 Yes, sir. Mr. Brennan. Present. Mr. Rickman. Aye. McGowell. Yes. Duvall. Present. Fine. Here. Mr. Davis. Here. Have any more. Here. Thank you. Would you. I've been. I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry. I've been going in and out on my laptop and then. Yeah. My phone. Am I am I in now? Absolutely. You're here my friend. Okay. I've went out one time and everybody else was in, but. I got the. From the network telling me. Anyway, let's. I'm fine. We're done. We just finished building Sam. We're done. Yeah, I saw that. All right. So here for the very serious topic at hand. And we're excited about the possibility of joining. What is a truly regional effort. The leadership we're seeing across the region discussions being had. In cities and towns and both Richland and Lexington County. To consider once again. A decision that that's not an easy one, quite frankly. I don't think we're going to be able to do that. But we want to continue to pass. Any types of ordinances. Unless we have to. And we're seeing some numbers. We know that South Carolina. Is leading the country and per capita cases right now. We're seeing. Numbers. Shoot up almost like a, like a hockey stick. particularly amongst those of us who are unvaccinated across South Carolina, 90% of the individuals who are in hospital beds at Lexington Medical at Prisma and MUSC and other hospitals across South Carolina are our citizens, our family and friends who have chosen not yet to receive vaccination. It is causing a strain on healthcare assets, memorialized in letters from both Lexington Medical and Prisma to our council. It's imperative that we act in accordance with with with thoughtful public health policy, the spirit of consensus, working together to try and do everything we can to push for a decelerator deceleration of infections across the Midlands. Again excited that this effort is being viewed as a regional effort, not only Columbia moving along, but all of us trying to move forward together and I expect that we'll continue to see the leadership like we've seen in Casey and West Columbia across the Midlands as we go forward. I think maybe as a matter of course, we'll ask the council staff to to briefly describe the ordinance, which is not substantively different than the ordinance to mask ordinance that we passed last year that helped us as a city and as a state to slow down the spread of COVID-19. We know that as we deal with the Delta variant, it's a much more contagious version of the virus. And if in fact, we don't do something meaningful now, get vaccinated, engage in social distancing and wear masks when we can and social distance when we can. We're going to continue dealing with this going forward. It's not only anti-public health, it's anti-education, it's anti-business. We've got to work together to get vaccinated and continue to mask up. The substantive differences now leave the rest to council that many of you will notice. One is this is a 30 day ordinance. Now we're going to continue to monitor the data and evaluate it as we go forward. We have paid close attention to the final word that the Supreme Court has had as it relates to schools. And this has been modified significantly to make sure again that all public and private buildings in the city are addressed with accordance with the proviso passed by the legislature, as well as the Supreme Court ruling from last week. We're doing this in the spirit of consensus and in spirit of again, I want you to know what keeping people alive and healthy in the city of Columbia. We can do this. This is our opportunity to work together. This is an all hands on deck moment that requires all of us to sacrifice some and level up. We know that we can do this. We need to give our small businesses a chance. Give them an opportunity to stop trying to enforce rules on their own. That's our responsibility as a municipal government in the Western world. We know our responsibility. We can do it. We can work together to make this happen. This is a plea from all of us and counsel. Different ideas, different backgrounds, different political backgrounds as well. We all understand that if work together, if we work together, we can save lives. And that is our ultimate goal. Each one of us. Theresa Patrick, any other details on the ordinance? Yes, how you doing this Patrick, right? Basically, as far as the general face covering requirement, the one that was in effect a few months ago is essentially the same. With that, the one difference is the age. I think back then the age was 10, the minimum age. What has been published to the public says to one of the council members will have to amend the changes to five. I think the council wants the minimum age to be five instead of two. So that's one change. There are basically three sections to this ordinance. One is the suspension of normal operating procedures for the city. So it gives the city the option to meet virtually as we are now. So that's the first thing. The second thing is the general which is city wide. So it's the city wide requirement that in all commercial or establishments that are open to the public, this ordinance is effective. There are certain exceptions. One course in your personal vehicles if doesn't apply in enclosed when a person is alone in an enclosed space during outdoor physical activity, or six feet away from other people, it's not required. If a person is alone with only household members, it's not required. It's not required while you're drinking, eating or smoking. Or if you if wearing a mask would cause or aggravate a health condition. When you're in receipt of personal services such as getting a haircut, or getting a shave or something like that, it's not required. Or in 3g, which will change or to 2g which will change from when a person is five years of age or younger instead of two. The infraction would be it's a civil infraction of a require a fine of $100. That's the second section. The last section requires or face coverings and deals with schools and daycares. And what we did is because of the decision of the Supreme Court this past week, and the proviso 1.108, it makes it clear that the intent of this council is to is to actually comply with this proviso and with all state law. And so it does not require any school staff or any school person, whether it's teacher, superintendent or anyone who would be paid by appropriate appropriations to do anything. The enforcement will be by the fire chief or the fire marshals. So and that actually says that no school district or school official shall create an ounce or enforce any policy requiring face masks to be worn by students or employees. So it actually states in the ordinance that they're not to do this. So it makes clear the intent of this council that face masks will be required, but it's not required to be enforced by anyone who's paid by public funds or works for school or school district is solely the responsibility of the fire chief and the fire marshals to enforce. And they will go around to schools periodically to do that. So we don't want any staff of school actually doing any type of enforcement. What it does also say is that if there is a minor who refuses to comply, then a parent could could be subject to this 100 about a fine because of their child. But initially the initial phase is actually an educational phase. So they're initially there is no plan for anyone to get a fine education. So the fire department will give an education regarding masks and the importance of it and why we are required this. So in a nutshell, that's what the ordinance is says and for and those are the major sections dealing with the city dealing with the city's suspension of operations, the general citywide requirement and the school requirement that complies with provisional 1.108. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor. The clerk is going to strangle me. We had a call to order. Red McDowell, would you give us a word as we as we take up this very serious matter? And you'll meet my friend. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Let us pray as we gather today to consider possibility and all of the possibilities that are out there for us. Knowing the severity of this delta variant. To know that children's lives are at stake. We've heard from the experts. We visit. We've even discussed among ourselves and even as of yesterday. Very openly and very authentically. To think through this project and the possibility of a mass mandate. Regional mass mandate. Lord, we know that in the midst of the numbers that are continuing to surge. In the midst of those children that found themselves either suffering with this virus. Suffering on ventilators. Parents who are engaged in prayerful consideration. But we simply ask that you might continue to sensitize each one of us. This is a health issue. An issue that has continued to show its ugly face. But Lord, we know today that in the midst of showing its face. We know that grace is available. And what we decide today continues as a graceful posture. Lord, we ask it and we claim it in your name. Amen. Amen. Have a motion to adopt the agenda. Thank you so much, Pastor. Yes, sir. That motion. If we adopt the agenda. The second. Second. Any discussion? With the previous question for Colorado. Yes. Mr. Richmond. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Yes. Hi. Hi. Mr. David. Hi. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. So the issue before us is the ordinance as shared and it's available on the city website. Encourage all of our citizens to go to 20sc.gov. So the ordinance before us and Madam Clerk, unless we have additional members of the public who signed in to comment on the ordinance, the ordinance before us is as drafted and published with one amendment and that is changing the age of enforcement from two to five years old. Do we have anyone else who's who's called or signed in to speak? Not there. All right. Thank you so much. Mr. Marion. I'm sorry, you may want Patrick or you start to clarify for the public the effective and at once and at that when it becomes effective. I'm saying is it is effective immediately? Is that is that is effective immediately? That's correct. It will be and obviously we haven't had an ordinance in quite some time as as Mr. Wright indicated, we will spend some time particularly in those sensitive situations on educating and this is meant to help each and everyone's move forward. Our small businesses, our educators, everyday citizens. This is again part of a regional effort that again helps us underscore the fact that if in fact we move forward and accept the vaccines, we can be out of this much sooner than anticipated over 90% of all the people in the hospitals breaking records right now in South Carolina of those who choose not to accept the vaccine. We can do better. It's going to require some sacrifice from each and every one of us with that one amendment. Do we have a motion? So I move Mr. Chair. Say a second. Second. In your further discussion. I do want to say thank you to each and every one of y'all. Mr. Mayor, there are two places in the ordinance that have the two years, eight of age, so we need to make sure we amend it twice. It's section two, number three, G and in section three, preamble. Both of them have referenced the two years of age. Yes, that's right. We will do it. This is all hands on deck moment guys. We can do this only if we do it together way outside Columbus boundaries. We need Richmond County and Forest Acres, East over West Columbia, KC, Lex and County. We can do this. We can beat this thing. This is the greatest nation in the history of the world. If we step up and decide we're going to be our brothers and sisters keeper, we can make it happen. Let's get vaccinated. Let's do this together and I encourage that the future is so much brighter than the peers to be right now. I'm with a previous question, Clark, Colorado. Mr. Burnett. Yes. The recommend. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Good to be all. Aye. Bye. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Yeah, Benjamin. Aye. Our Daniel, Will, Tameka, Sam. Thank y'all. Teresa and our team are amazing lawyers. Teresa and Patrick and our team just thank y'all. We can do this. We've been leading from the front every step of the way. And we've been doing it together. Let's speak this thing together. Get vaccinated. All of our fellows, communities and governments who are moving forward with thoughtful policy. Let's all make a commitment that maybe we'll all require vaccination of all our employees. And as everyone will level up and let's see if we can beat this thing. We'll have a non-debatable motion to adjourn. So move. Second. Second. There's someone online. I thought I did not want to speak. Is that am I correct? That's correct, sir. She did not. Yeah, if you want to have a speak, give him Mr. McDowell's phone number. She can go. Well, that that's that's a given. Yeah. We'll move to the previous vote color roll. Mr. Vernon. Yes. Okay. Bye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Paul. Hi. Brian. Hi. Mr. Davis. Hi. Mayor Benson. Hi. Y'all take care. God bless y'all. Stay safe. Um let's let's keep moving forward. Stay safe.