To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Steve Potter, City Manager
Prepared By: Liz Habkirk, Deputy City Manager
TITLE:
Title
Recognizing Essential Workers for their contributions during COVID-19
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution recognizing the outstanding contributions to the Napa community by essential workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Body
DISCUSSION:
As a part of the City Council’s priority setting workshops in February and March, the possibility of recognizing certain retail employees for their contributions and sacrifices during the COVID-19 Pandemic was discussed. Subsequent Council discussion focused on an urgency ordinance requiring short-term hazard pay for grocery workers. City Council members debated the merits and possibly unintended negative consequences of requiring such a pay, as well as the challenges in narrowing the definition of workers to be recognized in such a way.
As an alternative, at the April 20, 2021 Council Meeting City Council members directed staff to return with a resolution that would recognize the contributions of the many essential workers throughout the Napa community.
Essential workers have demonstrated their value and dedication throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic. This public health emergency highlighted the importance of workers ranging in positions from retail and grocery store clerks to emergency response personnel, to doctors, nurses, and frontline healthcare workers of all kinds. Often these workers put themselves at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 and deserve public accolades due to the personal sacrifices they have made to keep our community safe. Their dedication allowed the supply chain to continue, and for the Napa community to have continual and safe access to such necessities as food, prescriptions, and health care.
Approval of today’s resolution will recognize the contributions of these essential workers and express the community’s gratitude for them.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
None
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 - Resolution
NOTIFICATION:
None.