A council member expressed frustration with Los Angeles County’s new COVID-related restrictions at the Dec. 2 City Council meeting.
Assistant City Manager Michael Parmer provided the council with an overview of the County Health Officer Order, which he described as more restrictive than the state’s order as of this Tuesday.
Those restrictions included:
• Prohibition of gatherings of people who are not members of the same household.
However, gatherings for protests and religious observances are allowed.
• Closure of nightclubs, bars, concert venues, etc.
• Playgrounds are closed.
However, playgrounds in schools and child care centers may be used.
• Small water vessel charters and outdoor equipment rentals.
Parmer said outdoor rentals would apply to diving equipment. However, he argued that a bicycle would qualify as transportation.
Council Member Cinde MacGugan-Cassidy said she thought the rules were not really well thought out. “This is ridiculous,” she said.
She saw no difference between renting a bicycle and renting a golf cart.
Cassidy said she thought Avalon needed to look at what other cities are doing and to look at asking for variations.
Mayor Anni Marshall said, “I agree with you, 100 percent.”
Marshall said the city was not getting lot of cooperation from the county.
Cassidy said the highest percentage of park usage was local. She said she was willing to fight to have locals use their parks.
Council Member Michael Ponce pointed out that the restriction was on the use of public playgrounds, not parks.
Cassidy said children who attend Catalina Kid Ventures can use the CKV playground, but not one in a park.
Cassidy said she was concerned about businesses being able to sustain themselves. She said that, to her, the county rules were pikcing and choosing which businesses can and can’t be open.
“Businesses are going broke,” she said.
Council Member Lisa Lavelle said she understood the restriction on smaller vessels because of the proximity of the person driving the boat to the family on the boat. She said she didn’t necessarily agree with it, but she understood it.
Lavelle said the fact that Avalon had gotten 15% of its COVID cases in a week was worrisome for her. “That’s a big jump in a week,” she said. Lavelle pointed out that the figures didn’t reflect the Islanders who traveled to the mainland for Thanksgiving.
She also said that it felt like they were back where they were eight months ago.
To her, the answer was the tristricion on gatherings of people who are not in the same household. Lavelle didn’t know if Avalon restaurants could survive with outdoor dining. However, Lavelle knew that some restaurants can survive with dine out only.
Marshall said she would like to fight for outdoor dining.
