REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution Extending the City’s Declaration of Local Emergency for COVID-19
Report
DISCUSSION
On March 12, City Manager Kent Steffens declared a local health emergency pursuant to the authority granted to him as the Emergency Services Director in Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 2.16 (Emergency Organization and Functions) and applicable state law. The City Council adopted a resolution ratifying that declaration (Resolution No. 979-20) on March 17, 2020, and resolutions extending the declaration on April 7, 2020 (Resolution No. 981-20), May 26, 2020 (Resolution No. 994-20) and July 14, 2020 (Resolution No. 1010-20).
The emergency conditions related to COVID-19 continue. Since March 16, when the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health issued its initial “shelter-in-place” order, the order has been amended and extended. The State has established a phased framework for gradual reopening based on defined metrics designed to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Numerous public health directives from Santa Clara County remain in effect, extensively regulating the ways in which businesses in a variety of different sectors may operate. The County has also been on the State’s COVID-19 “watch list” since mid-July, and is subject to various State orders further regulating different business sectors, including orders prohibiting indoor operations in many sectors and in-person school until the County has been off the watch list for fourteen consecutive days.
Therefore, staff anticipates that the COVID-19 emergency conditions will continue for some time before the public health orders are rescinded. Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution extending the City’s declaration of a local emergency, to be reviewed again within 60 days pursuant to Government Code section 8630 (California Emergency Services Act). Extending the local health emergency empowers the City to continue to effectively respond to COVID-19, including staffing the EOC, coordinating with partner agencies, seeking and utilizing mutual aid, and pursuing potential federal and state reimbursement for costs related to response efforts.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, Sunnyvale Public Library and Department of Public Safety. In addition, the agenda and report are available at the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” with the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15320,15378 and 15061(b)(3) as it is an organizational structure change and does not have the potential to result in either a direct or reasonable foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution Extending the City Manager/Director of Emergency Services’ Proclamation of Existence of a Local Emergency (COVID-19).
Staff
Prepared by: David Carnahan, City Clerk
Reviewed by: Jaqui Guzmán, Deputy City Manager
Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Resolution Extending Emergency Proclamation
2. Resolution No. 1010-20
3. Resolution No. 994-20
4. Resolution No. 981-20
5. Resolution No. 979-20