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Nov 17, 2020 · Trigger

Council calls a special meeting on fining businesses that do not enforce COVID-19 rules

The council decided to hold a special meeting on Friday, November 20 on an ordinance to fine businesses that did not enforce the Governor's COVID-19 precautions. A day later KVII reported a petition from more than 1,000 local healthcare workers asking the Mayor to require and enforce mask-wearing with a penalty; the petition said GA-29 had not been enforced in the Amarillo area.^[1]^[2]

Ginger Nelson Jared Miller

What the sources say

✓ Verified
KFDA reported on November 17, 2020 that the council decided to hold an emergency meeting on the following Friday about fining businesses that did not enforce the Governor's COVID-19 precautions, and that City Manager Jared Miller said an ordinance could give businesses justification to require customers to wear masks, stay apart and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. ^[1]
✓ Verified
KVII reported on November 18, 2020 that more than 1,000 nurses, physicians and other healthcare workers had signed a petition started by a local physician asking the Mayor to require and enforce mask-wearing for customers and employees with a penalty; the petition stated that GA-29 had not been enforced in the Amarillo area. ^[2]
⚠ Sources differ
Sources differ on the area the proposed enforcement would cover.
Reported value 1[1]
Value
Potter and Randall counties
KFDA reported on Nov. 17 that enforcement would cover all of Potter and Randall counties because they are parts of one public health district.
Reported value 2[3]
Value
City of Amarillo only
On Nov. 20 the Environmental Health Director told the council that the ordinance "would only apply to businesses in the City of Amarillo."

Sources

1.Amarillo City Council to have emergency meeting about fines for businesses not enforcing masks — KFDA NewsChannel 10, Nov 17, 2020 · retrieved Oct 16, 2026newsIndependent
2.Amarillo medical personnel sign petition asking Mayor Nelson for mask enforcement — KVII ABC 7 Amarillo, Nov 18, 2020 · retrieved Oct 16, 2026newsIndependent
3.Amarillo City Council Special Meeting Minutes, 2020-11-20 — City of Amarillo, Nov 20, 2020 · retrieved Oct 16, 2026primarySubject-authoredScanned minutes read with OCR. "There has been no enforcement on any of the current protocols"; "This ordinance would only apply to businesses in the City of Amarillo"; "Motion was amended by Councilmember Powell to reflect the seven-day metric of 15% from orange to 15% hospitalization rate based on the Governor's standards"; "ORDINANCE NO. 7893 ... DECLARING A SITE THAT FAILS TO MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19 AS A PUBLIC NUSIANCE; AUTHORIZING CIVIL AND CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY MEASURE"; both votes "4:1", Hays voting no.