Agenda #: 4.4
Meeting Date: December 6, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Daniel Fox, City Manager
TITLE: CONSIDERATION TO EXTEND A LOCAL EMERGENCY REGARDING NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19).
STRATEGIC
GOAL: Safe, Sustainable & Healthy Community
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution No. 2022-59 extending the Declared Local Emergency regarding Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The continuation of the declared local emergency is necessary to ensure access to reimbursement for related costs in response to COVID-19. The City has submitted a Request for Public Assistance with California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) to seek reimbursement for all eligible COVID-19 related expenses.
BACKGROUND:
The rapid global spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has resulted in unprecedented actions by Federal, State, County and local agencies, as well as private individuals and businesses, to help combat the community spread of the virus. While significant improvements in public health and vaccinations have decreased case counts and the positivity rate, it is necessary to continue the declaration to ensure eligibility for current and future funding.
On March 4, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared a State of Emergency and the Los Angeles County Public Health Officials declared a Local Health Emergency. Since that time, numerous actions have been, and continue to be taken, at the Federal, State and County levels to implement far reaching measures that include Stay at Home Orders, prohibit gatherings of any size, require closure of a wide range of businesses, schools, colleges, public facilities, cancellation of large community and sporting events, and other limitations all aimed at slowing the community spread of the
virus.
At the time the City Council declared a local emergency on March 19, 2020, LA County Public Health Officials reported (as of March 18, 2020) 190 confirmed cases (including 2 in Diamond Bar), with one death in the County. As of November 24, 2022, there were 3,530,105 confirmed cases and 34,156 deaths reported in Los Angeles County (including 12,488 cases and 121 deaths in Diamond Bar). Updated numbers will be provided for the Resolution at the meeting.
On January 25, 2021, Governor Newsom canceled the Regional Stay Home Order that tied restrictions to available ICU capacity state-wide. On June 15, 2021, Governor Newsom retired the Blueprint for a Safer Economy Program and eliminated the need for social distancing or capacity limits on businesses and other activities, with a few exceptions. While conditions improved in early 2021, since the June 15 reopening COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations increased especially for unvaccinated persons. In October 2022, it was announced the Governor would end the current state of emergency on February 23, 2023. This advance notice was provided to ensure the health care system has the needed flexibility to handle any surge after the holidays in early 2023, and focus on public health outreach efforts aimed at increasing vaccination and booster rates.
The Council is being asked to continue the Local State of Emergency (Attachment 1) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic until the state of emergency is lifted, and was last adopted by Council in October as is required every 60 days during the local emergency.
The City Manager, as the Emergency Services Director for the City, also intends to continue the activation of the Emergency Operations Center at the lowest level (Level 3) to be able to provide enhanced communications with LA County Emergency Operations Center and its public safety partners.
ANALYSIS:
The City has taken extraordinary actions and precautions to help protect residents, businesses and our workforce from community spread of COVID-19. The City transitioned to online service delivery and recreation programming to better serve the public, and has expanded service delivery options to include telephone, video, and inperson appointments.
City Operations:
• City facilities welcomed back the public for in-person services Monday through Friday during regular operating hours. This is in addition to the continued availability of telephone, video calls and on-line appointment-based services offered at City Hall such as building, planning, public works/engineering, as well as transit passes, Diamond Ride identifications, and environmental services. In early January 2022, City Hall and Diamond Bar Center limited operating hours to appointment only services due to increasing COVID case counts as a result of the Omicron variant. Full services have since been restored. • City playgrounds, skate park, ball fields, tennis/pickleball courts, Basketball/volleyball courts, picnic shelters, trails, and dog park are operating following Public Health guidance.
• City Staff continue to work both in-person and remotely in order to better serve the public through the variety of in-person, telephone, and video appointment options.
• Hybrid in-person/teleconferencing City Council and Commission meetings are currently being held.
• Street sweeping parking enforcement resumed in January 2021.
Recreation & Special Events Update:
• Recreation programs are being expanded, with programming following current County Public Health guidance. Updated information is on the City website. • Community in-person special events returned with Concerts in the Park during summer 2021 and have continued throughout 2022. The goal is to continue other planned events now that public health guidance is being modified to allow for more flexible in-person programming, with adjustments based on current County Public Health Guidance.
• Field allocations for youth sports organizations are following City policies and in accordance with LA County Public Health.
• Senior programming activities are being expanded following Public Health Guidance.
Adjustments to City Hall and the Diamond Bar Center operations were initiated which include:
• City Hall operating hours include appointment services, in-person drop-in services, as well as expanded on-line service offerings. • Diamond Bar Center operating hours will be adjusted as needed for programming and rentals.
• Staff will continue to work hybrid work schedules, which include in-person and remote work when possible.
• Per the latest County Health Order, indoor mask wearing is optional but could change depending upon future trends.
The City will continue to monitor conditions, especially transmission rates and hospitalizations leading up to the tentative end of the state of emergency on February 23, 2023. There remains a possibility that additional unpredictable variants in the future may require integrated public health measures. The City continues to encourage all residents and children that are eligible to get vaccinated and boosted to help keep the community spread of COVID-19 in check, including those under five now eligible to be vaccinated. Additional information is available on the County Public Health and City websites.
LEGAL REVIEW:
City Attorney has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.
PREPARED BY:
REVIEWED BY:
Attachments:
1. 4.4.a Resolution No. 2022-59 Emergency Declaration 12-6-2022