Sun Valley council rescinds local mask mandate after 3-2 vote; mayor breaks tie

The Mayor and City Council of Sun Valley voted on Feb. 10, 2022 to rescind the Third Amended Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-01, which had required facial coverings in public places. The motion to rescind was moved by Council Member Brad DuFur and seconded by Council President Michelle Griffith. After two roll-call votes produced 2-2 splits, Mayor Peter Hendricks cast the deciding vote in favor of rescinding the order.

Mayor Peter Hendricks said case numbers were "dramatically decreasing" and that "it is an emergency no longer," urging council to begin returning to normalcy and to treat mask-wearing as a matter of personal choice. Council Member Brad DuFur said he heard from local employers that employees were "burned out," and argued for consistency with nearby cities that have already dropped mandates. Council Member Jane Conard, citing recent public health data she reviewed over the prior 36 hours, urged delaying action and focusing on transmission rates, new cases, vaccination levels and health facility capacity.

A prior motion by Council Member Conard to table consideration to the next regular meeting failed after the Mayor cast a tie-breaking Nay on that procedural vote. On the final vote on the rescission motion, the roll call was: AYES — Council President Michelle Griffith and Council Member Brad DuFur; NAYS — Council Members Jane Conard and Keith Saks. The Mayor broke the tie by voting in favor, and the motion passed.

The special meeting convened at 4:06 PM and adjourned at 4:32 PM. The transcript notes that the Mayor "read a message regarding the COVID situation" and "gave the current case numbers," but the transcript does not specify those numbers. The clerk of the council recorded the proceedings.