Warnings, civil penalties on agenda at June 26 virtual Commission meeting

BY TERRY SCHMIDA

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

As national early-open efforts offer instructive experience to municipalities everywhere, the City Commission will soon tighten up COVID-19 precautions during the upcoming Independence Day festivities.

The Commission will convene a hastily scheduled virtual meeting at 10 a.m. Friday, June 26 to consider “An uncodified Ordinance of the City of Key West, Florida, to mandate that individuals wear a face covering in public . . . declaring this Ordinance to be an Emergency Measure; providing for penalties,” according to the meeting agenda. This COVID-19 ordinance forms part of final preparations for one of the biggest tourist weekends of the year.

In response to comments from commissioners at their most recent regularly scheduled online gathering, it is hoped the proposed changes will provide flexibility to the authorities, and polite but firm incentives to the local citizenry.

“My understanding is that there will be a proposal to allow the police and code officers to issue civil citations to people not wearing masks, instead of the criminal citations they’ve had to work with so far,” said District II Commissioner Sam Kaufman, who also serves as Vice-Mayor. “They’re also going to be allowed to issue warnings, which sounds like a reasonable place to start with some changes. We’re not trying to punish people. We’re trying to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

The trade-off, Kaufman implied, is that with the reminders from the authorities and penalties reduced, people are going to be expected to do their bit by respecting the new provisions along with the spirit in which they were conceived.

“That’s where the personal responsibility aspect comes into it,” said Kaufman. “Like if someone forgets to put one on. I’m assuming the vast majority will want to comply and will appreciate the reminder; and that they’ll act accordingly.”

There are those, including Mayor Teri Johnston, who are determined to celebrate Independence Day in a responsible fashion. At the previous meeting she described herself as “very concerned” at the risky behavior of tourists on Duval Street, and their lessons for the Fourth.

Kaufman added that the Commission will also consider proposals to move Fourth attendees off the beaches, and disperse them through the streets, and vote to confirm the authorization of the Rotary Club of Key West to conduct their annual fundraiser on and around the (Edward Knight) White Street Pier; the centerpiece of every annual fireworks display.

“We’re working within county and state governance, even as we’re taking a look at what some of the other municipalities are doing with their Fourth of July celebrations,” he said.

The City Commission will convene again for a regular virtual meeting on July 21.

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