The Observation Deck

Dan Alaimo wrote:I've been preoccupied so far this week. Any word from the Mayor/Council on a Covid-19 ordinance, or at least a policy? Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Yes - Council will vote next week on an amended resolution that basically mirrors the state health mandates for bars and restaurants regarding distancing between tables, sanitation, party sizes, etc., as well as wearing masks in public spaces. I've seen in other posts some frustration at the lack of local enforcement of these mandates - we actually are having a hard time enforcing without adopting these mandates into our local code. This resolution however will allow our law and code enforcement personnel to issue citations for noncompliance. I fully support this.

Dan OMalley wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:I've been preoccupied so far this week. Any word from the Mayor/Council on a Covid-19 ordinance, or at least a policy? Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Yes - Council will vote next week on an amended resolution that basically mirrors the state health mandates for bars and restaurants regarding distancing between tables, sanitation, party sizes, etc., as well as wearing masks in public spaces. I've seen in other posts some frustration at the lack of local enforcement of these mandates - we actually are having a hard time enforcing without adopting these mandates into our local code. This resolution however will allow our law and code enforcement personnel to issue citations for noncompliance. I fully support this.

Dan,
Thanks for the update

Dan OMalley wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:I've been preoccupied so far this week. Any word from the Mayor/Council on a Covid-19 ordinance, or at least a policy? Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Yes - Council will vote next week on an amended resolution that basically mirrors the state health mandates for bars and restaurants regarding distancing between tables, sanitation, party sizes, etc., as well as wearing masks in public spaces. I've seen in other posts some frustration at the lack of local enforcement of these mandates - we actually are having a hard time enforcing without adopting these mandates into our local code. This resolution however will allow our law and code enforcement personnel to issue citations for noncompliance. I fully support this.

Dan,

I hope that when council considers the distance between tables, that it takes into account that people will be sitting at those tables. Those chairs take up space....about a couple of feet.

The tables should be placed at least 10 feet apart, not 6.

There should be at least 6 feet between the BACKS of customers.

For some reason, all the online information that I read, has tables at 6 ', which narrows the space to approximately 2' between the customers sitting back to back.

I'm sorry, Council President O'Malley, but I just find it hard to believe that Lakewood will enforce this code. The Food Truck Park on Detroit should be shut down. There is absolutely NO SOCIAL DISTANCING, NO MASK WEARING - it is an effen joke. We drove by last week and were absolutely astonished by what we saw. And, as I posted in another thread, we couldn't believe what we saw at O'Toole's the other day. Sure, the tables are 6' apart, but once you add chairs to each end, just as PJ said - people sitting there are actually less than 2' apart! And these folks were given conditional use permits without the building department following up to ensure that the guidelines are actually being followed???

This whole ordinance is a joke. Unless the City plans on actually enforcing it, they're just pandering to the restaurant owners and blowing smoke up our asses.

Amy Martin wrote:I'm sorry, Council President O'Malley, but I just find it hard to believe that Lakewood will enforce this code.

This whole ordinance is a joke. Unless the City plans on actually enforcing it, they're just pandering to the restaurant owners and blowing smoke up our asses.

Amy, as I said we have been frustrated by the city’s unclear authority to enforce the state’s public health orders. By creating them separately in our code, it gives our officers clear directive to make sure they’re obeyed and that citations are written when appropriate. Not only will enforcement of this ordinance be a priority, it’s the whole point.

Dan OMalley wrote:

Amy Martin wrote:I'm sorry, Council President O'Malley, but I just find it hard to believe that Lakewood will enforce this code.

This whole ordinance is a joke. Unless the City plans on actually enforcing it, they're just pandering to the restaurant owners and blowing smoke up our asses.

Amy, as I said we have been frustrated by the city’s unclear authority to enforce the state’s public health orders. By creating them separately in our code, it gives our officers clear directive to make sure they’re obeyed and that citations are written when appropriate. Not only will enforcement of this ordinance be a priority, it’s the whole point.

Council President O'Malley

It makes all the sense in the world to codify the ordnance under Lakewood's charter and law for the reasons mentioned.

Now on to enforcement, and as I mentioned before, all laws are up to the community's effort.

Thanks for the update.

.