July 29, 2020
To All GSAC Member Associations:
After a five hour meeting today, the Naples City Council declined to opt-in to the Collier County
emergency order mandating the use of face masks/coverings inside public places. Although
there was no formal vote taken, it became obvious as the Council Members spoke that there
were only two votes in favor of doing so; viz., Council Members Ray Christman and Paul Perry.
Mayor Heitmann and Council Members Gary Price, Terry Hutchison, Mike McCabe and Ted
Blankenship were opposed.
Howard Handler, GSAC’s Vice-President and Secretary, spoke in support of a mandate during
the public comment period. Although the City’s Emergency Management Director, the NCH
Healthcare System and the Collier County Medical Society were also supportive of a mandate,
the Council did not concur.
Thus as things stand, residents patronizing any of the locations in the Village Shops are not
required to wear masks, but, if they drive up to the Waterside Shops (which are in the
unincorporated portion of Collier County), they are. Of course, the individual store or shop
owners retain the right to refuse entry to their property to anyone not wearing a mask.
Regards,
Jim Melican
President, GSAC
