Report Prepared by: Venus Rodriguez, Finance Officer
Title
SUBJECT: Report to Council Regarding the Expiration of Governor's Executive Order N-42-20 (Water Shut-Off Moratorium)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Provide direction to staff regarding the expiration of Governor's Executive Orders N-42-20 (Water Shut-Off Moratorium).
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion providing direction to staff regarding the expiration of Governor's Executive Order N-42-20 and when to reinstate the utility billing delinquency and water shut-off process.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
None.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
City Council ratified Local Emergency due to COVID-19 On March 16, 2020 with Resolution 2020-10.
DISCUSSION
Background
The novel coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan China in 2019 and spread across the globe into the United States. On Friday March 13, 2020 the President of the United States declared a national emergency due to the outbreak. Merced County followed suit declaring a state of emergency on the same day. This followed the March 4, 2020, California state of emergency that was declared by Governor Newsom. The City of Merced City Manager also declared a local emergency as the Director of Emergency Services. On March 16, 2020, the City Council ratified the Local Emergency with Resolution 2020-10 and then on May 18, 2020, the City Council ended the local emergency declaration for the City of Merced although financial impacts have continued due to the increase in COVID-19 spread in Merced county.
As part of the state of emergency and as a result of the threat of COVID-19 several Executive Orders were issued. Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-42-20 on April 2, 2020. This order suspended any discontinuance of water service due to non-payment for residential customers and any business in the critical infrastructure sectors designated by the State Public Health Officer as critical to protect the health and well-b...
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