Peachtree Corners Adopts Face Mask Ordinance, Face Mask Resolution For City-Owned Property

Press release from the City of Peachtree Corners:

09/08/2020

At its Tuesday, Aug. 25 meeting the City Council adopted an emergency mandatory mask ordinance to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ordinance requires that everyone in the city wear a facial covering or mask while in a commercial or public space. The requirement applies “at all times” when social distancing measures may be difficult to maintain from non-cohabitating persons.

The ordinance also includes a threshold requirement for enforcement. Specifically, the ordinance is only enforceable when the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Gwinnett County over the previous 14 days are equal to or greater than 100 cases per 100,000. As of September 7, 2020, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported 199 cases per 100,00 for Gwinnett County.

The mask ordinance does not apply to individuals:

• Who are eating or drinking;

• Who have difficulty donning or removing a face mask or face covering without assistance;

• Who have a bona fide religious objection to wearing a mask or face covering;

• Who have a bona fide medical reason not to wear a face mask or face covering; • Who are driving their personal vehicles or in their homes;

• Children under the age of ten (10);

The above bullet points are a summary of the exceptions, please read the full ordinance below for a complete list.

The city’s mask ordinance applies to individual businesses, such as grocery stores, shops and restaurants. However, businesses may opt out by posting signs at public entrances stating, “this location does not consent to enforcement of any local face covering requirement upon this property.”

The mask ordinance does not apply to residential property. However, it may be enforced against individuals on private property where the owner or occupant of the property consents to enforcement.

The mask ordinance will be enforced by the city’s Code Enforcement Officers and Gwinnett County Police Officers. It requires that enforcement personnel, prior to issuing a citation, issue a warning to noncompliant individuals. The warning must address the health risk posed by not wearing a face mask or covering. The city will supply a mask to anyone found in violation who cannot afford a mask or covering.

This emergency ordinance remains enforce for 30 days and expires on Sept. 25 unless re-enacted by a vote by council.

The city council also passed a resolution that stipulates that city employees are required to wear face coverings when in public areas of city buildings and when participating in physical meetings with others in non-public areas such as meeting rooms.

The resolution gives the city authority to require that persons wear face masks or face coverings on city property and inside city facilities, including City Hall, Curiosity Lab and on the Town Green. Appropriate signage has been posted at city facilities.

The resolution also states that the city will take reasonable steps to accommodate members of the public who affirm they cannot physically wear a face mask due to trouble breathing or are unable to remove a face mask or must be accompanies by children under age two (2) and will supply a face mask to those who do not have one.

The resolution was passed on August 25.

Click HERE to read the Face Mask Ordinance.

Click HERE to read the Face Mask Resolution.

This press release was produced by the City of Peachtree Corners. The views expressed here are the author’s own.