In a special City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Moscow City Council deliberated how to execute a soft reopening after learning Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s Rebound Idaho plan is not legally enforceable.
The council pushed the decision of whether to modify, extend or terminate Mayor Bill Lambert’s Public Health Emergency Orders to another special council meeting scheduled at 5 p.m. Thursday, following a press conference from Little the same day.
Little announced a four-stage plan April 23 to return Idaho to “somewhat normal” pending the criteria for his plan are met, which is published on the Idaho state government website.
“Our legal counsel knows what we all know, which is that the guidance is not enforceable and is a law that people are already pushing back on,” City Supervisor Gary Riedner said. “If it’s not enforceable, you can expect we’re going to see widespread disobedience to the guidance.”
The decision from city staffers to reevaluate Thursday follows expectations from Lambert that the state’s plan will become more permanent. Idaho’s stay-at-home order expires Thursday at midnight and Moscow’s emergency orders are set to expire May 5 at midnight.
North Central District Health (NCDH) Director Carol Moehrle said she doesn’t think law enforcement has the authority to shut down businesses in violation of the guidance as it stands now.
“We’ve heard some county sheriffs say they’re going to enforce it because it’s the governor’s guidance,” Moehrle said. “We’ve also heard from other sheriffs who say they won’t enforce it because it’s just a guidance.”
Lambert said the city will have to rely on businesses adhering to the guidance, regardless of legality.
Gatherings will roll out slowly and social distancing will last through June, Moehrle said.
Before a soft reopening rolls out, the city expects to hold two more regular council meetings via Zoom. The public is invited to engage with city staffers through email and phone calls.
The Argonaut will continue to follow this story.
Angela Palermo can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @apalermooo