HomeMy WebLinkAboutWaterloo EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION-05.13.2021PROCLAMATION DECLARING
A CIVIL EMERGENCY
ISSUED BY MAYOR QUENTIN HART
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has reported an outbreak of thousands of
cases of COVID-19 in multiple countries, causing illness and deaths, and has declared the
outbreak a global pandemic; and
WHEREAS, The Governor of Iowa issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency
on March 17, 2020, and since that date has continued to implement measures to limit community
spread of the virus; and
WHEREAS, over time, the City of Waterloo has taken several steps to slow the spread of
the virus by closing and limiting access to public facilities, closing city parks, and adopting a
resolution urging the Governor of Iowa to order residents to stay “Safe at Home”, and instituting
a mask mandate; and
WHEREAS, Black Hawk County cases of COVID-19 are at an elevated level, meaning
community spread of the virus continues to occur within the county;
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 2021-063, adopted February 1, 2021, the Waterloo City
Council directed a mask mandate be in effect indefinitely until the Mayor and Health
Department, working together, determine when it is appropriate to end the mandate; and
WHEREAS, Iowa Code Section 372.14(2) and Waterloo City Code Article 5-2B grants
the mayor power in emergency circumstances when public danger exists to take extraordinary
steps to protect the public health and safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE FOREGOING AND OTHER
VALID EMERGENT CONCERNS, I, QUENTIN HART, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
WATERLOO, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE FOLLOWING:
Section 1. That a state of civil emergency continues to exist in the City of Waterloo due
to the presence of COVID-19 in Black Hawk County and the risks it imposes on the public
health and safety of all citizens.
Section 2. That the Police Chief and Fire Chief of the City of Waterloo shall enforce this
Proclamation, subsequent proclamations, and any proclamation issued by the Governor of the
State of Iowa.
Section 3. That all emergency powers extended to the Mayor of the City of Waterloo,
pursuant to Iowa Code Section 372.14(2) and Waterloo City Code Article 5-2B, may be
exercised in accordance with this Proclamation.
Section 4. Public meetings held by the city may be held in an electronic format in
accordance with Iowa Code Chapter 21 Iowa Governor’s proclamation dated April 30, 2021.
Council members may continue to participate in council meetings by phone, video conferencing,
or in person. Physical presence of the public at such public meetings shall be pursuant to
capacity limits and social distancing outlined in the Iowa Governor’s proclamation dated April
30, 2021.
Section 5. That, pursuant to Resolution No. 2021-063, I worked with the Black Hawk
County Health Department and the City’s COVID-19 Task Force to formulate this proclamation.
This proclamation declaring a civil emergency hereby establishes a new mask mandate and
concludes the requirements of the indefinite mask mandate listed in Resolution No. 2021-063.
The guidelines and requirements set forth herein shall be in effect for the duration of the civil
emergency declared by this proclamation and may be altered by subsequent proclamations
declaring a civil emergency.
Section 6. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides specific guidance for when
individuals should wear a mask and when mask wearing is not necessary. As of May 13, 2021,
current CDC guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals explains that:
1. Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or ph ysically distance in any setting,
except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations,
including local business and workplace guidance.
2. Fully vaccinated people can refrain from testing following a known exposure unless they
are residents or employees of a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter.
3. Resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required
by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business
and workplace guidance.
4. Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine
after travel.
5. Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless
required by the destination) and refrain from self -quarantine after arriving back in the United
States.
6. Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions
for specific settings.
7. Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic.
8. Refrain from routine screening testing if feasible.
The public is encouraged to revisit CDC guidelines so they are best equipped to protect
themselves. For more information, please visit the CDC website at:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
Section 7. Businesses, restaurants or bars, schools, government buildings, medical care
facilities, churches or other places where the public can gather indoors are encouraged to follow
CDC guidance to develop their own COVID-19 mitigation strategy as it relates social distancing,
mask requirements, and hygiene. Individuals are strongly encouraged to follow these COVID-19
mitigation strategies while in these places.
Section 8. Until the time that COVID-19 and its variants are eradicated from the City of
Waterloo, citizens are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.
Section 9. Pursuant to current CDC guidance, the City of Waterloo may require
unvaccinated individuals to wear masks in all public areas of City-owned buildings, including
lobbies, hallways, restrooms, city council chambers, conference rooms, or anywhere members of
the public can openly gather. Exempted from the mask recommendation in City facilities are
children ages four and under, private room rentals, those actively engaged in exercise, those
actively engaged in eating or drinking, or anyone at a City facility which is generally considered
an outdoor area, including City-owned parks, golf courses, and amphitheaters. These exemptions
shall not supersede Section 6.
Section 10. That this Proclamation Declaring a Civil Emergency is part of an ongoing
response by the City of Waterloo to protect the health and safety of the citizens, and may be
modified or superseded with more restrictive or less restrictive proclamations at any time as
circumstances warrant.
Section 11. That pursuant to Section 5-2B-4 of the Waterloo City Code, the violation of
this Proclamation of Civil Emergency or of any subsidiary proclamation thereto, shall be
punishable as a misdemeanor as provided by Section 1-3-1 of the Waterloo City Code of
Ordinances.
Section 12. That the Proclamation Declaring a Civil Emergency dated May 3, 2021 is
hereby repealed and this new Proclamation Declaring a Civil Emergency shall be in effect until
June 12, 2021.
PROCLAIMED THIS 13TH DAY OF MAY 2021 BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN
ME BY THE CODE OF IOWA AND THE CITY OF WATERLOO CITY CODE.
______________________________
Quentin Hart, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kelley Felchle, City Clerk
SEAL