Agenda #: 7.2
Meeting Date: February 7, 2023
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. 2023-05 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.
The City Council declared a Local State of Emergency related to COVID-19 on March 19, 2020. Since that time, the City Council has reconfirmed its findings and continued the Local Declaration of State of Emergency every 60-days. At the time the City Council declared a local emergency, 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 January 30, 2023, there were 3,675,565 confirmed cases and 35,264 deaths reported in Los Angeles County (including 13,304 cases and 120 deaths in Diamond Bar).
It is anticipated that Governor Newsom will end the State of Emergency in California regarding COVID-19 effective February 28, 2023. According to the Governor’s statement published in October 2022:
“with hospitalizations down and deaths dramatically reduced due to the state’s vaccination and public health efforts, California has the tools needed to continue fighting COVID-19 when the State of Emergency terminates at the end of February, including vaccines and boosters, testing, treatments and other mitigation measures like masking and indoor ventilation.” Should the Governor end the California State of Emergency on February 28, 2023 as anticipated, it would be appropriate for the City to also end the Local State of Emergency at that time as well.
The Council is being asked to continue the Local State of Emergency (Attachment 1) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic for what appears to be one last time. Provisions in the Resolution would end the Local Emergency on February 28, 2023, should the State of Emergency be lifted. The City Manager, as the Emergency Services Director for the City, also intends to deactivate the Emergency Operations Center at that time which has been activated at the lowest level (Level 3) to be able to provide enhanced communications with LA County Emergency Operations Center and its public safety partners throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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, with planning underway throughout 2023. The goal is to continue other planned events using the most current 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.
There remains a possibility that additional unpredictable variants in the future may require continued 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.
Should the Governor’s state of emergency end on February 28, 2023 as anticipated, The City’s Local Emergency Declaration would also automatically end and no further action by the Council would be required.
LEGAL REVIEW:
City Attorney has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.
PREPARED BY:
REVIEWED BY:
Attachments:
1. 7.2.a Resolution No. 2023-05 Emergency Declaration 2-7-2023