Commission Approves City Mask Ordinance

Image: KOKH

The Ponca City Board of Commissioners met Monday evening at City Hall in regular session and approved a city ordinance that creates a new city code section to establish the required wearing of a protective face covering indoors within the city limits. This code amendment applies, “during a Public Health Emergency,” a situation already declared for Ponca City.

The measure passed with a majority of the Commissioners and the Mayor voting to pass, and Commissioner Shasta Scott being the lone vote against.

A large number of city residents attended the meeting, though most had to stand outside the commission chambers due to social distancing rules and limited seating. Many of the attendees were vocally against the new ordinance.

The mayor allowed a few residents to address the issue, providing each with a two-minute period to state their position. Individuals representing both sides of the issue spoke, with a clear majority of those present opposing passage of the ordinance.

The city will provide placards for businesses to post at their business entrance to indicate that the store intends to comply with the restriction and that entry to the business is contingent upon the customer wearing a mask.

There are exemptions to the ordinance, including participating in ‘competitive sports,’ or under certain conditions where store employees are protected by shields or screens.

Non-compliance with a business owner or manager’s  mask requirement can result in issuance of a trespassing citation and possible prosecution, according to City Attorney John Andrew.

The details of the ordinance, enforcement plan, and the exemptions, will be provided by the city in an upcoming news release.

In addition to the above, the commission voted to:

• Close a public street in the 1800 block of Queens Avenue
• Close a public street located north of the 100 block of East Gary Avenue
• Accept receipt of the FY 2019-2020 Annual Financial Statements and Independent Auditor’s Report for the city which showed no issues with the city’s financial management
• Approve determination of the ‘Gross Maximum Price’ with KSB Enterprises for construction of the new Public Safety Center at $17,465,712.74.
• deny an application from Rural Water District #3 for installation of a commercial water meter at 4011 North Pleasant View Road due to precedent and the fact that the land would not be annexed into the city limits.

Also accepted by the commission were the normal, non-controversial, and routine items such as:

• Acceptance of the previous meetings minutes
• Payment of city bills
• Designation of  certain city employees as Purchasing Officers
• Acceptance of a contract with Hembree and Hodgson Construction for a street improvement project on Oklahoma Avenue from Waverly Street to Lincoln Street in the amount of $280,299.83
• Approval of a design contract with MKEC Engineering for services regarding the re-decking of the Union Street bridge over Highland Avenue in the amount of $72,000.00
• Approval of final payment for the Marland Grand Home Improvements (Phase 2) in the amount of $11,878.80
• Authorization of the advertisement of bids for sidewalk maintenance for the time period 1 January 2021 through 30 June, 202
• Approval of a service agreement addendum with Honeywell Building Solutions for City Hall and Fire Station #1.

BELOW: City Attorney John Andrew addresses the Board of Commissioners during Monday evening’s meeting.

A full video of the meeting is linked below:

City Commission Meeting – 14 December 2020