7 minute read
News No Really, is Anyone Enforcing This Thing?
No draconian police-state here. Elected officials emphasize education and individual responsibility
By Laurel Brauns
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Over the last week, local, state and county officials have hosted a slew of virtual press meetings to announce the news that most of Oregon is reopening… albeit with caution.
At every level of government, curious reporters have asked the same questions: Who is enforcing the new guidelines? Will people violating the non-essential travel ban face repercussions?
Elected officials, from Gov. Kate Brown, to Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone, emphasized education and personal responsibility as the first steps toward enforcing Phase One regulations.
Will scofflaws get arrested?
“The Governor’s order is enforceable by law enforcement, however, agencies in Central Oregon have reported they are primarily focused on education and outreach about current regulations and would use arrests as a last resort,” read a press release sent Monday by the Central Oregon Emergency Information Network. (See the end of this article for a variety of numbers to call to report violations or ask questions.)
“We will continue to follow the guidance from the Governor’s Office by focusing on education and voluntary compliance,” said Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson in an email to the Source. “If a situation, or someone, is putting other’s safety at risk, we will take enforcement action if we don’t gain voluntary compliance.”
Lt. Juli McConkey of the Bend Police Department echoed that sentiment: “Our plan is to educate and if we need to, we can send a report to the district attorney and they can determine if they are going to file charges. The last resort would be making an arrest,” McConkey told the Source. “We have a lot more important things to do and [need to] respond to 911 calls.”
And what does District Attorney John Hummel plan to do with any citations he might see?
Hummel said the majority of the community has demonstrated care for “their neighbors” to comply so far, and most people in Deschutes County respect the law, he told the Source.
“The few who fail to come into compliance after being asked by law enforcement to do so should be issued citations,” Hummel said. “I stand ready to prosecute offenders identified by local law enforcement officers.”
Helping businesses, avoiding forced compliance
During a May 8 virtual press conference of city and county leaders, Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone said, “[The main goal] is education…. If we’re in a situation where things are getting out of control, then there is a discussion about what enforcement works, right? [But] that is not the culture we’re trying to set up right now…. Every citizen is going to have to take some personal responsibility, being out in the community, wearing a mask, understanding that this is an unknown generational health emergency that we’re living in in this time.”
The Deschutes County Environmental Health department—which is normally responsible for local safety inspections—has moved into high gear with various forms and signage for businesses entering Phase One and staff ready to answer technical questions during regular business hours.
Nicole Vulcan
The Downtown Bend Business Association worked during lockdown to help its members change their business models and sell products online. Here, a DBBA staffer puts up new banners encouraging people to shop local.
What about tourism?
After the governor loosened restrictions on 29 Oregon counties last week, many people wanted to know how Phase One will affect the state’s non-essential travel ban. The Oregon Health Authority Reopening Guidance from May 16 states: “Stay close to home. Avoid overnight trips and lockdown. What’s to stop people in the city from escaping to the mountains?
minimize other non-essential travel, including recreational day trips to destinations outside the community where you live.”
When Brown announced limited opening of state recreational areas on May 5, she said that nobody should travel more than 50 miles for outdoor recreation.
In tourism communities like Central Oregon and the Oregon Coast, some people worry the reopening announcement may inspire a flood of visitors. Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties—which are part of the Greater Portland region—are still on
“That is not the culture we’re trying to set up right now…. Every citizen is going to have to take some personal responsibility, being out in the community, wearing a mask, understanding that this is an unknown generational health emergency that we’re living in in this time.” -Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone
“This is up to all of us,” Brown said. “Public law enforcement has really important things to do. I’m not going to be asking them to stop cars that are going to the Coast. I’m asking, I’m encouraging Oregonians to be thoughtful and considerate of others.”
Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state’s epidemiologist, said on Thursday that most people have stayed home through lockdown; therefore, he doesn’t expect a huge spike in recreational travel. Traffic data and aggregated cell phone data demonstrated Oregonians were complying, he said.
Neither Deschutes County or the City of Bend want local tourism agencies or companies to push out any marketing messages promoting travel to Central Oregon right now. Yet, the county’s temporary ban on shortterm rentals expired May 15. The Bend City Council renewed its advisory
against recreational travel on May 6, but there’s no way to enforce it, and it may only remain in effect for another three weeks.
“Although we’ve allowed our prohibitions against overnight rentals or short-term rentals to lapse, we are
not trying to encourage travel from other parts of the area currently,” said Henderson on May 13. “But we do need to have travel and the tourism, so that’s going to be a coming thing and we’re very supportive of that as it can grow.”
Across the state, county and local level, tourism guidelines are open to interpretation.
Visit Bend’s recent post, “4 ways not to mess this up as Bend reopens for business,” clearly states that locals need to remind out-of-town friends to stay home.
Meanwhile, some local properties went all in with Phase One. and “third night free” deals. The email came with links to the resort’s new health and sanitation practices.
"Stay close to home. Avoid overnight trips and minimize other non-essential travel, including recreational day trips to destinations outside the community where you live. -Oregon Health Authority Reopening Guidance
On Friday afternoon, the first day Deschutes County had officially entered Phase One, Sunriver Resort sent out an email at 4pm with the headline, “We’re open & ready to welcome you,” offering dirt cheap home and condo rentals (from $89 a night)
Does Sunriver Resort have an ethical obligation to hold off on marketing while the travel ban is still in effect?
“I would argue that [Sunriver Resort] showed the most responsibility of everyone,” said Tom O’Shea, managing director for the resort. “We closed first, perhaps first in the state. We closed voluntarily for eight weeks; it was not mandated by the governor to close. We took that time to re-evaluate our operations, and take care of our community, employees and provide a
Outdoor seating is a viable option for restaurants to offer sit-down service as the the commuity enters Phase One. Here, Dan Baumann, owner of The Commons Cafe & Taproom, sets up a picnic table outside the Rademacher House .
safe environment for our guests and we have done that. Our reopening has nothing to do with Phase One.”
The Source will report updated occupancy rates comparing the first weekend of Phase One to weekends during lockdown later this week at bendsource.com.
Commissioner DeBone summed up the confusion over enforcement: “There’s a difference between recommendations and regulations, and we’re at the regulations phase right now; these are all recommendations to be safe in our community.”
Report Issues Related to COVID-19 Restrictions
Employees: Oregon OSHA at 541-388-6066 or tech.web@oregon.gov
Restaurants, Pools and Hotels: Deschutes County Health Services Environmental Health at 541-317-3114 or CountyEnvironmentalHealth@deschutes.org
Bend Park and Recreation: 541-389-7275
Any violation in Deschutes County: 541-693-6911 or CountyEnvironmentalHealth@deschutes.org.
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