Plano to consider stay-at-home order that would close businesses deemed nonessential

PLANO, TX – The city of Plano took an early step toward adopting its own stay-at-home ordinance that would close more businesses and bring its restrictions in line with those of a number of nearby cities and counties.

Plano City Council on Monday directed City Attorney Paige Mims to prepare a new ordinance that would adopt standards similar to those in place in Denton County, Frisco and McKinney. Those jurisdictions have closed a number of businesses defined as nonessential.

The council would consider whether to adopt the ordinance in a videoconference meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday. The city was expected to deliver the language of the ordinance to council members Tuesday, City Manager Mark Israelson said.

The city is still operating under an order from March 17 that banned dine-in services at restaurants and closed bars, gyms and movie theaters in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

Since then, Denton, Dallas and Tarrant county governments have adopted stricter orders that define a number of essential and nonessential business activities.