Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. 02 Continued Existence of Local Emergency COVID-19City Council Agenda Report City of Lake Elsinore 130 South Main Street Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 www.lake-elsinore.org File Number: ID# 21-048 Agenda Date: 2/9/2021 Status: Approval FinalVersion: 1 File Type: Council Consent Calendar In Control: City Council / Successor Agency Agenda Number: 2) Continued Existence of a Local Emergency (COVID-19) Find the need to continue the local emergency related to COVID -19 consistent with the findings and proclamations set forth in Resolution No. 2020-18 and Resolution No. 2020-52. Additionally, the declaration of a local emergency provides a legal basis for requesting and obtaining County, State, or Federal government disaster assistance. The declaration also activates the emergency operations plan's response and recovery aspects and authorizes the City to furnish or receive aid and assistance under existing mutual aid agreements. Page 1 City of Lake Elsinore Printed on 2/4/2021 REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council From: Jason Simpson, Acting City Manager Date: February 9, 2021 Subject: Continued Existence of a Local Emergency (COVID-19) Recommendation 1. Find the need to continue the local emergency related to COVID-19 consistent with the findings and proclamations set forth in Resolutions No. 2020-18 and No. 2020-52; and 2. Direct staff to pursue available County, State, or Federal government disaster assistance based on the continued declaration of a local emergency; and 3. Continue activation and implementation of the emergency operations plan's response and recovery which authorizes the City to furnish or receive aid and assistance under existing mutual aid agreements. Background The Governor of California proclaimed a State of Emergency on March 4 , 2020, due to the introduction of COVID-19 in the State of California. On March 8, 2020, the Riverside County Public Health Officer declared a local health emergency based on a n imminent and proximate threat to public health from the introduction of COVID -19 in Riverside County, which declaration was ratified by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on March 10, 2020. On March 17, 2020, the City Manager , in his capacity as Disaster Director, proclaimed a local emergency throughout the City of Lake Elsinore , finding that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property existed in the City related to the COVID -19 outbreak and that efforts required to prepare for, respond to, mitigate and recover from the increasing spread of COVID-19 imposed extraordinary demands which exceed the City's resources and are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the City. On March 24, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020 -18 Ratifying The Proclamation Of Local Emergency And Proclaiming The Existence Of A Local Emergency (COVID-19), and on June 9, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020 -52 finding and proclaiming the continued existence of a local emergency (COVID -19). Discussion Under the State’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” every county in California is assigned to a tier based on its test positivity and adjusted case rate. While some numbers, including positivity rate and adjusted case rate, are starting to improve, Riverside County remains in the most restrictive “Widespread (Purple) Tier," and COVID-19 remains a severe threat to public health in the City of Lake Elsinore, County of Riverside, and the State of California. Pursuant to state law and Lake Elsinore Municipal Code Chapter 2.20, the City is subject to State and County public Continued Local Emergency February 9, 2021 Page 2 health orders that restrict and/or impose guidelines to conduct certain activities. These restrictions apply regardless of the City’s proclamation of a continuing local emergency. However, the declaration of a local emergency provides a legal basis for requesting and obtaining County, State, or Federal government disaster assistance. The declaration also activates the emergency operations plan's response and recovery aspects and authorizes the City to furnish or receive aid and assistance under existing mutual aid agreements. Following the adoption by the City Council of the Proclamation of Local Emergency, State law and the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code require the City Council to periodically review the necessity for continuing the local emergency until the emergency is terminated. During the second week of November, public health officials in California announced the State's one millionth COVID-19 case. They reported the fastest rate of increase in the number of daily reported infections since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increases continued and surged over the holidays. As of February 1, 2021, the State reported:  3.26 million cases (up from December 2, 2020 -1.25 million cases) As of February 1, 2021, the County of Riverside reported:  275,872 confirmed cases (December 2, 2020 - 84,824 confirmed cases)  3,171 deaths (December 2, 2020 - 1,443 deaths) Continued Local Emergency February 9, 2021 Page 2  Riverside County reported in the City of Lake Elsinore: o 6,579 confirmed cases (December 2, 2020 - 1,755 confirmed cases) o 47 deaths (December 2, 2020 - 22 deaths) Continued Local Emergency February 9, 2021 Page 2 Continued Local Emergency February 9, 2021 Page 2 All government levels are working diligently to address these risks, including extraordinary efforts by the County of Riverside to coordinate with cities within the County to disseminate information, provide guidance and other important information, and issue and enforce public health orders.