Plano City Council on Monday directed City Attorney Paige Mims to prepare a new ordinance that would adopt standards similar to those in place in Denton County, Frisco and McKinney. Those jurisdictions have closed a number of businesses defined as nonessential.
The council would consider whether to adopt the ordinance in a videoconference meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday. The city was expected to deliver the language of the ordinance to council members Tuesday, City Manager Mark Israelson said.
The city is still operating under an order from March 17 that banned dine-in services at restaurants and closed bars, gyms and movie theaters in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
Since then, Denton, Dallas and Tarrant county governments have adopted stricter orders that define a number of essential and nonessential business activities.
Collin County’s order, which was extended March 30 by the commissioners court, defined all businesses as essential. County Judge Chris Hill clarified during the commissioners meeting that his intent is to allow cities to impose stricter rules if they so choose.
Although the text of the ordinance Plano is considering is not yet finalized, Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere suggested it should look like those adopted elsewhere for consistent messaging.
Three of the council's eight members, Kayci Prince, Lily Bao and Shelby Williams, expressed reservations and did not support moving forward with drafting the ordinance language.
