE PATIENTS IN THE REHAB CENTER. THEY BROUGHT THEM ALL OUTSIDE, ALL AROUND THE BUILDING. AND LET THE FAMILIES AND THE VISITORS DRIVE BY AND HOLLER AT THEM THROUGH THE CAR. AND WE STAGED THE CARS IN FRANK SEAL MIDDLE SCHOOL.
IT FILLED THE LOT UP. THAT IS HOW WELL THAT WENT. I THOUGHT IT WENT VERY WELL.
YOU WEREN'T EXPOSING THEM AND YET, YOU WERE SEEING THEM, AND ABLE TO SPEAK.
COULDN'T SPEAK TO MY WIFE BECAUSE SHE WAS A LITTLE BIT COLD AND SHE HAD A BLANKET OVER HER HEAD AND SHE COULDN'T LET THEM TAKE IT OFF. BUT MOST PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE LIKE THAT. AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING WITH
THIS PARADE. I THINK IT MAKES SENSE. >> I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO DEVELOP A STAGING AREA FOR THE PARTICIPANTS THAT IS GOING TO DRIVE AROUND SO THEY'RE NOT
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JUST CLOGGING UP. >> I WANT SOME LOUD MUSIC. CAN WE HAVE MUSIC?
>> IN THE MEDIAN? >> AS PART OF THE STATIONARY PARADE?
>> I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME SOUND EQUIPMENT IN OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.
>> WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE A POWER SOURCE TO PLUG IT IN. I MEAN, IF WE CAN FIND POWER WE CAN PLUG IT IN SOMEWHERE. THE JEEP CLUB IS ONE OF THEM THAT SIGNED UP.
>> THE JEEP CLUB COULD PROBABLY HELP US. JULY 4TH APPROPRIATE.
>> I THOUGHT THIS WAS A WAY TO HAVE THE PARADE, HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OVER IT.
NOT WORRY ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE INFECTED. BECAUSE LITTLE KIDS RUNNING AROUND IN THE PARADE ARE GOING TO GET INFECTED WATCHING THE PARADE GO BY.
BUT IF THEY'RE IN THE CAR WITH THEIR MOM AND DAD, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE EXPOSED. THAT IS WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT.
>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. >> DO THEY JUST DRIVE BY ONCE? >> THEY CAN DRIVE BY AS MANY TIMES AS THEY WANT. THE PARADE GUYS GET THERE A COUPLE HOURS EARLY AND SET UP, CITY BLOCKS OFF BOTH ENDS OF THAT STREET. NO HOUSES ON THAT STREET.
NO REASON FOR ANYBODY TO BE ON THE STREET EXCEPT THE PARADE PEOPLE AND JUST MAKE A LOOP.
REVERSE PARADE. >> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING. STATIONARY PARADE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT DOES TRAFFIC FLOW WISE AND BLOCKS STREETS OFF AND POLICING IT.
BUT I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR HAVING SOME SORT OF EVENT, IF WE CAN PULL IT OFF.
>> CHIEF, DO YOU WANT TO SHARE SOME WISDOM WITH US? POLICE CHIEF.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT. DALE, YOU'RE NEXT. >> SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, WHERE WE BLOCKED OFF 14TH GOING SOUTH.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS BEYOND -- WE OWN THE STREET. SO WE CAN CAN CONTROL THE STREET FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME CHALLENGES BLOCKING THE STREET.
I GUESS IT'S OPEN TO EVERYBODY. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH BLOCKING WE WOULD DO.
HOW MUCH SAFETY DO YOU WANT TO HAVE BETWEEN THE MEDIAN AND THE ACTUAL MOVING CARS AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF THE TRAFFIC, THINGS LOGISTICALLY WE WOULD NEED TO WORK OUT.
IT WOULD JUST TAKE STAFFING. >> I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN WE HAD THE GRADUATION EVENT. IS IT EASIER FROM A TRAFFIC CONTROL STANDPOINT TO GO SOUTH OF THE BYPASS? BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
INSTEAD OF GOING BETWEEN GEORGE HOPPER AND 287, WE WENT FROM THE PARK TO MT. ZION BECAUSE WE
FELT IT WAS LESS INTERACTION, OR TRAFFIC CONTROL. >> THAT AND WE WERE TRYING TO AVOID SCHOOL PARKING LOTS AND THEIR PROPERTY. SO WE WEREN'T GOING TO GANG UP AND GET INTO THOSE PARKING LOTS. AND THAT IS A LONGER ROUTE.
YOU GET MORE FOLKS ALONG THAT ROADWAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF CONDITION THE CENTER MEDIAN IS ON 14TH. IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT SCENARIO. IF YOU CREATED A LOOP WHERE YOU HAD ONE-WAY TRAFFIC, IF YOU HAVE TWO-WAY TRAFFIC WITH THEM IN THERE, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO CONTROL SPEED AND YOU KNOW, HOW CLOSELY THEY GET TO THE PARTICIPANTS. IF THEY ARE ONE SIDE, YOU HAVE GOT THE MEDIAN AS A BARRIER, YOU'VE GOT EVEN MORE DISTANCING AND THEY'RE GOING ONE DIRECTION, IF THEY WANT TO LOOP BACK AROUND AND GO THROUGH A SECOND TIME, THERE IS PLENTY OF
OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT. I THINK IT CAN WORK. >> I'M HAPPY TO DO WHATEVER THE
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BALANCE OF COUNCIL WANTS TO DO. I'M DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE THAT IS GOING TO BE MUCH LESS FOCUSED ON CONTROL. I THINK IF THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO WORK IN A CONTROLLED MANNER, I'M HAPPY TO ABIDE BY THAT. I'M ALWAYS ONE FOR LESS CONTROL THAN MORE.BUT I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH Y'ALL. >> ON THAT NOTE, WE'RE HAVING 14 FLOATS, REGISTERED THIS YEAR AS OPPOSED TO 41. OR IS IT 17.
17 AS OPPOSED TO 41 AND THERE IS NO VENDORS. SO WE HAVE A SMALLER ENTITY.
YOU MAY HAVE MORE BANG OUT OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAN A SHORT PARADE.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE GOOD MUSIC. GENTLEMEN.
>> I FIND IT AN INTERESTING IDEA, OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING FOR SURE, WHICH I LIKE.
CREATIVE. I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF BLOCKING OFF ONE OF THE DIRECTIONS ON 14TH AND WE COULD SAY HYPOTHETICALLY THE COMMUNITY PARK IS THE STARTING POINT, IF YOU WANT TO DRIVE BY EVERYBODY IN THE PARADE AND IF YOU WANT TO GO OUT AND DO IT AGAIN,
YOU'RE WELCOME TO. I THINK IT COULD WORK. >> AS FAR AS I WAS, MY UNDERSTANDING THE GRADUATION PARADE WENT FINE DOING THAT. BLOCKED ONE SIDE.
THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OPPOSITE AS THE SPECTATORS PARKED AND THEN THE PARADE DROVE BY AND THEN THIS WOULD BE THE OPPOSITE. IT WORKED OUT FINE AS FAR AS
DOING IT THAT WAY. >> GOOD. >> GOVERNOR'S COVERS LIMITS OUTDOORS ACTIVITY 100 PARTICIPANTS HOWEVER, THE MAYOR AND/OR COUNTY JUDGE CAN
SUPERCEDE THAT WITH A STATEMENT. >> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT TAKES ANY OFFICIAL ACTION OF THE MAYOR JUST DECLARING THE EVENT WITH
RESTRICTIONS OR IF THERE ARE ANY RESTRICTIONS. >> YEAH.
I THINK JUST WITH RESPECT TO EACH EVENT THAT YOU'RE CONSENTING TO, JUST A PROCLAMATION THAT SETS FORTH ALLOWING THE EVENT, TIMES, AND ANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS YOU WOULD IMPOSE ON HOLDING THE EVENT AS IT RELATES TO THE HOST AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
>> SO THE FIREWORKS WE'RE GOING FORWARD, EXCEPT NO PARTICIPANTS IN THE STADIUM.
AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CONGREGATE, ALLOWED TO GET TOGETHER DIFFERENT PLACES.
AND THOSE PLACES LIKE AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH PARKING LOT, MORE THAN 100, AS LONG AS THEY
KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. >> I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT HERE AFTER WE DISCUSS SOME OF THESE OTHERS. BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I'VE BEEN
ASKED WITHIN MY HOUSEHOLD. >> WELL, THE PARADE. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PARADE AS DISCUSSED AND THEN THE CHAMBER HAS WITHDRAWN THE WINE FESTIVAL WINE WALK.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY THREE. >> WHAT ABOUT MOVIES AND THE PARK?
>> MOVIES IN THE PARK, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT UP TO THE CITY.
>> I THINK OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO CANCEL AT THIS POINT. THIS ISN'T A GERMANE THING, BUT AS OF LATE LAST WEEK, WE'VE BASICALLY LOST OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.
BECAUSE WE HAD A POSITIVE TEST, THE REST OF THEM HAD TO QUARANTINE.
SO WE'RE WITHOUT A PARKS DEPARTMENT IN EFFECT UNTIL NEXT WEEK.
FORTUNATELY, OUR STREET DEPARTMENT HAS SAID THEY WOULD STEP UP AND HELP.
WE WEREN'T SURE IF WE WERE GOING FORWARD WITH THE PARADE OR NOT.
THEY SAID THEY WILL STEP UP AND TRY TO DO WHAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WAS DOING.
BUT WHEN IT GETS INTO MOVIES IN THE PARK AND THOSE THINGS, AT THIS POINT, AT LEAST FOR THE JULY 11TH ONE, WE WOULD LIKE TO CANCEL. AND THEN KIND OF WAIT AND SEE YOU KNOW, HOW THINGS GO BEFORE WE GET TO THE NEXT ONE. THAT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION.
BASED ON SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITH OUR STAFF HERE AT THE CITY.
>> THAT WAS AS OF FRIDAY, I BELIEVE. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
>> HOW MANY? >> WELL, WE'VE ONLY GOT ONE POSITIVE.
>> BUT 14 OF THEM HOME. >> THEY WERE ALL TOGETHER. >> IS COUNCIL OKAY WITH
CANCELLING THE MOVIE IN THE PARK FOR THE 11TH >> I AM.
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>> CONSENSUS ON THAT. STATEMENT WILL BE PREPARED. GIVEN THAT COUNCIL WON'T SEE
IT, IT WILL BE PREPARED. >> RIGHT. I MEAN, YEAH STAFF WILL PREPARE A PROCLAMATION. WE'LL BE GLAD TO OBVIOUSLY REVIEW IT, JUST TO MAKE SURE IT READS HOW YOU WANT IT TO READ. I KNOW WE'VE JUST KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THE PARADE AND HOW THAT WILL BE HELD. I'M SURE THERE ARE STILL A LITTLE ADDITIONAL PLANNING THAT STAFF AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO DO TO WORK OUT THE LOGISTICS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PUBLISH THE GUIDELINES THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED. I'M GUESSING IT WILL PROBABLY BE YOU KNOW, THIS EVENING OR SOMETIME TOMORROW BEFORE THAT GETS WORKED OUT.
>> YEAH. WE'LL WORK ON IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK WE'VE GOT THE FIREWORKS BASICALLY DONE. AND AS THE MAYOR STATED, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THE MULTI-PURPOSE STADIUM PARKING AREA IS STILL GOING TO BE OPEN.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM THE DISTRICT. SO WE WOULD STILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO PARK IN THERE, INCLUDING THE OTHER PLACES AROUND TOWN THAT PEOPLE PARK.
WE'LL JUST DO THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SOCIAL DISTANCING ET CETERA.
WE WILL HAVE TO WORK ON THE PARADE STUFF, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
BUT WE'LL WORK SOMETHING UP REGARDING THE PARADE ROUTE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, ET CETERA
AND GET THAT PREPARED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER DOES APPLY TO PRIVATE EVENTS INSIDE TO PRIVATELY SPONSORED EVENTS AS WELL AS PUBLICLY SPONSORED EVENTS. OF COURSE, AS YOU MENTIONED, FIRST BAPTIST TYPICALLY HAS, AND STILL HAS ON ITS CALENDAR, PENDING WHATEVER COMES OUT OF THIS MEETING, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE ITS ANNUAL HOSTING OF THE FIREWORKS, WITH PEOPLE PARKING IN THEIR PARKING LOT.
WHICH TYPICALLY DRAWS MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE. I KNOW I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS OBVIOUSLY WITH MY WIFE WHO IS ON THE CHURCH STAFF, WHO WAS, THEY WERE HAVING A STAFF MEETING, WEEKLY STAFF MEETING THIS AFTERNOON. I MEAN, YOU STILL HAVE TO APPROVE THOSE AS WELL. EVEN THOUGH IT'S A PUBLIC SPONSORED EVENT, UNDER THE
GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER. >> GENERAL STATEMENT TO COVER THE CITY OR DO WE HAVE TO GO --
>> WE CAN. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS YOU KNOW, KIND OF DIFFERENT EVENTS, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S SOMETHING LIKE JUST OCCUPYING A PARKING LOT, DOING THE SOCIAL DISTANCING, OBVIOUSLY I THINK I RECOMMENDED TO YOU KNOW, MY WIFE THAT SHE PASS ON TO STAFF, MIGHT BE THAT IT FOLLOWS SOME OF THE GUIDELINES, WHATEVER YOU'RE IMPOSING FOR THE CITY PARKING LOT AREA WITHIN THE CITY. I MEAN, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING, THAT IS FINE. BUT I THINK YOU STILL HAVE TO AFFIRMATIVELY AUTHORIZE IT IN ANY CASE. AND I KNOW THE CHURCH IS PREPARED TO TAKE SOME, IS ALREADY PREPARED, I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THEIR SELLING CONCESSIONS LIKE THEY WOULD NORMALLY DO, LIKE THEY HAVE DONE DO MISSION FUND RAISING THAT THEY DO EVERY YEAR WITH THE YOUTH. THEY SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT AS PART OF THE EVENT LIKE THEY NORMALLY WOULD. I SUGGESTED A FEW OTHER THINGS, SUCH AS PARKING IN EVERY OTHER PARKING SPACE, WHICH WOULD GIVE A DISTANCE BETWEEN VEHICLES, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
I KNOW THE CHURCH STAFF THERE, THAT IS THE ONLY OTHER SPECIFICALLY FORMAL EVENT THAT I'M AWARE OF. THERE MAY BE OTHERS THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT MAY HAVE
THAT MANY PEOPLE. >> DO YOU THINK WE JUST DRAFT LANGUAGE THAT OUTLINES GUIDELINES THAT IF YOU ARE GATHERING IN ANY SPACE, ANY OPEN PARKING AREA, ET CETERA, THAT YOU APPLY THESE GUIDELINES TO THAT, BUT WE CAN KIND OF COVER THE CITY, IF YOU'RE GATHERING TO WATCH FIREWORKS SHOW, IF YOU'LL MAINTAIN THESE PROTOCOLS, YOU'RE AUTHORIZED TO
HAVE IT. >> THAT'S FINE, IF WE DO MORE OF A BLANKET PROCLAMATION, THAT WOULD BE FINE. OF COURSE, THE ONE QUESTION OBVIOUSLY IS GOING TO BE MASK REQUIREMENT. WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN THAT REGARD.
WHETHER YOU WANT TO REQUIRE THEM OR NOT REQUIRE THEM. YOU KNOW, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT. THAT ONE ASPECT. BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE IS PRETTY WELL STANDARD WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. BUT THE MASK THING KIND OF HIT AND MISS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE AND WHO IS MAKING THE DECISION.
>> WELL, I WILL HIGHLY RECOMMEND >> NOT REQUIRE.
>> NOT REQUIRE. JUST TELL THAT WE EXPECT MERCHANTS TO SET THEIR OWN RULES WITHIN THEIR STORES. WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS ENFORCEABLE, NOT THAT IT HAS
ANY TEETH. >> OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, KIND OF WITH
[00:30:05]
RESPECT TO THESE OUTDOOR EVENTS OF MORE THAN 100, KIND OF WORKS THE SAME WAY AS HIS ORDER REGARDING STORES. YOU KNOW, HE CAN'T, THE CITY STILL CAN'T IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON MASKS, REQUIREMENTS ON MASKS FOR INDIVIDUALS, THEY CAN STILL DO IT ON EVENT HOST AND MAKE THEIR ATTENDEES. SO THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY QUESTION.IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT, DO THE HIGHLY RECOMMEND. THAT IS FINE.
>> WE'RE JUST USING THE WORDS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED IN ALL OF OUR STATEMENTS, STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED IF YOU CAN'T MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING. >> RIGHT NOW THAT IS WHAT OUR LANGUAGE IS. IF THE COUNCIL IS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
>> I'M GOOD. >> AS FAR AS SIGNING IT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PREPARED UNTIL
AFTER THIS SESSION. >> THAT'S FINE. BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR HAS EMPOWERED MAYORS AND COUNTY JUDGES TO EXECUTE THOSE UNDER HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, IT DOES NOT TAKE A FORMAL, ANY FORMAL COUNCIL ACTION TO DO THAT. SO THAT IS FINE.
>> YOU WOULD HAVE THAT AUTHORITY UNDER EMERGENCY DECLARATION POWERS ANY WAY.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MOTION TO ADJOURN THEN.
>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT, SAY
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.