Sun Valley council votes 2-1 to rescind indoor mask mandate

The Sun Valley City Council voted 2-1 on May 17 to rescind Public Health Order 2020-05, ending the city's indoor mask requirement after a brief special meeting. Council President Michelle Griffith moved to rescind the order; Council Member Brad DuFur seconded the motion and the Mayor declared it approved following the roll-call vote (Griffith and DuFur in favor, Jane Conard opposed).

Mayor Peter Hendricks opened the meeting by framing it around recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State of Idaho and said the council could "extend, amend or rescind the public health order." Council President Griffith told colleagues that Sun Valley's vaccination rate is "over 100%" and said that high local vaccination coverage supports lifting the city's mask requirement. Council Member Brad DuFur praised local vaccination efforts, saying the community's rate is "extremely good," and noted the CDC reviewed worldwide case information in issuing its new guidance.

Council Member Jane Conard urged caution, describing the CDC statement as "more nuanced" and siding with comments read aloud from Blaine County Commissioner McCleary, who, according to Griffith, "opposes lifting the mask order" at this time. City Attorney Johnson advised the council that if it rescinded the city order, local residents and businesses would instead be subject to the state's Stage 4 healthy guidelines.

The formal motion to rescind Public Health Order 2020-05 was made by Council President Michelle Griffith and seconded by Council Member Brad DuFur. A roll-call vote recorded AYES: Michelle Griffith and Brad DuFur; NAYS: Jane Conard. The Mayor declared the motion approved. The council then unanimously voted to adjourn at 10:24 AM.