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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4A - Public CommentTiffani Bailey From: Anthony Mejia Sent: Wednesday, February 9, 2022 10:42 AM To: Tiffani Bailey Subject: FW: *NEW SUBMISSION* Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs AC Anthony J. Mejia, MMC City Clerk From: City of Palm Springs <palmspringsca@enotify.visioninternet.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 9, 2022 10:41 AM To: City Clerk <CityClerk@palmspringsca.gov>; Anthony Mejia <Anthony.Mejia@pal mspringsca.gov> Subject: *NEW SUBMISSION* Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs Full Name/Nombre David Vignolo City of Residence/Ciudad de residencia Palm Springs, Phone (optional) /Telefono (opcional) 2024095113 Email (optional/opcional) david.vignoloPverizon.net Your Comments/Sus comentarios Regarding the review of Emergency Orders related to COVID-19, I strongly urge the City Council to retain the provisions of the Local Emergency Supplementary Order regarding proof of vaccination status, or negative COVID-19 test for indoor dining at bars and restaurants, as adopted on August 12, 2021. Of the 3 actions under consideration, if you align with State Protocols on February 15, "masks would still be required indoors for people who are not vaccinated, and in high -risk settings, including in hospitals and in schools". The city staff report, of 02/10, states that if the Council aligns with State Protocols, it would "remove the requirement for proof of vaccination or negative test in restaurants." Since it is unclear how there could be any enforcement of compliance with the mask requirement indoors for people who are NOT vaccinated, without still requiring proof vaccination, vaccinated people will be at higher risk from those who chose not to be vaccinated, which is still not OK. Thank you, City of Palm Springs This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email. 2— Lo - 2e32 , w 11 Gb MWVA -f ITt7aR1k0. Tiffani Bailey From: Anthony Mejia Sent: Wednesday, February 9, 2022 3:02 PM To: Tiffani Bailey Subject: RE: Mask Mandate and local businesses Agenda Correspondence Anthony J. Mejia, MMC City Clerk From: Ken Yazge <ken@thefitnessedgeps.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 9, 2022 12:07 PM To: Lisa Middleton <Lisa.Middleton@ pal mspringsca.Pov>; Grace Garner <Grace.Garner@palmspringsca.gov>; Geoff Kors <Geoff.Kors@pal mspringsca.gov>; Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>; Dennis Woods <Dennis.Woods@palmspringsca.gov>; Llubi Rios <Llubi.Rios@pal mspringsca.gov> Subject: Mask Mandate and local businesses NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. An open letter to all Palm Springs City Council members: am the owner of The Fitness Edge gym here in Palm Springs. I am a strong proponent of vaccinations. In fact, I was in the Moderna Phase One Safety trial for older adults at the National Institute of Health in July of 2020. I purchased this ongoing business in May of 2020. Throughout the pandemic, I have continued to employ some of my staff. I created an outdoor workout area for our members (at a great financial loss to me). Since I was considered a "new" business I was unable to receive most of the financial help that was available to many businesses. The fitness industry has been hit hard (as had most industries) by the pandemic. All this with disregard to the importance of exercise and the effect on COVID-related illness as noted in this article from the Harvard Medical School. httos://www. health.harvard.edu/blog/does-exercise-help-protect-against-severe-covid-19-202106092475 am writing you to urge the council to follow the State of Californias lead on lifting the mask mandate. As we know on February 15th California will lift its Statewide indoor mask mandate for those jurisdictions without a local mask mandate. It is my understanding that the City of Palm Springs still has an indoor mask mandate. With Riverside County planning on following the State guidelines, this leaves the door open to our neighboring 1 . 2- ab-l" MAt c- Cbtiy► Vbh IZu"lNOV� jurisdictions to remove their mask mandates. This will create an unfair competitive advantage to businesses outside of Palm Springs, especially gyms, where members have difficulty exercising while wearing masks. We are already experiencing this issue as neighboring jurisdictions have been very lax in enforcing the current mandate. A major income stream for our business is for short-term memberships from those that are visiting Palm Springs, if there is not a consistent mandate between jurisdictions, individuals will just go somewhere else. If the council is following science and not dollars, the mask mandate would not have been dropped for large- scale non -ticketed events. I attended concerts during Pride, and people were shoulder to shoulder un-masked. Even though this was outdoors, the chance of the virus spreading was great. I can only assume the decision was based on a concern for losing tourist dollars (and to some extent logistics). Additionally, it is important for the Council to quickly communicate these policies to local businesses and give time to make adjustments. Throughout this pandemic, I have had to rely on news reports to understand the current policy. I do receive email updates, but they generally come after the local news cycle. Finally, thank you for your service to the City. It is never an easy job, especially during the past two years. Ken Yazge President/CPT Fitness Generation California, Inc The Fitness Edge ��I�rIESS EDP Tiffani Bailey From: Anthony Mejia Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 8:58 AM To: Tiffani Bailey Subject: FW: Public Comment on Agenda we Anthony J. Mejia, MMC City Clerk -----Original Message ----- From: Mary Miller <marymmiller@live.com> Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 7:41 AM To: City Clerk <CityClerk@palmspringsca.gov> Subject: Public Comment on Agenda NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Please consider easing COVID restrictions in Palm Springs. Our Governor has recognized that it's time to end the mask mandate. All over the world, travel restrictions are ending. Other desert cities don't have the requirements Palm Springs does, which puts our businesses at a competitive disadvantage. People wishing to wear masks can still do so. We have very high vaccination rates here and it's been well -documented that the vaccines protect us against serious illness or hospitalization. Mary Miller Sent from my iPhone 2-1 u - �.�. f +vY�,ti`� G Gvtimw�� Tiffani Bailey From: Tiffani Bailey Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 10:59 AM To: Tiffani Bailey Subject: RE: Public Comment on Agenda Item 4A Begin forwarded message: From: "Jeffrey B." <ieffrey@destinationpsp.com> Date: February 10, 2022 at 10:40:20 AM PST To: Lisa Middleton <Lisa.Middleton@ paImspringsca.gov>, Grace Garner <Grace.Garner@ pal mspringsca.gov>, Dennis Woods <Dennis.Woods@ pa lmspringsca.gov>, Geoff <geoff.kors@gmail.com>, Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>, Justin Clifton <Justin.Clifton@palmspringsca.gov> Cc: Anthony Mejia <Anthony.Meiia@paImspringsca.gov> Subject: Public Comment on Agenda Item 4A NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Honorable Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, City Council members and City Manager, I am writing to you today on tonight's City Council Agenda Item 4A. I am speaking as Palm Springs small business owner. I urge you to maintain our City's COVID policies and protocols and review at a later council meeting. It looks like two to eight weeks would be sufficient for certain criteria are met. As I understand it our region does not yet meet the same standards as the State. We are all tired of the mandates and restrictions. It has been an exhausting two years. I know when I'm in my retail store, or my staff who are there more often, wearing a mask for eight hours a day is extremely uncomfortable. However, our vigilance has paid off in our business. Many businesses can have their own more stringent restrictions. Restaurants can continue to require vaccination, theaters can require masks, etc. However, these are ticketed or seated events. Even bars are used to having security and ID checks and are equipped to handle it. Retailers have a much greater challenge. Retailers are simply not staffed, nor have the experience, to enforce mandates not required by the City. We are entering the busiest season of the year; in what may be the busiest period in two years. With Modernism Week there are an expected 100,000+ attendees at various events, shopping, and dining. Snowbirds and tourists are all coming back. We welcome the business, but we are concerned what will happen if there are no safety precautions. 2-10 - 7IM71- ? JAAA i G C 0 MWu+'LA ITf:%g NO. �4 4 We have a large at -risk population. Although we've fared much better than other places, thanks to the actions of our City Council, we've experienced a devastating number of illness and death. Let's not have quick decisions be the cause for more. Thank you. Jeffrey Bernstein Jeffrey Bernstein Destination PSP 760-354-9154 Cell: 917-626-2630 Store 170 North Palm Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262 Tiffani Bailey From: Tiffani Bailey Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 12:56 PM To: Tiffani Bailey Subject: RE: End the mask mandate ?ALM A Tiffani Bailey S 0 4� Executive Administrative Assistant 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 T: 760.323.8204 F: 760.322.8332 t1foa�`P From: Anthony Mejia <Anthony.Mejia @ pa lmspringsca.gov> Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 12:39 PM To: Tiffani Bailey <Tiffani.Bailey@palmspringsca.gov> Subject: FW: End the mask mandate AC Anthony J. Mejia, MMC City Clerk From: Andy Warren <andywarrenps@outlook.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 8, 2022 5:30 PM To: Dennis Woods<Dennis.Woods@palmsprinesca.eov> Subject: End the mask mandate NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Dear Dennis, I understand you and the City Council will be discussing your role in California's lifting of the mask mandate. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES do I support extending the mask mandate in Palm Springs. Rumor has it you may extend the mandate in our fair city due to some extenuating circumstances. The majority of all evidence points to vaccination as the most effective way of managing COVID. An extremely small percentage of serious illnesses are currently attributed to vaccinated people wearing or not wearing masks. If someone chooses not to be vaccinated and risk their health at this point, that is their decision. The rest of us who have followed the guidelines should not continue to be penalized, inconvenienced, and put our own well-being at risk by being forced rrLaM Ni. to be masked. And, if any individual chooses to remain masked, that should be their choice and not mandated to the rest of us. If you do choose to keep some protective measures in lace, the only acceptable step would be to continue to require proof of vaccination. NO MORE MASKSM You do not have my support if you do not follow all major guidelines as well as our wonderful State of California who clearly state that masks should no longer be mandated after February 15. Please weigh the facts when making your decision and do not be swayed by fear. Thank you for your time, Andy Warren 396 Suave Lane Palm Springs 92262 Tiffani Bailey From: Tiffani Bailey Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 2:29 PM To: Tiffani Bailey Subject: RE: Covid-19 regulations From: Matt Robinson <guyinpalmsprings@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 2:26 PM To: City Clerk <CityClerk@palmspringsca.gov>; Justin Clifton <Justin.Clifton@palmspringsca.gov> Subject: Covid-19 regulations NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Greetings I am concerned that while our Palm Springs residents are vaccinated at very high levels, our tourists come from places with great vaccination rates as well as very low vaccination rates. As we have many major events coming up, Modernism, IBC, White Party, Coachella and Stagecoach just to name a few. I agree that bars and restaurants have paid a price being the ones who must varify proof of vaccination or recent negative test. If you feel they have done this long enough shift the burden to our lodging community, require all transient lodging providers to varify proof of vaccination or negative test for all guests. Should you end the proof of vaccination requirements, please consider requiring all bars and restaurants post a 10" decal on their door stating their policies, vaccination and masks, stand up mask up or no masks and no vaccination requirements. People deserve to know the environment they are entering. We will attract more visitors than we loose by telling the world Palm Springs CARES... we have protocols to make Palm Springs the safest resort city in America. We should mention "stand up mask up" and "present proof of vaccination" wherever we can. We can drop the word required and still support masks and vaccinations. Our open-air restaurants, hotels with exterior hallways and entries, small inns with uncrowded pools, a walkable downtown, outdoor adventures like hiking, biking and so many more, Palm Springs can be known as the safest resort town in America. Don't give up on that idea now, activate the website PalmSpringsCARES com and tell the world. Matt Robinson �%G tOhiM4, n, IA w H 0 a LL } 0 F- z u w 0 a IL L cu L 0 L 0 to .CL IA w H O Q LL } 0 z U w 0 0 0 a ky0 41 JAL ky0 41 I Tiffani Bailey From: Anthony Mejia Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 2:45 PM To: Tiffani Bailey Subject: FW: Tomorrows meeting AC Anthony J. Mejia, MMC City Clerk -----Original Message ----- From: Carolina De La Torre <cdelatorre1991@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 9, 2022 5:16 PM To: Grace Garner <Grace.Garner@palmspringsca.gov> Subject: Tomorrows meeting NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Hi Grace, Thank you for always answering my emails. I truly do appreciate the work you do as a council member. I know that the subject of COVID safety protocols is on tomorrows agenda and I am hoping (a long with my family and a lot of other people) that Palm Springs will adhere to the states decision to repeal the mask mandate. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to fee a sense of normalcy again, now that the severity of COVID is going down. My dad and I had it a few weeks back and we felt ok, less symptomatic than a cold, and many people who have had COVID felt the same, so I think it's a good idea to take that into consideration as well. I'm sure people who still feel comfortable wearing a mask will still wear a mask but I think it's smart to align with the states decision on this matter. Anyway, thank you again for always taking the time to read my emails and bring my points up to the council. I really appreciate that! Sent from my iPhone 2 10—to 22, (6 n�i'►- Y � TIA fir: