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CC SR 20230321 D - Terminate Covid OrdersCITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: 03/21/2023 AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar AGENDA TITLE: Consideration and possible action to terminate the City’s proclamation of a local emergency related to COVID-19. RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION: (1)Adopt Resolution 2023-__, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA, PROCLAIMING THE TERMINATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 AND THEREBY RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 2020-11. FISCAL IMPACT: None Amount Budgeted: N/A Additional Appropriation: N/A Account Number(s): N/A ORIGINATED BY: Enyssa Momoli, Administrative Analyst REVIEWED BY: Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: A.Resolution No. 2023-__ (page A-1) B.Resolution No. 2020-11 (page B-1) C.Governor Newsom’s February 2023 Proclamation terminating the State of Emergency (page C-1) D.Governor Newsom’s March 2020 State of Emergency Proclamation (page D-1) BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION: A novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019. On March 4, 2020, in response to the spread of COVID-19, the State of California proclaimed a state of emergency and the County of Los Angeles declared a local health emergency. On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a National State of Emergency. During a special meeting on March 17, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-11 proclaiming the existence of a local emergency due to COVID-19 (Attachment B). The local emergency declaration was re-ratified by the City Council on December 21, 1 CITYO RANCHO PALOS VERDES 2021, with the adoption of Resolution 2021 -72, which also reauthorized remote teleconference meetings in accordance with Assembly Bill No. 361. As COVID-19 and its impact on the local medical system have subsided, it is no longer an immediate emergency. California’s COVID-19 state of emergency ended on February 28, 2023, and Los Angeles County’s local health emergency declaration is scheduled to end on March 31, 2023. Therefore, the City’s emergency declaration and related executive orders may be terminated. In considering the need for terminating the local emergency, the City Council is being asked to determine whether the situation resulting from extreme conditions of peril is now deemed to be within the control of normal protective services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of and within the City. If so, the City Council may proclaim the termination of said local emergency and rescind Resolution 2020-11. CONCLUSION: Staff recommends the City Council adopt the attached resolution deeming that the local emergency within the City due to COVID-19 no longer exists, and rescinding Resolution No. 2020-11, thereby terminating the proclamation of a local emergency related to COVID-19 and certain related executive orders issued by the City Council (Attachment A). ALTERNATIVES: In addition to Staff recommendation, the following alternative action s are available for the City Council’s consideration: 1. Do not adopt the resolution, thereby allowing the local emergency declaration to remain in effect. 2. Take other action, as deemed appropriate. 2 Resolution No. 2023-__ Page 1 of 2 RESOLUTION NO. 2023-__ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA, PROCLAIMING THE TERMINATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 AND THEREBY RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 2020-11. WHEREAS, the Emergency Services Act, Government Code Section 8558(c) authorize the proclamation of a local emergency when conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of a city exist; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act and Government Code Section 8625, Governor Gavin Newson proclaimed a State of Emergency on March 4, 2020, due to the peril to persons and property by the COVID-19 virus emergence; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 8630, such a local emergency existed in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes in accordance with Resolution No. 2020-11 as adopted by the City Council on the 17th day of March 2020, as a result of respiratory illness due to a novel coronavirus (a disease now known as COVID-19); and WHEREAS, Government Code Section 8630 requires that the City Council proclaim the termination of such local emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant; and WHEREAS, Governor Gavin Newson, having found pursuant to Government Code Section 8629 that the conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property as declared in the State of Emergency on March 4, 2020 no longer exist, has proclaimed that the State of Emergency no longer exists; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the need for continuing the local emergency; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the situation resulting from said conditions of extreme peril is now deemed to be within the control of the normal protective services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of and within the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, State of California, does hereby proclaim the termination of said local emergency and rescinds Resolution No. 2020-11. A-1 Resolution No. 2023-__ Page 2 of 2 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of March 2023. Barbara Ferraro, Mayor ATTEST: Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES ) I, Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, do hereby certify that the above Resolution No. 2023-__, was duly adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting thereof held on March 21, 2023. _______________________ Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk A-2 B-1 I I I 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-19 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 COVID-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 Genter 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, 01203 0001/636842 2 B-2 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 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 I local emergency if the City Council is in session, or to issue such proclamation if the City I Council is not in session; and, WHEREAS, on March 14, 2020, the City Manager activated the City's Emergency Operations Center (EOG) 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 01203 0001/636842 2 Resolution No. 2020-11 Page 2 of 4 I B-3 I I I means to resolve the conditions of extreme peril will probably exceed the capability of the City. SECTION 3. The City Council does hereby dedare 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 p·owers, 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, as well as any City procurement or related policy, are suspended to the extent reasonably nece,5sary 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 employe_es, 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 e).(tent reasonably necessary to address the effects of COVID-19." SECTION 6. The l,0cal emergency shall be deemed to continue to exi,5t 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. 01203 0001/636842 2 Resolution No. 2020-11 Page 3 of 4 B-4 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. Attest: State of California County of Los Angeles City of Rancho Palos Verdes ) ) ss ) 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 C(erk 01203 0001/636842 2 Resolution No. 2020-11 Page 4 of 4 I I I C-1EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT STATE OF CALIFORNIA A PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TERMINATING STATE OF EMERGENCY I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, having found pursuant to Government Code section 8629 that the conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property declared in the State of Emergency proclamation listed below no longer exist, therefore proclaim that the State of Emergency proclaimed on the following date and in the following jurisdiction no longer exists, effective at 11 :59 p.m. on February 28, 2023. Accordingly, any Executive Orders related to the terminated State of Emergency will also no longer be in effect as of 11 :59 p.m. on February 28, 2023. PROCLAMATION Emergency Date Jurisdiction Proclaimed COVID-19 March 4, 2020 Statewide I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Proclamation be tiled in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Proclamation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 28th day of February 2023. Governor of California D-1 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT STATE OF CALIFORNIA PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY WHEREAS in December 2019, an outbreak of respiratory ill ness due to a novel coronavirus (a disease now known as COVID-19), was first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and has spread outside of China, impacting more than 75 countries, including the United States; and WHEREAS the State of California has been working in close collaboration with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the United States Health and Human Services Agency, and with local health departments since December 2019 to monitor and plan for the potential spread of COVID-19 to the United States; and WHEREAS on January 23, 2020, the CDC activated its Emergency Response System to provide ongoing support for the response to COVID- 19 across the country; and WHEREAS on January 24, 2020, the California Department of Public Health activated its Medical and Health Coordination Center and on March 2, 2020, the Office of Emergency Services activated the State Operations Center to support and guide state and local actions to preserve public health; and WHEREAS the California Department of Public Health has been in regular communication with hospitals, clinics and other health providers and has provided guidance to health facilities and providers regarding COVID-19; and WHEREAS as of March 4, 2020, across the globe, there are more than 94,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, tragically resulting in more than 3,000 deaths worldwide; and WHEREAS as of March 4, 2020, there are 129 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, including 53 in California, and more than 9,400 Californians across 49 counties are in home monitoring based on possible travel-based exposure to the virus, and officials expect the number of cases in California, the Un ited States, and worldwide to increase; and WHEREAS for more than a decade California has had a robust pandemic influenza plan, supported lo ca l governments in the development of local plans, and required that state and local plans be regu larly updated and exerc is e d; and WHEREAS California has a strong federa l, state and local public health and health care delivery system that has effectively responded to prior events including the Hl N 1 influenza virus in 2009, and most recently Ebola; and D-2 WHEREAS experts anticipate that while a high percentage of individuals affected by COVID-19 will experience mild flu-like symptoms, some will have more serious symptoms and require hospitalization, particularly individuals who are elderly or already have underlying chronic health conditions; and WHEREAS it is imperative to prepare for and respond to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases in California, to implement measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and to prepare to respond to an increasing number of individuals requiring medical care and hospitalization ; and WHEREAS if COVID-19 spreads in California at a rate comparable to the rate of spread in other countries, the number of persons requiring medical care may exceed locally available resources, and controlling outbreaks minimizes the risk to the public, maintains the health and safety of the people of California, and limits the spread of infection in our communities and within the healthcare delivery system; and WHEREAS personal protective equipment (PPE) is not necessary for use by the general population but appropriate PPE is one of the most effective ways to preserve and protect California's healthcare workforce at this critical time and to prevent the spread of COVID-19 broadly; and WHEREAS state and local health departments must use all available preventative measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, which will require access to services, personnel, equipment, facilities, and other resources, potentially including resources beyond those currently available, to prepare for and respond to any potential cases and the spread of the virus; and WHEREAS I find that conditions of Government Code section 8558 (b), relating to the declaration of a State of Emergency, have been met; and WHEREAS I find that the conditions caused by COVID-19 are likely to require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to appropriately respond; and WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8625(c), I find that local authority is inadequate to cope with the threat posed by COVID-19; and WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this order would prevent, hinder, or delay appropriate actions to prevent and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, Government Code section 8625, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist in California. D-3 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: 1. In preparing for and responding to COVID-19, all agencies of the state government use and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities or perform any and all activities consistent with the direction of the Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan, as well as the California Department of Public Health and the Emergency Medical Services Authority. Also, a ll residents are to heed the advice of emergency officials with regard to this emergency in order to protect their safety. 2. As necessary to assist local governments and for the protection of public health, state agencies shall enter 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. Applicable provisions of the Government Code and the Public Contract Code, including but not limited to travel, advertising, and competitive bidding requirements, are suspended to the extent necessary to address the effects of COVID-19 . 3 . Any out-of-state personnel, including, but not limited to, medical personnel, entering California to assist in preparing for, responding to, mitigating the effects of, and recovering from COVID-19 shall be permitted to provide services in the same manner as prescribed in Government Code section 179 .5, with respect to licensing and certification. Permission for any such individual rendering service is subject to the approval of the Director of the Emergency Medical Services Authority for medical personnel and the Director of the Office of Emergency Services for non-medical personnel and shall be in effect for a period of time not to exceed the duration of this emergency. 4. The time limitation set forth in Penal Code section 396, subdivision (b), prohibiting price gouging in time of emergency is hereby waived as it relates to emergency supplies and medical supplies . These price gouging protections sha ll be in effect through September 4, 2020. 5. Any state-owned properties that the Office of Emergency Services determines are suitable for use to assist in preparing for, responding to, mitigating the effects of, or recovering from COVID-19 shall be made available to the Office of Emergency Services for this purpose, notwithstanding any state or local law that would restrict, delay, or otherwise inhibit such use. 6. Any fairgrounds that the Office of Emergency Services determines are suitable to assist in preparing for, responding to, mitigating the effects of, or recovering from COVID-19 shall be made available to the Office of Emergency Services pursuant to the Emergency Services Act, Government Code section 8589. The Office of Emergency Services shall notify the fairgrounds of the intended use and can immediately use the fairgrounds without the fairground board of directors' approval, and D-4 notwithstanding any state or local law that would restrict, delay, or otherwise inhibit such use. 7. The 30-day time period in Health and Safety Code section 101080, within which a local governing authority must renew a local health emergency, is hereby waived for the duration of this statewide emergency. Any such local health emergency will remain in effect until each local governing authority terminates its respective local health emergency. 8. The 60-day time period in Government Code section 8630, within which local government authorities must renew a local emergency, is hereby waived for the duration of this statewide emergency. Any local emergency proclaimed will remain in effect until each local governing authority terminates its respective local emergency. 9. The Office of Emergency Services shall provide assistance to local governments that have demonstrated extraordinary or disproportionate impacts from COVID-19, if appropriate and necessary, under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act, Government Code section 8680 et seq., and California Code of Regulations, ntle 19, section 2900 et seq . 10. To ensure hospitals and other health facilities are able to adequately treat patients legally isolated as a result of COVID- 19, the Director of the California Department of Public Health may waive any of the licensing requirements of Chapter 2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code and accompanying regulations with respect to any hospital or health facility identified in Health and Safety Code section 1250. Any waiver shall include alternative measures that, under the circumstances, will allow the facilities to treat legally isolated patients while protecting public health and safety. Any facilities being granted a waiver shall be established and operated in accordance with the facility's required disaster and mass casualty plan. Any waivers granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be posted on the Department's website. 11. To support consistent practices across California, state departments, in coordination with the Office of Emergency Services, shall provide updated and specific guidance relating to preventing and mitigating COVID-19 to schools, employers, employees, first responders and community care facilities by no later than March 10, 2020. 12. To promptly respond for the protection of public health, state entities are, notwithstanding any other state or local law, authorized to share relevant medical information, limited to the patient's underlying health conditions, age, current condition, date of exposure, and possible contact tracing, as necessary to address the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak with state, local, federal, and nongovernmental partners, with such information to be used for the limited purposes of monitoring, investigation and control, and treatment and coordination of care. The D-5 notification requirement of Civil Code section 1798.24, subdivision (i), is suspended. 13. Notwithstanding Health and Safety Code sections 1797 .52 and 1797.218, during the course of this emergency, any EMT-P licensees shall have the authority to transport patients to medical facilities other than acute care hospitals when approved by the California EMS Authority. In order to carry out this order, to the extent that the provisions of Health and Safety Code sections 1797.52 and 1797.218 may prohibit EMT-P licensees from transporting patients to facilities other than acute care hospitals, those statutes are hereby suspended until the termination of this State of Emergency. 14. The Department of Social Services may, to the extent the Department deems necessary to respond to the threat of COVID-19, waive any provisions of the Health and Safety Code or Welfare and Institutions Code, and accompanying regulations, interim licensing standards, or other written policies or procedures with respect to the use, licensing, or approval of facilities or homes within the Department's jurisdiction set forth in the California Community Care Facilities Act (Health and Safety Code section 1500 et seq.), the California Child Day Care Facilities Act (Health and Safety Code section 1596.70 et seq.), and the California Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act (Health and Safety Code section 1569 et seq.). Any waivers granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be posted on the Department's website. I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of affixed this 4th day ernor of California ATTEST: ALEX PADILLA Secretary of State