DATE:
February 21, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
April Richardson, City Clerk
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Terminating The Declaration of Local Emergency In Response To The COVID-19 Pandemic Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution terminating the City of Emeryville’s Declaration of Local Emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic effective February 28, 2023, to coincide with the termination of California’s State of Emergency.
Background
Emeryville Municipal Code section 4-2.02 and California Government Code section 8558 define “emergency” and “local emergency” (respectively) as “existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property” within specified territorial limits, including those cause by epidemic, which “are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities” of a particular political subdivision such as the City of Emeryville, and which require “the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat or resolve.” Such conditions are referred to as a “Local Emergency”.
Section 4-2.08(a)(1) of the Emeryville Municipal Code empowers the Director of Emergency Services to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a Local Emergency when the City is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity when the City Council is not in session as long as the City Council ratifies such action within seven days.
On March 17, 2020, the City Manager issued a Proclamation of Local Emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 19, 2020, the City Council ratified that proclamation and adopted Resolution No. 20-23.
Discussion
The threatened conditions of disaster or extreme peril that necessitated the proclamation of an emergency to enable the City of Emeryville to adequately plan, prepare, and preposition resources to effectively respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 no longer exist. COVID-19 does not pose the imminent threat it did prior to vaccines and other medical treatments now widely available. The virus is still circulating among the population, but at much lower rates and with much less deadly consequences for vaccinated groups. The current public health indicators signal that it is appropriate to terminate the local emergency.
In October 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom announced his plans to end the COVID-19 State of Emergency on February 28, 2023. Staff recommends that that the City Council terminate the City’s Declaration of Local Emergency concurrently on this date.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact.
Staff Communication with the Public
There was no communication with the public related to this report.
Conflict of Interest
There is not conflict of interest related to this report.
Conclusion
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a Resolution terminating the Declaration of Local Emergency on February 28, 2023.
PREPARED BY: April Richardson, City Clerk
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution
Termination of Local Emergency
City Council Meeting | February 21, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM