To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Steve Potter, City Manager
Prepared By: Liz Habkirk, Deputy City Manager
TITLE:
Title
Proclamation of Local Emergency to Respond to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Continue the Proclamation of Local Emergency authorizing the City Manager to take actions necessary to respond to the Coronavirus (COVID-19); and ratify actions taken by the City Manager in implementation of the Proclamation of Local Emergency.
Body
DISCUSSION:
The catastrophic coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has severely impacted the community of residents, businesses, property owners, and visitors that are served by the City of Napa; and it has concurrently and similarly severely impacted the operations and services that are provided by the City’s governmental organization to the community. Accordingly, on March 15, 2020, the City Manager issued a Proclamation of Local Emergency to Respond to the Coronavirus (Proclamation No. P2020-001), which was ratified by City Council on March 16, 2020. The ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on the community and the City’s operations have been documented and described in public reports to support the City Council’s continuation of the Local Emergency on March 31, 2020, April 7, 2020, April 21, 2020, May 5, 2020, May 19, 2020, June 2, 2020, June 16 2020, July 21, 2020 and August 4, 2020. The City Manager also issued Proclamations No. P2020-002, Proclamation No. P2020-003 and Proclamation No. P2020-004 in response to specific actions taken to help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19
Since the last report to the City Council, the City Manager has determined that the conditions of local emergency continue to exist in the City, and the City Manager has taken additional administrative actions in implementation of the Proclamation of Local Emergency. The City Manager has authorized the Public Works Director (“Director”) to establish a Temporary Closure of City Property program. The Director is authorized to issue administrative directives to close City property (including streets, sidewalks, other rights of way, or other City property) to assist in encouraging people to comply with social distancing protocols. The Director is also authorized to waive any fee that would otherwise be charged to cover costs of administering the program. Appropriate safety measures will be included for any closure. Most recently Main Street, between 2nd and 3rd Streets in downtown Napa has been closed to vehicular traffic. Since some of the sidewalk areas are accommodating expanded dining and business use, this closure allows an additional area for social distancing and pedestrian movement.
Staff recommends that the City Council continue the Proclamation of Local Emergency authorizing the City Manager to take actions necessary to respond to the Coronavirus (COVID-19); and ratify the administrative actions taken by the City Manager in implementation of the Proclamation of Local Emergency, as summarized in this report and as will be presented during the Council meeting on August 18, 2020. Consistent with Napa Municipal Code Section 2.89.060, the City Manager will return to City Council, at least every 21 days, to review the need to continue the local emergency efforts.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
The future financial impact is unclear at this time, and so there are no impacts by this action; however, continuation of the emergency will facilitate the ability for the City to request resources including financial support and reimbursement from the State Office of Emergency Services (OES) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for costs incurred as a result of the City’s response to COVID-19.
CEQA:
The City Manager has determined that the recommended action described in this agenda report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Proclamation P2020-005
NOTIFICATION:
None.