1 TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Lina Hernandez, Senior Management Analyst
MEETING DATE: February 7, 2023
SUBJECT: Resolution Proclaiming Termination of the City of Lomita’s Local Emergency Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt resolution.
BACKGROUND
On March 17, 2020, the City declared a local state of emergency and virtually activated the Emergency Operations Center at the lowest level in response to a severe acute respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus, known as COVID-19, that was spreading globally and rapidly, ultimately resulting in a global pandemic. Federal, state, and county governments issued mandatory public health orders closing all nonessential business activities and physical distancing among other emergency measures to protect the community and control the spread of the disease.
Temporary adjustments were made to City programs and services as part of the City Council’s approved emergency measures intended to protect and aid Lomita residents, including virtual meetings, the Lift Up Lomita campaign, a dedicated coronavirus website, deliveries of food and other essential items, masks, and hand sanitizer giveaways, collaboration with the Lomita Chamber of Commerce and other organizations to support our local businesses, and the development of economic relief programs, among many other things.
Lomita’s emergency measures have been amended and extended twelve times since the city originally declared the local emergency to coincide with the state and county’s COVID-19 health regulations.
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
Item No. 7d
2 DISCUSSION
With hospitalizations and deaths dramatically reduced due to the wide availability of vaccinations and boosters for those who wish to be inoculated and other public health mitigation efforts, the state and county have been slowly moving into less-restrictive reopening tiers.
On October 17, 2022, Governor Newsom announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency will end on February 28, 2023, a sign that health officials believe the pandemic has moved into a new, less dire phase. The attached resolution, if approved by the City Council, would end the local emergency to consistent with the state and resume pre-pandemic normal operations.
OPTIONS
1. Approve staff’s recommendation.
2. Provide staff further direction.
FISCAL IMPACT
None. The safety measures put in place during the emergency were temporary and the city received Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support the city for eligible expenses associated with its response.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution 2023-03
Approved by:
___________________________ __________________________
Gary Y. Sugano Ryan Smoot
Assistant City Manager City Manager
Prepared by:
Lina Hernandez
__________________________
Lina Hernandez
Senior Management Analyst
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-03
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA,
CALIFORNIA, TERMINATING THE PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL
EMERGENCY
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA DOES HEREBY FIND, ORDER AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Recitals.
A. On March 4, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency in response to the increased spread of the novel (new) coronavirus known as COVID-19.
B. Additionally, on March 4, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Department of Public Health declared a local and public health emergency in response to increased spread of COVID-19 across the country and in Los Angeles County.
C. On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national emergency in response to COVID-19.
D. On March 17, 2020, the City Council Adopted Resolution No. 2020-02 ratifying the Director of Emergency Services’ PROCLAMATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY. That Resolution proclaiming the existence of a local emergency has been reviewed and confirmed by the City Council several times, most recently, via Resolution No. 2022-09, adopted by the City Council on March 15, 2022.
E. On October 17, 2022, Governor Newsom announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency would end on February 28, 2023; accordingly, the City Council desires to end the local emergency at the same time as the State.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Lomita as follows:
SECTION 2: The Local Emergency Order proclaimed by the City Council on March 17, 2020, through the adoption of Resolution No. 2020-02, and emergency measures reviewed, extended, amended and confirmed by the City Council through • Resolution No. 2020-03 on March 23, 2020
• Resolution No. 2020-06 on April 14, 2020
• Resolution No. 2020-12 on May 22, 2020
• Resolution No. 2020-23 on July 7, 2020
Attachment No. 1
Resolution No. 2023-03
• Resolution No. 2020-26 on August 4, 2020
• Resolution No. 2020-36 on September 15, 2020
• Resolution No. 2020-40 on November 17, 2020
• Resolution No. 2021-02 on January 19, 2021
• Resolution No. 2021-09 on April 20, 2021
• Resolution No. 2021-19 on June 15, 2021
• Resolution No. 2021-40 on December 7, 2021
• Resolution No. 2022-09 on March 15, 2022
is hereby terminated effective February 28, 2023. Accordingly, the local emergency as proclaimed by the City Council is terminated and all remaining Executive Orders shall be terminated.
SECTION 3: The City Council previously authorized City boards, commissions and committees to meet remotely or via teleconference due to the ongoing local emergency.
Effective January 1, 2023, California state law requires all City boards, commissions and committees to conduct meetings in person. Although state law does permit members of such boards, commissions and committees to participate remotely without posting the member’s location on the meeting agenda and providing public access to the member’s location during the meeting, the City must determine that such member meets certain requirements, as defined by state law.
SECTION 4: The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 7
th day of February 2023.
_______________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Kathleen Horn Gregory, MMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________________
Trevor Rusin, City Attorney
Resolution No. 2023-03