REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Travis K. Hopkins, Assistant City Manager
Subject:
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Consider Adopting Resolution No. 2021-48, Terminating the City’s Local Emergency Declaration in Response to COVID-19
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Statement of Issue:
On March 16, 2020, the City of Huntington Beach declared a local emergency following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent months, COVID-19 statistics, including vaccination and positivity rates, worsened due to the prevalence of the delta variant but are now plateauing and showing indications of improvement. City Council Member Posey submitted a Council Directed item on July 6, 2021, which was supported by the full City Council, directing that staff terminate the City’s Local Emergency Declaration. As such, Resolution No. 2021-48 to terminate the local emergency declaration has been prepared and is being presented to City Council for consideration.
Financial Impact:
Based on the current national and statewide emergency orders that are in place, the City does not anticipate any financial impact from this decision.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2021-48, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Proclaiming the Termination of the Local Emergency Declared on March 16, 2020.”
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not adopt Resolution No. 2021-48 and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
On March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency as part of the State’s efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 and coordinate its resources to prepare for the oncoming surge in cases.
On March 16, 2020, the City Manager, acting in his capacity as the City’s Director of Emergency Management, issued a Proclamation of Local Emergency, in response to the State of Emergency. The City Council subsequently ratified the Proclamation of Local Emergency by adopting Resolution No. 2020-15.
This action enabled the City to streamline its decision-making processes and access Federal and State resources to recoup a portion of City funds spent on responding to the pandemic. The Council’s actions also authorized the Director of Emergency Management to take certain actions to protect the health and safety of the community and stated that the local emergency would remain in effect until terminated by proclamation of the City Council.
In early April 2021, Governor Newsom announced the State's intention to move beyond its Blueprint for a Safer Economy and fully reopen the California economy on June 15, 2021. California law also states that a legislative body should terminate all states of emergency at the “earliest possible date” (California Government Code Section 8629). Given indications for COVID-19 case rate improvements since the recent delta surge, staff has prepared the attached resolution, which would terminate the March 16, 2020 local emergency declaration. Termination would still leave the City in compliance with the Governor’s State of Emergency and would not impact staff or our partner agencies’ continued coordination in the pandemic and vaccination response. Furthermore, termination would not impact County, State and/or federal public health measures that are currently in place, including mask requirements for unvaccinated individuals in certain circumstances. Lastly, should the pandemic worsen in the future, the City Council may choose to re-declare another local emergency.
Environmental Status:
Not applicable
Strategic Plan Goal:
COVID-19 Response
Attachment(s):
1. Resolution No. 2021-48
2. Resolution No. 2020-15