Title
Adoption of Resolution Continuing the Declaration of the Existence of a Local Emergency in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Consistent with Government Code Section 8630(c). (City Manager 2110)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
THE COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities around the world, including Alameda. Section 3-12 of the City Charter authorizes the City Council, with a 4/5 vote, to adopt, as an urgency measure, an ordinance for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety without following the procedures otherwise required prior to adoption of an ordinance. Government Code Section 36937 allows a city, including a charter city, to adopt an urgency ordinance to take effect immediately upon its adoption for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety upon a finding of facts constituting the urgency thereof. On March 17, 2020, the City Council declared a local emergency through an urgency ordinance, which allowed staff to expeditiously respond to such emergency circumstances. On April 7, 2020 the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency to be consistent with the duration of the State’s Emergency Declaration. Since that time, staff has regularly presented the City Council items related to the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Government Code Section 8630(c) requires that, “the governing body shall review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the governing body terminates the local emergency.” As such, at this time, staff is recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution continuing the declaration of a local emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and directing staff to continue to respond appropriately to such declaration.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
A novel coronavirus (named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization) was first detected in December 2019. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that COVID-19 is a serious public health threat, based on current information. The exact modes of transmission of COVID-19, the factors facilitating human to human transmission, the extent of asymptomatic viral shedding, the groups most at risk of serious illness, the attack rate, and the case fatality rate all remain active areas of investigation. There are no vaccine or specific anti-viral treatment for COVID-19 at this time.
In March of 2017, the City Council declared a local emergency in the City of Alameda and directed staff to respond appropriately. On April 7, 2020 the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency to be consistent with the duration of the State’s Emergency Declaration. The State’s Emergency Declaration related to the COVID-19 pandemic is still in effect. However, Government Code Section 8630(c) requires that, “the governing body shall review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the governing body terminates the local emergency.”
Since, the March 17 and April 7 meetings, staff has regularly presented COVID-19 action items to the City Council, including but not limited to the topics of: staffing for City facilities; employee benefits; rent protection; small business relief; and a community fund.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the resolution authorizing the continuation of the emergency declaration, consistent with Government Code Section 8630(c).
2. Do not approve the resolution continuing the emergency declaration and proclaim the termination of the local emergency pursuant to Government Code Section 8630(d).
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no direct financial impact from the City Council continuing to declare a local emergency in response to the COVAD-19 pandemic and authorizing staff to respond appropriately. However, the declaration of a local emergency could enhance the City’s ability to recover funds that are expended in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) Chapter 2-24 defines a local emergency as “the actual or threaten existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the jurisdiction.” Government Code Section 8630 allows the City to declare a local emergency pursuant to an ordinance. Section 3-12 of the City Charter authorizes the City Council, with a 4/5 vote, to adopt, as an urgency measure, an ordinance for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety without following the procedures otherwise required prior to adoption of an ordinance. Government Code Section 36937 allows a city, including a charter city, to adopt an urgency ordinance to take effect immediately upon its adoption for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety upon a finding of facts constituting the urgency thereof. Finally, Government Code Section 8630(c) requires that, “the governing body shall review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the governing body terminates the local emergency.”
CLIMATE IMPACTS
No climate impacts are anticipated from this action.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption) and 15321 (law enforcement activities).
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution continuing the declaration of the existence of a local emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, consistent with Government Code Section 8630(c). (City Manager 2110)
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends approval of the continuation of the emergency declaration.
By:
Gerry Beaudin, Assistant City Manager
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Paul Rolleri, Police Chief
Ricci Zombeck, Acting Fire Chief
Yibin Shen, City Attorney