HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-20RESOLUTION NO. D 5 -a 0
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Port Angeles,
Washington, affirming and ratifying the Declaration of
Emergency issued by the City Manager on March 17, 2020.
WHEREAS, a Declaration of Emergency was issued by the City Manager on March 17,
2020, a complete copy of which is attached; and
WHEREAS, the Council has reviewed the facts and circumstances that prompted the
Declaration of Emergency; and
correct.
WHEREAS, the Council hereby finds that the facts recited in the Declaration are true and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles:
1. The Council finds and declares that the COVID-19, constitutes an emergency in the
City of Port Angeles; and
2. The City Council affirms and ratifies (1) the Declaration of Emergency issued by the
City Manager on March 17, 2020, and (2) all actions authorized by that Declaration.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles at a regular meeting of said
Council held on the j 7- day of March, 2020.
Kate Dexter, Mayor
ATTEST:
` Kari Martinez -Bailey, CitrIk APPRO ED AS TO FORM:
r
11ham E. Bloor, City Attorney
DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY
Nathan West, City Manager of the City of Port Angeles, finds that the following facts
exist:
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Public Health and
Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public emergency for the novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) beginning on January 27, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed a Proclamation declaring
a State of Emergency exists in all counties in the State of Washington due to the number of
confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state and directed that the plans and procedures for the
Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan be implemented; and
I WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization publicly characterized
COVID-19 as a pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, Governor Inslee announced a statewide public and
private K-12 school closure effective Tuesday, March 17 through April 24, 2020 in an effort to
stop the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on that same day, the Governor also restricted colleges and universities to
on-line only courses; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Governor ordered closure of all bars, entertainment,
and recreational facilities, limiting restaurants to takeout and delivery service only; and
WHEREAS, the Governor's order also prohibited all gatherings of 50 or more people,
and strongly discouraged gatherings of fewer than 50 people unless social distancing measures are
implemented; and
WHEREAS, the Governor further requested that all persons practice social distancing and
cancel all unnecessary meetings in order to help prevent the spread of the virus; and
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released information identifying
people over the age of 60 and those with chronic conditions as persons who are more at risk of
infection; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death
poses a high risk of transmission from person -to -person; and
WHEREAS, while as of the date of this proclamation there are no confirmed COVID-19
cases in Clallam County, Port Angeles has a large population of elderly people and others who
may be more at risk of infection; and
WHEREAS, the economic conditions resulting from COVID-19 closures and restrictions
1 negatively impact our community, and specifically the City's utility customers; and
WHEREAS, maintaining the stability and functions of local government during and after
emergency is critical for city businesses, residents, and the organization; and
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to give staff authority to develop and implement
economic relief to certain businesses and residents as staff deem fiscally and legally appropriate;
and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 constitutes an emergency as defined by the City of Port Angeles
Municipal Code (PAMC) 2.24.020(B) Emergency and necessitates the utilization of emergency
powers granted pursuant to RCW 35A.38.010, and RCW 38.52.070(2); and
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to cancel any unnecessary board and / or
commission meetings during the time of emergency;
NOW, THEREFORE,
It Is Proclaimed by the City Manager that a local emergency exists in relation to the COVID-19
response in the City of Port Angeles; therefore, the City of Port Angeles departments are
authorized to do the following:
1) Suspend public works bidding and purchasing requirements and enter into contracts and
incur obligations necessary to combat such emergency situations to protect the health and
safety of persons and property; and
2) Open and close City facilities as may be appropriate to respond to the pandemic; and
3) Modify business hours of City facilities as deemed appropriate by the Manager; and
4) Take other emergency actions to protect life and property, as appropriate; and
5) Use emergency funding, budgeting, and contracting provisions as appropriate; and
6) Develop and implement creative solutions to provide relief to those impacted by the
economic implications as deemed fiscally and legally appropriate; and
7) Call out and use City personnel as needed in accordance with PAMC 2.24 and employ
temporary workers as may be needed; and
It is the City's policy that no guarantees are implied by actions authorized above, and that
there is no perfect emergency response system. In any given set of circumstances, the City of Port
Angeles and its assets and systems may be overwhelmed, and the City can only try to make every
reasonable effort to respond, based upon the situation, information, and resources available at that
time.
Each City of Port Angeles department is authorized to exercise the powers vested under this
proclamation in light of the exigencies of an extreme emergency situation without regard to time-
consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by law (excepting mandatory constitutional
requirements), such as publication of notices, renting equipment, etc.
The emergency declared herein is effective immediately upon the date of adoption and will
continue and remain in place until terminated, extended, or amended by further Declaration of the
City Manager and/or City Council action.
This Proclamation was confirmed by the City Council on this 17 the day of March, 2020.
Nathan West, City Manager
Attest:
{
Kari Martinez -Bailey, rILe,11
AS TO FORM:
C_
William Bloor, City Attorney