To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: JOE HOEFGEN, CITY MANAGER
TITLE
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CITY’S LOCAL EMERGENCY PERTAINING TO COVID-19
RECEIVE AND FILE THE CITY’S CURRENT SUMMARY OF EMERGENCY ORDERS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION IF NEEDED
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report provides the City Council with an opportunity to discuss the status of the City’s Local Emergency pertaining to COVID-19 and to specifically review and give direction on the City’s current emergency orders. Attached is the list of orders, which were updated per City Council action on May 12, 2020, to help facilitate the review and discussion.
The Orders modified by the City Council on May 12th included an immediate opening of Czulegar Park and the sidewalks on the west side of the Esplanade and Harbor Drive, and the scheduling of a May 26 reopening of the parking spots along the Esplanade and in the lot adjacent to Miramar Park in Torrance. The Council also gave direction to staff to help local restaurants better understand County and State protocols for future opening and to work on reopening the City’s Farmers Market.
BACKGROUND
As the Mayor and City Council are aware, on March 12, 2020 I declared a local emergency due to the imminent threat of COVID-19 in Redondo Beach and subsequently ordered a number of measures to help protect residents, visitors and City employees and to combat the spread of the virus in the community including: the closure of the City’s three Senior Centers; the cancellation or postponement of a number of citywide special events and activities at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center; the closure of the City’s Main Library, North Branch Library and Teen Center; the suspension of the City’s After School Care Program; the suspension of all City Advisory Commission Meetings; and the modification of core municipal services to enable proper social distancing.
On March 16, 2020, I issued a second proclamation, in conjunction with Los Angeles County Health Officer recommendations, ordering the closure of all restaurants, bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers in the City; issued a temporary moratorium on evictions due to the non-payment of rent or mortgage resulting from COVID-19 related financial distress; and prohibited the shutoff of any utilities due to late payment for 90 days. On March 17, 2020, the Mayor and City Council ratified the declaration of local emergency and confirmed all emergency orders implemented by the City as of that date.
On March 26, 2020, I issued an additional proclamation ordering the closure of a number of City spaces, parks and facilities. I later closed additional park ball fields and extended the effective date of several of the previous Orders. On March 31, 2020, the City Council confirmed all of the emergency orders executed as of that date (see the attached list).
On April 7, 2020, the City Council received a report on the status of the Local Emergency pertaining to COVID-19 and on April 9, 2020, the first meeting of the Redondo Beach Disaster Council was held. All members of the Disaster Council participated. Several topics were discussed including a referral from City Council regarding whether City emergency orders should focus on a safer at home message or a stay at home message. The three medical professionals on the Disaster Council expressed a preference for the City of Redondo Beach continue promoting the Countywide safer at home message. Following the meeting, I issued another Emergency Order requiring workers and visitors of certain businesses and services to wear face coverings. Los Angeles County issued a similar order the next day. Additionally, we have updated the list of emergency orders and extended many of the effective dates of the City’s previous emergency actions.
On April 7, 2020, the City Council received a report on the status of the Local Emergency pertaining to COVID-19 and on April 9, 2020, the first meeting of the Redondo Beach Disaster Council was held. All members of the Disaster Council participated. Several topics were discussed including a referral from City Council regarding whether City emergency orders should focus on a safer at home message or a stay at home message. The three medical professionals on the Disaster Council expressed a preference for the City of Redondo Beach to continue promoting the Countywide safer at home message. Following the meeting, I issued another Emergency Order requiring workers and visitors of certain businesses and services to wear face coverings. Los Angeles County issued a similar order the next day.
On April 21, 2020 the City Council had an opportunity to discuss the emergency actions implemented as of that date and confirmed the orders of the City Manager acting as the Director of Emergency Services with two modifications: 1) allowing the May meetings of the Budget and Finance and Harbor Commissions to proceed for budget review purposes and 2) allowing for the re-opening of the Farmers Market in Riviera Village as soon as a plan can be implemented that meets current Los Angeles County Farmers Market requirements (see attached). Additionally, the Council received a presentation and provided feedback on the draft COVID-19 Strategic Recovery Plan prepared by the Beach Cities Health District. Members of the City’s Disaster Council also had the opportunity to discuss and comment on the Plan, when they met for the second time on April 23, 2020.
On May 5, 2020 the City Council received a status report on the Local Emergency and a draft beach reopening plan prepared by the Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors Department signaling the County’s intention to re-open the beach for exercise purposes only and allow ocean water access for swimming and other water activities on or before May 15, 2020. The Council gave direction regarding modifications to City Emergency Orders in anticipation of changes the State and County were likely to make to their Stay at Home and Safer at Home Orders to allow for a phased reopening of businesses and public activities with continued social distancing requirements.
On May 7, 2020, I issued a new Emergency Order that immediately reopened the Harbor Drive Bike Path and the North Redondo Beach Bike Path, and set reopening dates, in accordance with anticipated revisions to Countywide Public Health Orders, for the Dominguez Park Dog Park (May 9, 2020), the Boat Hoist (May 15), the Personal Watercraft Hand Launch (May 15), Park Tennis Courts (concurrent with LA County tennis facility reopening), and Beach Access Points (concurrent with LA County beach re-opening for exercise, which occurred on May 13, 2020). The May 7 Order also extended a number of prior City emergency orders due to COVID-19’s continued impact and rescinded certain City orders that have been superseded by State Order or have been replaced by more prescriptive County Orders.
On May 12, 2020 the City Council considered the various City Orders and confirmed them with a few modifications. The modifications included an immediate opening of Czulegar Park and the sidewalks on the west side of the Esplanade and Harbor Drive, and the scheduling of a May 26 reopening of the parking spots along the Esplanade and in the lot adjacent to Miramar Park in Torrance. The Council also gave direction to help local restaurants better understand County and State protocols for future opening and to work on reopening the City’s Farmers Market.
As of May 14, 2020, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department identified 35,329 cases and 1,709 COVID-19 deaths in the County. As of May 14, 2020, 120 cases of COVID-19 were cited in Redondo Beach.
APPROVED BY:
Joe Hoefgen, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1) Summary of Emergency Orders