City Council extends COVID-19 face coverings ordinance

The Birmingham City Council, at a special called meeting on Friday, May 29, voted to extend the city’s face covering ordinance until Friday, June 12, according to a Council news release. The ordinance is part of the city’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the members also reduced the fines and eliminated the possibility of a person being arrested for noncompliance.

According to the ordinance, there will be a $25 fine for the first offense, $100 for the second and $250 for the third offense.

Councilor Crystal Smitherman had advocated for these changes. “I know I had issues with the original language that threatened up to 30 days in jail for not wearing a face covering,” she said in the release.

However, the pandemic is still a serious threat, noted Council President William Parker.

“When we look at the numbers, we see that they are still going up,” he said, referring to the number of new cases of the virus being reported in the area.

“We’re still very much in this fight and my colleagues and I are in total agreement that this is not a time to relax our efforts,” he said.

The Council could later extend the mask ordinance if needed, Parker said.

“This is about educating the public,” he said. “We want every single citizen to realize the importance of wearing a face covering while in public and we believe this ordinance is helping to accomplish that.” 

Parker said the Council has remained in communication with Jefferson County health officials and Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office in regards to the safety measures being taken by the City. 

Health officials will be giving an update to the Council during its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 2.

The Council passed the original ordinance on April 28 requiring that people wear some sort of face covering or mask in public in Birmingham during the COVID-19 public health emergency and recovery. The vote was 8-1, with Councilor Hunter Williams the only no vote

The Council made some changes to the ordinance on May 5. Woodfin recommended the changes, which focus on requirements for offices, job sites, children and daycare facilities, according to a city news release.

On May 12 and May 19, members voted to extend the ordinance — with the second extension having been set to expire today, May 29.