Nevada County delays vote on measure that would fine businesses defying orders to close
A vote on a proposal that would fine businesses in Nevada County for not complying with coronavirus regulations has been delayed.
The Nevada County Board of Supervisors planned to vote on the proposal Tuesday. But as over 50 protesters gathered outside the Nevada City building and pushed back against the ordinance, the board pulled the proposal from the agenda.
The ordinance would have imposed a $1,000 fine for the first violation of a COVID-19 order involving a business, $5,000 for a second violation within a year and $10,000 for additional violations within the same year. Four out of five members must vote for the measure in order for it to be approved.
Sean Powers, director of the county’s Community Development Agency, recommended that the board adopt the measure in a memo presented to the board.
“Establishing administrative penalties as a mechanism to enforce the Orders on an urgency basis is necessary for such remedy to be effective and useful,” the memo reads. “Such administrative penalties will provide an alternative enforcement mechanism that will augment the county law enforcement agencies’ ability to combat the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Dan Miller, District 3 supervisor and board vice chair, was the first board member to request that the ordinance be pulled “due to the huge public response we’ve had.”
By delaying the measure, Miller said, “It’s going to give our staff the opportunity to clear up some confusion in the item. I just don’t feel this item is ready for prime time.” He requested that the measure be delayed for at least 30 days.
The board delayed the measure, but gave no promises for whether the measure would be delayed for 30 days. It is unclear when the measure will be brought forth again.
Supervisors cited more than 250 letters in response to the measure, both for and against. Heidi Hall, District 1 supervisor, said there was misinformation and misunderstanding of what the measure would actually do written, notably in the letters against the measure. In response, she said the board would delay the measure in order to do more public outreach and correct misinformation.
The delay comes as Yolo County passed a similar ordinance this month amid rising coronavirus cases. The ordinance gave officials the ability to fine businesses from $250 to $10,000 for refusing to comply with state and county safety measures, including the allowing of indoor dining and not enforcing mask rules.