RESOLUTION NO. RES-2022-188
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA EXTENDING THE PROCLAMATION OF EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY DUE TO THE THREAT TO COMMUNITY HEALTH POSED BY COVID-19 WHEREAS, beginning on March 2, 2020, and continuing to the present, the existence of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property arose within City of Santa Rosa, caused by the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID19) as confirmed by the County of Sonoma Department of Health Services (County DHS); and Federal, State and County Determinations and Orders
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, and on January 31, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a Public Health Emergency for the United States of America; and WHEREAS, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that the virus presents a serious public health threat, requiring coordination among state and local health departments to ensure the ability to address potential health threats associated with the virus; and WHEREAS, on March 2, 2020, the County DHS confirmed two presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 within Sonoma County and announced that it anticipated additional cases in the County from non-travel, community transmission in light of the increase of these cases in the country, combined with the worldwide uncontrolled spread of COVID-19; and WHEREAS, on March 2, 2020, the Sonoma County Health Officer and the County of Sonoma Director of Emergency Services proclaimed a Local Health Emergency due to the potential introduction of COVID-19 in Sonoma County; and WHEREAS, since March 2020 and continuing to the present, the Sonoma County Health Officer and the State Public Health Officer have issued a series of declarations and orders in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the health and well-being of the community in the face of on-going infections, hospitalizations and deaths; and WHEREAS, despite evolving and on-going State and regional public health efforts, including the availability of vaccinations, COVID-19 infections continue to spread in the community, particularly among vulnerable populations; and WHEREAS, the Governor, the State Public Health Officer and the County Public Health Officer have, at times, announced relaxation of certain COVID-19 restrictions, those relaxations of restrictions have come with significant risks and it is essential that the community remain alert and prepared to take action; and WHEREAS, with the arrival of the COVID-19 variant Omicron, cases in Sonoma County increased exponentially for many weeks, and although case rates are now down, new outbreaks continue to occur, new variants continue to arrive and COVID-19 continues to pose an immediate hazard to the health and safety of City residents and visitors, placing potentially significant burdens on the health care system, and still threatening the continued vitality and viability of the local economy; and City of Santa Rosa Response
WHEREAS, these conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property continue to exist within the City due to the threat of COVID-19, and continue to cause significant impacts to City and community operations, including medical and public health systems and facilities, public safety and emergency services, public infrastructure and programs, and the community’s economy and well-being; and WHEREAS, these conditions of extreme peril due to the threat of COVID-19 continue to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment of the City and to require combined regional and statewide resources; and WHEREAS, in early March 2020, the conditions of extreme peril warranted and necessitated the proclamation of a Local Emergency to enable the City of Santa Rosa and other local and regional government entities to adequately plan, prepare and pre-position resources to be able to effectively respond to the emerging threat posed by COVID-19, and to warn City of Santa Rosa residents and visitors of that threat posed by COVID-19 and to enable them sufficient time to plan and prepare; and WHEREAS, Section 2-24.04 of the Santa Rosa City Code designates the City Manager as the Director of Emergency Services; and WHEREAS, Section 2-24.050 of the Santa Rosa City Code empowers the Director of Emergency Services to proclaim the existence of a local emergency when the City Council is not in session; and WHEREAS, Section 2-24.050 states that the City Council shall take action to ratify the proclamation of the Director of Emergency Services within seven days thereafter or the proclamation shall have no further force or effect; and WHEREAS, on March 2, 2020, following the Declaration of Local Health Emergency by the Sonoma County Health Officer and the County of Sonoma Director of Emergency Services, the City Manager, acting in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, issued a Proclamation of Existence of a Local Emergency within the City of Santa Rosa; and WHEREAS, on March 3, 2020, by Resolution RES-2020-035, the Council of the City of Santa Rosa ratified the Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency issued by the Director of Emergency Services; and WHEREAS, California Government Code section 8630 requires that the Council review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the governing body terminates the local emergency; and WHEREAS, COVID-19 continues to spread within the County, with the Sonoma County Health Officer reporting 104,670 total confirmed cases, 1,949 currently active and 506 deaths within the jurisdiction as of August 16, 2022, and the numbers are continuing to increase; and WHEREAS, the City and its regional partners are, and will continue to work closely to ensure the integrity of our health care system, ensure public safety, protect public health and stop the spread of the virus; and WHEREAS, on April 7, 2020 (RES-2020-056), June 2, 2020 (RES 2020-085), July 21, 2020 (RES 2020-120), September 15, 2020 (RES-2020-153), November 10, 2020 (RES-2020-184), January 5, 2021 (RES-2021-011), March 2, 2021 (RES-2021-034), April 27, 2021 (RES-2021-068), June 22, 2021 (RES-2021-104), August 17, 2021 (RES-2021-142), October 12, 2021 (RES-2021-169), December 7, 2021 (RES-2021-216), February 8, 2022 (RES-2022-020), March 29, 2022 (RES-2022-060), May 24, 2022 (RES-2022-098), and July 12, 2022 (RES-2022-151), Council extended the proclamation of existence of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that pursuant to the authority set forth in California Government Code sections 8630 thru 8634, and Section 2-24.050 of the City Code, the Council hereby declares that the proclamation of a state of local emergency within the City of Santa Rosa due to COVID-19 remains in full force and effect without interruption in accordance with Resolution No. RES-2020-035.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council that this proclamation of local emergency due to COVID-19 shall remain in effect until such time that the Council determines that the emergency conditions have been abated.
IN COUNCIL DULY PASSED this 23rd day of August, 2022.
AYES: (6) Mayor C. Rogers, Vice Mayor Alvarez, Council Members Fleming, N. Rogers, Sawyer, Schwedhelm
NOES: (0)
ABSENT: (1) Council Member MacDonald
ABSTAIN: (0)
ATTEST: ___________________________ APPROVED: _____________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________
City Attorney
Reso. No. RES-2022-188