Report Prepared by: Steven S. Carrigan, City Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolution Terminating the Local Emergency Declared by the Director of Emergency Services on March 13, 2020 Pursuant to Merced Municipal Code Chapter 8.20
REPORT IN BRIEF
Asking the City Council to Terminate the Local Emergency Declared by the Director of Emergency Services.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion adopting Resolution 2020-26, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, Terminating the Local Emergency Declared by the Director of Emergency Services on March 13, 2020 Pursuant to Merced Municipal Code Chapter 8.20.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for consideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in the motion); or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter City of Merced, Sec. 200, Merced Municipal Code Chapter 8.20, and the Emergency Services Act.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2019-20 Adopted Budget
DISCUSSION
The novel coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan China in 2019 and spread across the globe and into the United States. Friday, March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national emergency due to the outbreak. Also on that date, Merced County declared a state of emergency. This followed the March 4, 2020 state of emergency that was declared by Gov. Newsom.
The City Manager declared a local emergency on March 13, 2020. The City Council ratified the local emergency at the April 6, 2020 Council meeting.
Following the declarations, much changed for the City of Merced. City staff began meeting with groups and organizations throughout the community to discuss the coronavirus outbreak and its effect on their memberships. State guidelines called for large gatherings to be cancelled, along with small ones where people cannot maintain social distancing. The Senior Center was closed for all activities. Schools cancelled sporting events and other activities. Council meetings went telephonic and virtual. City facilities were closed to the public and many “non-essential” City employees worked remotely.
As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2020, there were 5,406,282 cases worldwide, and 343,562 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The Centers for Disease Control listed 1,662,414 cases of COVID19 in the United States as of May 26, 2020, with 98,261 fatalities. There were 94,558 cases of the disease in California on that date, with 3,795 fatalities.
Locally, Merced County had 273 cases of COVID19, with 100 active cases and 166 recovered cases. There were seven people who had died. There were 104 people in the City of Merced who had been diagnosed with COVID19. (Data points are from May 26, 2020.)
Since that time, the Governor has taken a number of actions to reopen the state, and those moves have been followed by Merced County. On May 8, 2020, Gov. Newsom modified the Stay-At-Home order to allow counties to move to Stage 2 and allow lower risk workplaces to reopen.
Many businesses that had been deemed “non-essential” were allowed to reopen under the Stage 2 plan. The City Council has been supportive of plans to reopen local businesses. The City Manager has ordered staff to begin reopening City facilities, while following State and County directives. All City operations have been undergoing a re-examination to see how the face-to-face interactions can be limited and social distancing maintained.
Rescinding the emergency order will not affect the City’s expense reimbursement, it could be done under Merced County’s emergency declaration.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution 2020-26