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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - July 27, 2021 B-01 SMBAGENDA ITEM M. 1 CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TM AGENDA TITLE: Adopt Resolution Reaffirming the Ratification of the City Manager's Proclamation Finding the Continued Existence of a Local Emergency and Rendering Certain Emergency Orders MEETING DATE: July 27, 2021 — Special Meeting PREPARED BY: City Attorney RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt a resolution reaffirming the ratification of the City Manager's proclamation finding the continued existence of a local emergency and rendering certain emergency orders. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: At 8:00 a.m. on March 16, 2020, the City Manager declared a Local Emergency pursuant to his authority under Lodi Municipal Code section 2.32.060(A)(1). The declaration was confirmed by the City Council on March 18, 2020 (Gov. Code §8630). The actions were taken in response to an outbreak of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in San Joaquin County. As the result of significantly reduced cases and fatalities from COVID-19 and high statewide vaccination rates for those over 12 -years of age, Governor Newsom signed an executive order, that became effective June 15, terminating the March 19, 2020 stay-at-home order and the August 28, 2020 Califomia's Plan for Reducing COVID-19 and Adjusting Permitted Sector Activities to Keep Californians Healthy and Safe (Blueprint) consisting four color -coded tiers. The Governor plans to sunset other executive orders in phases in July and September. The State's "state of emergency" will remain in place through at least September to allow the Governor the ability to declare new rules and regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of June 15, California re -opened its economy by allowing full capacity for business operations within the State. COVID-19 is an infectious disease that causes respiratory illness and, in some cases, can result in lung lesions and pneumonia. Experts believe that a large majority of those infected will have mild cases that often resemble the flu; however, some will have more serious symptoms requiring hospitalization, particularly individuals who are over 65 years of age or have underlying chronic health conditions or immunodeficiency. More widely transmissible variants of the coronavirus are currently in California and spread quickly among children and adults. Vaccines in the State are now available to those 12 -years and older and to date more than 70% of eligible residents are at least partially vaccinated. The City has implemented a Council approved program to incentivize citizens to obtain the vaccine and has continued its social media outreach. � Y APPROVED: Stephen Schwabauer, City Manager As of June 19, the county's 7 -day average positivity rate was 3.2%, but as of July 21 the rate is 8% (under the Blueprint that would fall within the Purple (widespread) Tier). In the last three weeks hospitalizations rates in San Joaquin County have doubled and 53 individuals are confirmed with cases of the COVID-19 delta variant. The delta variant is now dominant in the County and the State and is highly transmissible. San Joaquin County Public Health is now advising all residents, vaccinated or not, to wear masks indoors out of a growing concern of the spread of the more infectious COVID-19 delta variant. Based on the status of the pandemic within the County and City, staff recommends reaffirming the declaration of emergency originally issued on March 16, 2020. FEMA will continue to reimburse for qualified expenses related to the pandemic incurred through September 30, 2021. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council reaffirm its ratification of the City Manager's declaration of a local emergency. FUNDING: The reaffirmation of the ratification of the City Manager's declaration of Local Emergency allows the City to continue to access federal, state and county resources, including financial reimbursements. Janice D. gdich '`Clty-Att ey Attachment 1) Resolution Reaffirming the Ratification of the Proclamation of the Director of Emergency Services for the City of Lodi Concerning the Existence of a Local Emergency 2