Anchorage Assembly passes new, revised emergency ordinance requiring masks - Anchorage Daily News

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Acting Chair Christopher Constant and Acting Co-Chair Meg Zaletel listen to public testimony during the assembly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Late Tuesday night, the Anchorage Assembly passed a new, revised emergency ordinance, effective immediately, requiring people to wear masks in public spaces in the city.

The emergency ordinance was laid on the table during Tuesday evening’s regular Assembly meeting by members Pete Petersen and Meg Zaletel. It passed on a 9-1 vote. Assembly member Crystal Kennedy voted against it. Assembly member Jamie Allard, who called into the meeting, voted against it during an initial 9-2 vote, but due to a procedural error members voted again and Allard did not participate.

At least nine Assembly members needed to vote in favor of the emergency ordinance for it to pass, and a public hearing was not required.

The emergency ordinance would require all people to wear masks or face coverings in indoor public areas. It is in effect for 60 days, unless two of Anchorage’s three hospitals stop operating under crisis standards of care for 14 consecutive days, or when the city is no longer experiencing high or substantial community transmission for 14 consecutive days.

It also contains several exemptions, such as for children under age 5 and people who can’t wear a mask due to mental or physical disability, and for churches and people participating in athletic activities. It exempts the mayor and his executive team, as well.

“This is not about getting the mayor to wear a mask. This is about our community’s health,” Zaletel said.

Over the last two weeks, the Assembly has been considering whether to implement a similar ordinance, holding multiple meetings on the issue. Its process was slowed by an outpouring of often-raucous public testimony during the meetings, in part an attempt by mask opponents to draw out the process and keep the Assembly from voting. Thousands of people have also offered written testimony on the ordinance, a majority of whom support the mask requirement, according to Assembly member Austin Quinn-Davidson.

The Assembly on Monday had announced that it would continue public testimony on that mask ordinance on Wednesday during a special meeting. Assembly Vice Chair Chris Constant said that Wednesday meeting would likely be canceled but that the special meeting already scheduled for Thursday would probably be held.

Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson has 36 hours to veto the emergency ordinance, Constant said.

Bronson is strongly against COVID-19 restrictions, and after the Assembly’s vote, he immediately slammed the move on social media, saying he would veto the ordinance.

“Under the cloak of darkness and while misleading the public that they would be allowed to testify on the mask mandate before a vote, at 10:35pm the Anchorage Assembly snuck in an Emergency Mask Mandate that didn’t take public testimony,” Bronson wrote. “They have broken the public trust, and this Emergency Order Mask Mandate will be vetoed.”

The Assembly can override a veto with a supermajority vote.

Tuesday’s meeting was far quieter than recent meetings on the previous mask ordinance, with far fewer people in the Assembly chambers. Bronson and most of his administration were absent, saying they were following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines after Municipal Manager Amy Demboski and Municipal Attorney Patrick Bergt tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

Lance Wilber, the city’s director of public works, attended in person and is serving as acting municipal manager. Larry Baker, a senior policy adviser, also attended in person.

Allard said the emergency ordinance would draw “strong backlash.”

“I will not comply,” she said, echoing the testimony of many of the anti-mask testifiers heard in the Assembly chambers over the past few weeks.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

[Read the text of the emergency ordinance below.]

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