The City of Seminole amended Executive Order No. 2020-1 Thursday to further slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), putting more restrictions in place for residents. The new order will go into effect as of Saturday, March 28.

Restaurants are now required to shut down dining areas and will be allowed to remain open through curbside, drive-thru, takeout and delivery services only. Bars and other establishments that serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption are to close, and other establishments are allowed to remain open as long as certain restrictions remain in place.

Sportsman Lake will be opened in a limited capacity, Jimmie Austin Golf Course is enforcing additional social distancing practices and all public restrooms and play equipment are now closed to the public. In addition, the Seminole Utilities Authority will temporarily suspend utility cut-offs through April 25. The order also laid out the penalties for violating the proclamation. The text of the order reads as follows:

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus COVID-19 disease to be a pandemic; and

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020 the President of the United States declared a National Emergency; due to the COVID-19 Virus pandemic and

WHEREAS, on March 15, 2020, the Governor of the State of Oklahoma has declared an emergency caused by the impending threat of COVID-19 to the people of this State and the public’s peace, health and safety; and

WHEREAS, the City of Seminole proclaimed a State of Emergency on March 16, 2020 and certain orders were declared to reduce the likelihood of transmission of the COVID-19 virus among the public as recommended by public health authorities; and

WHEREAS, the rapid spread of COVID-19 has caused severe illness and fatalities to the Citizens of our State a continues to pose a direct threat to our community; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Oklahoma has amended his executive orders declaring an emergency caused by the spread of COVID-19 among the citizens of this State and entered further additional orders to preserve the public’s health, safety and welfare; and

WHEREAS, it is my continuing duty as Mayor to protect the health and safety of the City and its inhabitants, to preserve the peace, and to provide for the welfare of the population through the lawful exercise of emergency powers; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 2020-01 dated March 16, 2020, proclaiming the existence of a civil emergency in the City of Seminole is required to be amended and revised to reflect and adopt updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and other public health agencies, as encompassed hereinafter.

NOW THEREFORE, by the power vested in me as Mayor of the City or Seminole, by the laws of the State of Oklahoma and the Charter and Ordinances of the City of Seminole, I hereby proclaim the existence of a civil emergency in the City of Seminole and further, it is hereby declared and ORDERED, certain actions to be implemented to protect the general public, including, but not limited to, the, following:

1. All public or private events or gatherings of (10) people or more, in or on a City-owned or City-operated facility or property, are hereby prohibited, until such time as the Mayor declares the emergency terminated; and

2. All special event permits, previously issued under the authority of the City of Seminole, with projected attendance of ten (10) people or more, are hereby revoked, and as of this date, no further such special event permits shall be issued; and no such special events may be held in the City of Seminole until the Mayor declares the emergency terminated;

3. All City-owned facilities will be closed for indoor public access, until such time as the Mayor declares the emergency terminated. Business operations will be conducted through the use of telephone, fax and internet and other remote means unless otherwise impracticable. All outdoors public facilities where close quarters gathering is common AND surfaces are shared will be closed including playgrounds. The City Manager shall implement a safe and practical work plan for City employees with minimal disruption of public ser vices as possible, as well as considering the safety of the general public. The following will apply until the Mayor declares otherwise:

a) Sportman Lake will open the following:

i. Equestrian/hiking trails-Day rides only.

ii. Boat ramps & dock fishing with social distancing.

Closed to the public:

i. Camping on all coves

ii. Restrooms on all coves

iii. Playgrounds

iv. Swimming area

v. All pavilion areas

b) Jimmie Austin Golf Course

i. Golf course administration will implement social distancing and sanitizing protocols.

ii. Restrooms are closed to the public.

iii. No gathering permitted.

iv. Putting green flags must remain in place at all times. (no shared surfaces)

c) Parks are open as follows:

i. Tennis courts are open.

ii. Walking trails with social distancing are open.

iii. Running track with social distancing.

iv. Cemetery with social distancing.

v. Skate park is open.

vi. Baseball and Softball fields are allowed to open to guardians and their children but NO TEAMS are to gather.

Closed to the public.

i. Public Restrooms and Play equipment are closed as well as any other venues where citizens’ hands may share surfaces.

These openings will be reviewed regularly considering compliance and social distancing practices for further Mayoral action if necessary.

4. The Director of Emergency Management shall initiate implementation of the Emergency Operations Plan and be prepared to execute all measures to protect the public as conditions warrant. The Director of Emergency Management shall withhold any all action unless specifically authorized or directed by the Mayor; and;

5. City departments, officers and employees shall be made available and committed to prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 threat in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community; and,

6. All Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission and Advisory Board meetings shall be suspended through April 30, 2020 unless otherwise authorized; and,

7. Seminole Utilities Authority shall temporarily suspend utility cut-offs for those customers that are unable to pay their utility bill until April 25, 2020. This shall not apply to those utility accounts that were delinquent prior to the Declaration of Emergency on March 16, 2020; and,

8. Seminole Municipal Court hearings are postponed and shall be rescheduled to a later date acceptable to the Municipal Judge and Court Clerk, who will notify those persons affected of the rescheduled hearing time; and,

9. Due to the potential for rapid community spread and transmission of the COVID-19 virus, immediate attention is required to protect public health, safety and welfare, it is hereby further declared and ORDERED, as follows:

a) Restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, and other places of public accommodation offering food, beverages and/ or other consumables for on-premises consumption shall be restricted from providing dine-in services to customers and patrons until further notice. However, businesses and patrons shall not be prohibited, but rather encouraged, to conduct business operations through curbside, drive-thru, takeout and/or delivery services.

b) This provision shall exclude institutional or in-house food cafeterias that serve residents, employees, and clients of said businesses, childcare facilities, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.

10. The following commercial establishments and places of public accommodation shall be and are hereby closed to ingress, egress, use, and occupancy by members of the public:

a) Bars, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, clubs, lounges and other places of public accommodation offering alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption;

b) Hookah bars, cigar bars, and vaping lounges offering their products for on premises consumption.

c) Theaters, cinemas, indoor and outdoor performance venues, and museums.

d) Gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, and spas.

11. The following commercial establishments and places of public accommodation may operate under the following restrictions:

a) Tattoo shops, massage therapists, haircut and styling shops, salons and spas may operate by appointment only. Business owners shall allow at least 15 minutes between each appointment to ensure adequate time is available for patrons to leave the facility and to prepare for the next patron (cleaning, disinfecting procedures, etc.).

b) Walk-in business shall be prohibited. Patrons may not bring any other person, including children, into the facility during an appointment. This shall not apply to a parent accompanying a minor child, or a caretaker or other person who assists the disabled or infirmed.

c) Business owners shall ensure proper social distancing and proper hygiene practices are enforced in their establishment. Workstations must have a minimum of six (6) feet of space from an adjoining workstation or other area where other employees or patrons are present. Nothing shall prohibit a business owner from mandating other health and safety measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 on their premises.

11. This Executive Order does not prohibit an employee, contractor, vendor, or supplier of a place of public accommodation from entering, exiting, using, or occupying that place of public accommodation in their professional capacity to provide routine and customary services for the business owner.

12. The Executive Order does not prohibit blood drives conducted by the American Red Cross or Oklahoma Blood Institute, provided social distancing and proper health and safety practices are implemented to the maximum extent practicable in the administration of such drives.

13. The restrictions imposed by this Executive Order do not apply to any of the following:

a) Places of public accommodation that offer food and beverage not for on-premises consumption, including grocery stores, markets, convenience stores, pharmacies, drug stores, and food pantries, other than those portions of the place of public accommodation subject to the requirements of section. However, all such establishments shall implement recommended CDC practices for social distancing in all indoor or outdoor public waiting areas, lines and other on-premises locations where the public congregates. Self-serve soda and beverage stations shall be closed to public access. The consumption of food or beverages shall not be permitted in any public waiting area.

b) Health care facilities, child care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities;

c) Crisis shelters, soup kitchens, or similar institutions; and

d) Seminole Regional Airport facilities;

14. For purposes of this Executive Order, “place of public accommodation” means a business, or an educational, refreshment, entertainment, or recreation facility, or an institution of any kind, whether licensed or not, whose goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations are extended, offered, sold, or otherwise made available to the public.

15. This Executive Order does not alter any of the obligations under law of an employer affected by this Executive Order to its employees or to the employees of another employer.

16. This State of Emergency shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on March 28, 2020 and remain in effect until terminated by the Mayor or City Council. This proclamation may be terminated, extended, or amended as needed at any time by the same manner in which the Declaration of Emergency was declared.

17. All appointed officers of the City are directed to enforce these provisions of this Executive Order to the fullest extent authorized by law. Any person violating this proclamation or order issued pursuant hereto shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) or not more than thirty (30) days’ imprisonment, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the court may impose a term of community service not to exceed forty (40) hours for each offense. In all instances, the general penalty provisions set forth in Section 1-1-8 of the City Code shall be applicable. Each day of noncompliance or individual incident of disobedience shall constitute a separate offense.

18. Public notice of this proclamation and state of emergency shall be given by the City Clerk and to as many local news media outlets as may be practical.

This Executive Order shall take effect this 28^th day of March 2020.

Signed,

Jeff Griffin, Mayor