CC RES 2020-011 RESOLUTION NO. 2020-11
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, DECLARING AND
PROCLAIMING A LOCAL EMERGENCY IN RESPONSE TO
COVID-1 9
WHEREAS, in December, 2019, an outbreak of respiratory illness due to a novel
coronavirus (COVID-19) was first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei, Province, China; and,
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers
COVI D-19 to be a very serious public health threat with outcomes ranging from very mild
(including some with no reported symptoms)to severe, including illness resulting in death;
and,
WHEREAS, according to the CDC, there is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 and
there is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 at this time; and,
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared
a Public Health Emergency of International Concern over the global spread of the novel
coronavirus (COVID-19); and,
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary
Alex M. Azar II declared a Public Health Emergency for the United States to aid the
nation's healthcare community in responding to COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, the California Department of Public Health has activated its Medical
and Health Coordination Center, and the Office of Emergency Services recently activated
the State Operations Center to provide support and guide actions to preserve public
health; and,
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of
Emergency for the State of California; and,
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2020, the County of Los Angeles declared a Local Health
Emergency in response to increased spread of COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the WHO characterized COVID-19 as a
"pandemic"; and,
WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-25-
20 regarding COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a National State of
Emergency in response to increased spread of COVID-19; and,
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WHEREAS, there is one suspected (but as-yet-unconfirmed) case of COVID-19
on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, COVID-19 is easily transmissible from person to person
and, as of March 15, 2020, has spread globally to over 146 countries and territories, has
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infected more than 153,000 individuals and killed more than 5,700 individuals per the
WHO; and,
WHEREAS, it is imperative to prepare for and respond to suspected or confirmed
COVID-19 cases within the City, and to prepare to respond to an increasing number or
individuals who may require medical care; and,
WHEREAS, strict compliance with certain Municipal Code and other City
regulations would prevent, hinder, or delay appropriate actions to prevent and mitigate
the effects of the COVID-19, which issue cannot be timely addressed absent a declaration
of emergency; and,
WHEREAS, per Government Code §8630 a declaration of a local emergency shall
not remain in effect for a period in excess of seven days unless it has been ratified by the
City Council; and,
WHEREAS, Section 2.24.050 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code
appoints the City Manager as Director of Emergency Services, and empowers the
Director request the City Council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a
local emergency if the City Council is in session, or to issue such proclamation if the City
Council is not in session; and, III
WHEREAS, on March 14, 2020, the City Manager activated the City's Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) at Level 3, the lowest level of activation; and,
WHEREAS, out of an abundance of caution to protect the health, safety, and
welfare of the community, the Director of Emergency Services requested the City Council
to proclaim a local emergency due to the public health threat caused by COVID-19.
WHEREAS, during the existence of the local emergency, and along with all State
and County first response resources, all City first response resources, vehicles, and
services shall be given first priority from shopkeepers and businesses located within the
City, including, but not limited to, water, fuel and gasoline
NOW, THEREFORE, THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL HEREBY
RESOLVES, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property
have arisen within the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, caused by the effects of COVID-19.
SECTION 2. The aforementioned conditions of extreme peril warrant and
necessitate the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency by the City, as the
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means to resolve the conditions of extreme peril will probably exceed the capability of the
City.
SECTION 3. The City Council does hereby declare and proclaim the existence of
a local emergency.
SECTION 4. During the existence of such local emergency, the powers, functions,
and duties of the City Manager as Director of Emergency Services and the Disaster Council
of this City shall be those, prescribed by State Law, Chapter 2.24 of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code, and ordinances and resolutions of this City, and approved plans
of the City in order to mitigate the effects of the local emergency.
SECTION 5. In addition to the powers, functions, and duties already prescribed
above, the Council desires to make clear the powers, functions, and duties include:
(a) As necessary for the public health, life, and property, entering into contracts
to arrange for the procurement of materials, goods, and services needed to assist in
preparing for, containing, responding to, mitigating the effects of, and recovering from the
spread of COVID-19.
(b) Applicable provisions of the Government Code and the Public Contract
Code, including but not limited to travel, advertising, and competitive bidding requirements,
111 as well as any City procurement or related policy, are suspended to the extent reasonably
necessary to address the effects of COVID-19.
(c) The Emergency Services Director is expressly authorized to assist with any
lawful order, including the enforcement of an order of quarantine or curfew, as well as
ordering potentially ill City employees to leave the workplace, authorizing certain City
employees to work remotely, taking steps to limit non-essential contact by City employees,
etc., to address the effects of COVID-19.
(d) The Emergency Services Director is expressly authorized at his or her
discretion to invoke force majeure clause on any City agreements or obligations, to the
extent reasonably necessary to address the effects of COVID-19."
SECTION 6. The local emergency shall be deemed to continue to exist until its
termination is proclaimed by the City Council.
SECTION 7. The Government Code § 8630 requirement that the Council review
of the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the City
Council terminates the local emergency has been waived for the duration of the statewide
emergency declared by Governor Newsom. In the event this declaration of local
emergency extends for more than the duration of the statewide emergency declared for
COVID-19, City Staff are directed to thereafter return this item for Council review of the
need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the City Council
terminates the local emergency.
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SECTION 8. This Resolution shall take effect immediately. A copy of this
Resolution shall be forwarded to the Los Angeles County Operational Area for transmission
to California Emergency Management Agency.
SECTION 9. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this
resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED on this 17th day of March 2020.
Mayor
Attest:
city Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, Emily Colborn, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the
above Resolution No. 2020-11 was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said
City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on March 17, 2020.
City Clerk
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