Things are beginning to return to normal at Sedona City Hall.

During the Tuesday, May 25, Sedona City Council meeting, Mayor Sandy Moriarty said that she would be rescinding her emergency proclamation the following day in regard to the wearing of COVID-related masks on city property.

Late Wednesday, May 26, the city announced Moriarty would also be lifting her 14-month-long Proclamation of Emergency, declared March 18, 2020.

“There is concern as to what could happen in future months but right now, I am ready to have everyone back on the dais and not wear masks,” Moriarty said. “Once we remove the mask mandate on the city campus, there’s no real reason for me to retain my emergency proclamation.”

While a vote among council was not taken — nor was one required to lift the mayor’s unilaterial order — the consensus was to lift the mask requirements.

For much of the pandemic, council had been meeting virtually. When they decided to hold in-person meetings, public seating was limited and members of council were spread out among the dais and desks.

On Wednesday, May 27, the seven returned to the dais with no masks or partitions.

Moriarty declared a state of emergency on March 18, and ordered restaurants, gyms and many other businesses to close, doing so about a week before Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey did the same thing statewide. Ducey also forbade towns, cities and counties from imposing any restrictions beyond what the state allowed.

Ducey issued an executive order on June 17 allowing towns, cities and counties to impose mask mandates but unlike many other gover­nors, Ducey never signed a statewide mandate.

Moriarty signed a city­wide mask mandate on June 24 under the emergency proclamation. Council did not vote on the issue.

On March 25 of this year, Ducey issued an executive order requiring cities, towns and counties to lift any mask mandates other than on city or county-owned property. Businesses still have the right to require that masks be worn by staff and patrons.

A survey of city employees was conducted ending May 17 and of the 103 participants, 78% said they are comfortable if no masks are required while 22% said they prefer the city continues to require their use. However, employees will be expected to wear a mask if requested by a co-worker or member of the public when interacting.

City Manager Karen Osburn showed the find­ings of cities and counties across the state in terms of how its governing boards are currently addressing the pandemic. Almost all stated that members are back on the dais with no masks or Plexiglas partitions between each. Coconino County Board of Supervisor meet­ings are still virtual while Yavapai County are mostly in person, no masks but with Plexiglas partitions.

“I’m still a little concerned about the level of vaccina­tions because it’s really tailed off,” Councilman Jon Thompson said. “The percentages are well below what they always told us we would have with herd immunity. I don’t see why we shouldn’t go along with what everyone else is doing now but we do need to be prepared, I think, to put it [mask mandate] back again, if needed.”

In a May 26 press release, the city stated, “Due to low COVID-19 case rates, ongoing vacci­nation efforts and updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, effective May 26, 2021, Mayor Sandy Moriarty’s Proclamation of Emergency due to the COVID-19 public health emergency is rescinded, ending the mask requirement in city govern­ment buildings and on public transportation.”