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, and resolutions extending the declaration on April 7, (Resolution No. 981-20), May 26, (Resolution No. 994-20), July 14, (Resolution No. 1010-20), August 25, (Resolution No. 1016-20) and October 13, (Resolution No. 1025-20).
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, regulating the ways in which businesses in a variety of different sectors may operate. In early fall, Santa Clara County daily case and positivity rates were low enough that the County was in the second lowest Orange Tier. However, in late October and early November, case rates throughout the country began exceeding prior peak case rates. On November 16, Governor Newson announced that Santa Clara County was moving backwards into the purple tier, the most restrictive tier in the State's risk-assessment system. Additionally, public health officials at the federal, state, and local levels are concerned about the spread of the virus during the upcoming holidays and have issued advisories to limit gatherings and non-essential travel.
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anticipates that the COVID-19 emergency conditions will continue for some time before the public health orders are rescinded.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 loca...
Click here for full text