Title
Public Hearing to Consider COVID-19 Related Response and Enforcement Activities; and
Adoption of an Urgency Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code By Adding a New Article 24-13 (Public Health) Providing for Enforcement of Alameda County Health Officer Orders and Directives. (Planning, Building and Transportation/City Attorney)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recognizing the immediate adverse impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on public health, safety and the general welfare of the Alameda community, staff and the City Council have instituted a variety of measures to provide protection and relief for Alameda residents and businesses. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Council has:
* Declared the existence of a local emergency to ensure the availability of mutual aid and an effective City of Alameda (City) response to the pandemic;
* Adopted ordinance amendments establishing new temporary zoning rules for businesses, deferring payment of Business License taxes and Business Improvement Area (BIA) fees for sixty (60) days to assist local businesses with immediate cash flow needs and deferring remittance of March, April, and May 2020 Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOTs) for sixty (60) days to assist local hotels and other businesses that are required to remit TOT with their immediate cash flow needs;
* Established protections for Alameda tenants threatened with eviction during the pandemic and established emergency rent-related relief, including an evictions moratorium;
* Initiated plans for the reconfiguration of Park Street and Webster Street to provide additional space for local business to continue to operate and allow for physical distancing for employees and customers. In July, Park Street was reconfigured and in early August, the Webster Street reconfiguration was completed; and
* Allocated $600,000 to fund emergency relief grants to small businesses impacted by COVI...
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