HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2020-033 CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA Sponsored by: Mayor Terry
RESOLUTION 2020-033
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, RECOGNIZING THE SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS OF THE
STATE LEADERSHIP AND ALASKAN RESIDENTS TO SLOW THE
SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND ENCOURAGE THE GOVERNOR, AS
SOON AS REASONABLY PRACTICAL, TO RESCIND OR MODIFY
COVID-19 HEALTH MANDATES 003: STATEWIDE CLOSURE
RESTAURANTS, BARS, ENTERTAINMENT, 009: PERSONAL CARE
SERVICES AND GATHERINGS, AND 012: INTRASTATE TRAVEL, AS
SOON AS REASONABLY PRACTICAL TO ALLOW ALASKAN
BUSINESSES TO RESUME OPERATIONS, EMPLOYEES TO RETURN
TO WORK, AND RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE SERVICES IN A SAFE
MANNER, OBSERVING SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS AND
OTHER HEALTH MANDATES,AS NECESSARY
WHEREAS,the first global COVID-19 virus confirmed case occurred on November 17,
2019; and
WHEREAS, on January 21, 2020, the United States of America had its first confirmed
case of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020 the World Health Organization declared a public
health emergency of international concern due to the COVID-19 virus; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020 with 2,700 confirmed cases of COVID-19 President
Donald Trump declared a U.S.National Emergency; and
WHEREAS, as of April 18, 2020, the United States had 715,536 confirmed cases of
COVID-19 with 37,625 confirmed deaths; and
WHEREAS, on March 2, 2020 the State of Alaska had its first confirmed case of
COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, in response to the confirmed presence of COVID-19 in the State of Alaska
and to prevent or slow the spread of the Disease Governor Mike Dunleavy issued his first public
health mandate on March 13, 2020; and
WHEREAS, between March 16 and April 17, 2020, Governor Dunleavy issued 15
additional health mandates, all in an effort to `flatten the curve' and reduce the number of
confirmed COVID-19 cases to a level that would not overwhelm the health care infrastructure in
the State; and
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CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2020-033
WHEREAS, because of the early and aggressive action by the Governor and the
cooperation of Alaskan residents, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the State has
remained low with as of April 18, 2020 there are 314 cases confirmed, 147 recovered, 36 total
hospitalizations and 9 deaths; and
WHEREAS, the health mandates issued by the Governor are some of the most
aggressive measures limiting virus exposure amongst the states; and
WHEREAS, as of April 9, 2020, 36,211 Alaskans filed for unemployment benefits, or
more than 10% of all workers in the State of Alaska at this point in the year, many due to the
closure of businesses as a result of the Governors mandates; and
WHEREAS, the continued closure of businesses is impacting all Alaskans,resulting in a
significant loss of jobs, business failures, and the loss of important sales tax revenue to
municipalities jeopardizing essential services; and
WHEREAS, reducing intrastate travel limitations and mandatory closure of certain
businesses as soon as REASONABLY PRACTICAL will allow many businesses to reopen,
employees to return to work and residents to receive services; and
WHEREAS, additional responses are already being considered and implemented with on
April 16, 2020 the Office of Lieutenant Governor issued Emergency Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board Regulations relating to sales of alcoholic beverages suspended to allow sales of off
premises; and
WHEREAS, reduction of State limitations can be paired with implementation of
additional/other health mandates as necessary to continue protecting public health safety and
welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA that:
Section 1. The City of Seward hereby respectfully encourages the Governor to rescind or
modify COVID-19 health mandates 003: Statewide closure restaurants, bars, entertainment, 009:
personal care services and gatherings and 012: intrastate travel, as soon as REASONABLY
PRACTICAL to allow Alaskan businesses to resume operations, employees to return to work
and residents to receive services in a safe manner observing social distancing requirements.
Section 2. The City of Seward hereby supports the Governor looking at paring rescinded
items and modifications with additional/other health mandates as necessary to continue
protecting public health safety and welfare.
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2020-033
Section 3. The City of Seward hereby directs the city manager. upon passage, to provide
a copy of this legislation to Governor Mike Dunleavy, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie
Pierce, and Kenai Peninsula Legislators Senator Peter Micciche, Senator Gary Stevens,
Representative Gary Knopp, Representative Ben Carpenter, and Representative Sarah Vance.
Section 4.This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this
27t day of April, 2020.
HE I OF W ,
hristy Terry, ayor
AYES: Butts, Osenga, Baclaan, McClure, Terry
NOES: Crites
ABSENT: Seese
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
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Brenda J. Ballou, MMC
City Clerk
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COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT
Meeting Date: April 27, 2020
To: City Council
From: Christy Terry, Mayor
Agenda Item: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA,
RECOGNIZING THE SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS OF THE STATE
LEADERSHIP AND ALASKAN RESIDENTS TO SLOW THE
SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND ENCOURAGE THE GOVERNOR, AS
SOON AS RESONABLY PRACTICAL, TO RESCIND OR MODIFY
COVID-19 HEALTH MANDATES 003: STATEWIDE CLOSURE
RESTAURANTS, BARS, ENTERTAINMENT, 009: PERSONAL CARE
SERVICES AND GATHERINGS AND 012: INTRASTATE TRAVEL,
TO ALLOW ALASKAN BUSINESSES TO RESUME OPERATIONS,
EMPLOYEES TO RETURN TO WORK AND RESIDENTS TO
RECEIVE SERVICES IN A SAFE MANNER OBSERVING SOCIAL
DISTANCING REQUIRMENTS AND OTHER HEALTH MANDATES
AS NECESSARY
BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION:
The COVID-19 virus originated in Hubei province in China, with the first confirmed case
occurring on November 17, 2019. Two months later on January 21, 2020, the United States of
America had its first confirmed case of COVID-19. The World Health Organization declared a
public health emergency of international concern due to the COVID-19 virus before the end of
January. At the national level, President Donald Trump was monitoring the pandemic and on
March 13, 2020 with 2,700 confirmed cases of COVID-19 a US National Emergency was
declared. As of April 18, 2020 the United States had 715,536 confirmed cases of COVID-19
with 37,625 confirmed deaths.
In Alaska, March 2, 2020 marked the first State of Alaska confirmed case of COVID-19. Our
Governor Mike Dunleavy responded to the confirmed presence of COVID-19 to prevent or slow
the spread of the disease and issued his first public health mandate on March 13, 2020. Between
March 16 and April 17, 2020, Governor Dunleavy issued some of the most aggressive measures
with 15 additional health mandates, all in an effort to `flatten the curve' and reduce the number
of confirmed COVID-19 cases to a level that would not overwhelm the health care infrastructure
in the State. Thankfully, because of the early and aggressive action by the Governor and the
cooperation of Alaskan residents, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the State has
remained low with as of April 18, 2020 there are 314 cases confirmed, 147 recovered, 36 total
hospitalizations and 9 deaths.
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As we all know, the second phase of this emergency will be the economic effects and as of April
9, 2020-36,211 Alaskans filed for unemployment benefits, or more than 10% of all workers in
the State of Alaska at this point in the year, many due to the closure of businesses as a result of
the Governors mandates. Additionally, the continued closure of businesses is impacting all
Alaskans, resulting in a significant loss of jobs, business failures, and the loss of important sales
tax revenue to municipalities jeopardizing essential services.
The next step is to work on reducing intrastate travel limitations and mandatory closure of
certain businesses as soon as REASONABLY PRACTICAL that will allow many businesses to
reopen, employees to return to work and residents to receive services. Movement towards this
has already begun with additional implementations on April 16, 2020 when the Office of
Lieutenant Governor issued Emergency Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Regulations relating
to sales of alcoholic beverages to allow sales of off premises. Business would also have to be
willing to pair implementation of additional/other health mandates with the reduction of State
limitations to continue protecting public health safety and welfare. Social Distancing
requirements could be augmented with occupancy reductions in buildings, increasing table
separations, etc. Safety measures can be integrated into logical plans moving forward,
INTENT:
The intent of this resolution is to encourage our Governor to rescind or modify COVID-19 health
mandates 003: Statewide closure restaurants, bars, entertainment, 009: personal care services and
gatherings and 012: intrastate travel, as soon as REASONABLY PRACTAL to allow Alaskan
businesses to resume operations, employees to return to work and residents to receive services in
a safe manner observing social distancing requirements. Knowing we have a long road ahead we
encourage the Governor to look at paring rescinded items and modifications with
additional/other health mandates as necessary to continue protecting public health safety and
welfare.
Seward needs to advocate for our local businesses by being ready and prepared to reopen our
commerce. Local employees, non-profits and commercial businesses need to have the hope and
confidence that the community will support their efforts to rebuild our economic base.
We also directs Administration upon passage, provide a copy of this legislation to Governor
Mike Dunleavy, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce and Kenai Peninsula
Legislators Senator Peter Micciche, Senator Gary Stevens, Representative Gary Knopp,
Representative Ben Carpenter and Representative Sarah Vance.
CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST: Yes No N/A
Comprehensive Plan (document source here):
Comprehensive Plan:
1.3.1 -Economic Development X
2.2.7- Community Partnerships
2.2.8-City Government
2.2.11 Economic Base
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3.1 Economic Development
Strategic Plan (document source here)
Page 3 Growth Management and Land Use Planning X
Page 4- Transportation Facilities
Page 5-Economic Base
Other (list): X
FISCAL NOTE:
There is no financial expenditure impact associated with this Resolution. The resolution is
advocating for resuming operations that will generate jobs and revenue.
Approved by Finance Department:
ATTORNEY REVIEW: Yes No—X
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution 2020 - 033
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