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), July 14, 2020 (Resolution No. 1010-20) and August 25, 2020 (Resolution No. 1016-20).
The emergency conditions related to COVID-19 continue. The State established and revised a phased/tiered 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. As of the date this report was written, Santa Clara County was in the state's "red" tier, meaning the County still has a substantial number of COVID-19 cases and is subject to significant restrictions.
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anticipates that the COVID-19 emergency conditions will continue for some time before the public health orders are rescinded.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.
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