Title
Approval of an Ordinance Declaring a Continuing Public Health Emergency Relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19) - First and Final Reading
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Ordinance declaring a continuing state of public health emergency relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and authorizing actions as are reasonable and necessary to mitigate conditions caused by such public health emergency on first and final reading.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve an Ordinance declaring a continuing state of public health emergency relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and authorizing actions as are reasonable and necessary to mitigate conditions caused by such public health emergency.
Staff Contact:
Mark Barber, City Attorney, 360.753.8338
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
On January 21, 2020, the Washington State Department of Health confirmed the first case of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States of America in Snohomish County, Washington.
On January 31, 2020, the Secretary of the United States Department of Public Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, declared a public health emergency effective January 27, 2020 for the Novel Coronavirus known as COVID-19.
On February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed Proclamation 20-05 declaring that a State of Emergency exists in all counties in the State of Washington due to the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, and that the risk of person-to-person transmission throughout Washington State and the United States of America would significantly impact the life and health of people, as well as the economy of Washington State, and is a public disaster that affects life, health, property or the public peace. The Governor directed State agencies and departments to utilize State resources to do everything reasonably possible to assist political subdivisions of the State in an effort to respond and recover from the outbreak.
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The WHO acknowledged that as of March 11, 2020, there were more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 had lost their lives to COVID-19. The WHO called for nations to take urgent and aggressive action.
On March 12, 2020, the Thurston County Board of Health adopted Resolution No. H-03-2020, finding that as of March 12, 2020, there were 366 positive results and 29 deaths due to COVID-19 in Washington State, with twelve (12) counties reporting cases, evidencing the growing nature of the epidemic.
On March 12, 2020, the Board of Thurston County Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 15880, finding that Thurston County’s declaration of a local emergency will allow the County to undertake emergency purchases pursuant to RCW 36.32.270 and RCW 39.04.280 when such purchases require immediate action in the event of an emergency, among other emergency actions.
On March 17, 2020, the Olympia City Council enacted Ordinance No. 7233 declaring a state of public health emergency, and that the Olympia City Council will take all actions within its powers and resources to protect the public peace, health, safety and welfare of the citizens, residents and businesses of the City of Olympia during the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the consequences of the illness and public health emergency taking place and to maintain essential public services such as police, fire, public works and public utilities such as water and solid waste collection.
As a result of the continued worldwide spread of COVID-19, its significant progression in Washington State, and the high risk it poses to our most vulnerable populations, the Governor subsequently issued amendatory Proclamations 20-06 through 20-53 and 20-55 through 20-57, exercising his emergency powers under RCW 43.06.220 by prohibiting certain activities and waiving and suspending specified laws and regulations.
On May 29, 2020, the Governor issued Proclamation 20-25.4 declaring that a State of Emergency continues to exist in all counties of Washington State, that Proclamation 20-06 and all amendments thereto remain in effect as otherwise amended, and that, to help preserve and maintain life, health, property or the public peace pursuant to RCW 43.06.220(1)(h), Proclamations 20-25, 20-25.1, 20-25.2, and 20-25.3 (Stay Home - Stay Healthy) were amended to extend all of the prohibitions and each expiration date therein to 11:59 p.m. on July 1, 2020, and were renamed (Safe Start - Stay Healthy), and that except as otherwise provided in Proclamation 20-25.4 or the Safe Start Washington Phased Reopening County-by-County Plan, all other provisions of Proclamations 20-25, 20-25.1, 20-25.2, and 20-25.3 remain in full force and effect.
The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and its progression in Washington State continues to threaten the life and health of our people as well as the economy of Washington State, and remains a public disaster affecting life, health, property or the public peace.
The Washington State Department of Health continues to maintain a Public Health Incident Management Team in coordination with the State Emergency Operations Center and other supporting state agencies to manage the public health aspects of the incident.
The Washington State Military Department Emergency Management Division, through the State Emergency Operations Center, continues coordinating resources across state government to support the Department of Health and local health officials in alleviating the impacts to people, property, and infrastructure, and continues coordinating with the Department of Health in assessing the impacts and long-term effects of the incident on Washington State and its people.
On June 9, 2020, the Washington State Department of Health was reporting 22,484 confirmed cases and 1,118 deaths statewide due to COVID-19. As of June 9, 2020, Thurston County had 170 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and three deaths.
Declaring a continuing state of public health emergency provides a factual basis for the public health emergency and references statutory authority that allows the City more flexibility to act quickly in response to COVID-19. Under the Ordinance, the City may, for example, obligate funds for emergency expenditures as directed by the City Council and enter into contracts and incur obligations necessary to combat such emergency situations to protect the health and safety of persons and property.
The Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption by a vote of a majority plus one, and the emergency will be in effect through September 18, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., at which point the City Council will review the conditions that gave rise to this public health emergency to determine if keeping it in place is warranted.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
COVID-19 continues to be a significant concern to the citizens, residents and businesses of Olympia.
Options:
1. Move to approve the Ordinance declaring a continuing state of public health emergency relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) and authorizing actions as are reasonable and necessary to mitigate conditions caused by such public health emergency.
2. Direct staff to modify the Ordinance.
3. Move to take no action.
Financial Impact:
Unknown.
Attachments:
Ordinance