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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION DETERMINING THE NEED TO EXTEND LOCAL EMERGENCY - ITEM 12 'CY p I CITY OF TUSTIN C A L I F O R N I A Agenda Item 12 : Resolution Determining the Need to Extend Local Emergency Tustin City Council December 15, 2020 Background • March 20, 2020 : Director of Emergency Services proclaimed a local emergency related to COVID- 19 • March 20., 2020 : City Council ratified the proclamation Background • California law requires the City to determine whether the need exists to extend a declared local emergency every sixty (60) days. • The City Council previously reviewed and extended the declared local emergency regarding COVID- 19 on May 19, July 7, September 1, October 20., and November 17 . The Need to Extend the Local Emergency • As noted in more detail in the staff report, COVID- 19 continues to spread in Tustin, throughout the State., nation and the rest of the world . The Need to Extend the Local Emergency • The rate at which positive cases are being detected has increased recently. • However, Orange County continues to see increases in the number of confirmed COVID cases : • March 20: 65 cases • May 12 : 3,627 cases • September 1 : 48,825 cases • December 14: 1051764, (3,, 250 cases yesterday) The Need to Extend the Local Emergency • The City continues to take extraordinary measures during the declared local emergency: • The City has established a $3 Million CARES program to provide temporary emergency aid to the community. Current Tustin CARES programs include: • Small Business and Home Business Grants • Non-Profit Grant Assistance • Facilitation of Temporary Outdoor Dining, Retail and Assembly Uses and Grants for Outdoor Expansions • Rental and Housing/Utility Assistance (homeless prevention) • Meal Assistance/Distribution The Need to Extend the Local Emergency • The City also suspended all late payment penalties for water service . • Resolution 20-80 would continue this measure . Current Status of County Tier • The California Public Health Officer issued a Regional Stay Home Order on December 3 • That order takes effect when the availability of adult Intensive Care Unit ( ICU ) beds falls below 15% in any region . • The availability of ICU beds in the Southern California region is currently at 2 . 7% Current Status of County Tier • As a result, the State's Stay Home Order is currently in effect here : • Gatherings with members of other households are prohibited, except • Outdoor worship; • Outdoor political expression . Current Status of County Tier • The State's Stay Home Order: • Individuals must stay at their place of residence "except as necessary to conduct activities associated with the operation, maintenance, or usage of critical infrastructure, as required by law, or as specifically permitted" in the order. • Schools that were opened before may continue to be open subject to the same restrictions. • Individual outdoor recreation is still encouraged . State Eviction Limitations • State AB 3088 : • If a tenant delivers a declaration under penalty of perjury of COVID-19-related financial distress, this law prohibits that tenant from being deemed in default of a lease with regard to the COVID-19 rental debt. • The Tenant Act prohibits courts from finding such tenants guilty of an unlawful detainer before February 1, 2021. City's Rent Assistance Programs • The City still has funds available for rent assistance through two CDBG programs : • Rent assistance for families • Rent assistance for singles and couples • Those who are interested please contact the City's Community Development Department to apply. Testing Options • The County website provides information about various options for obtaining COVID tests, including: • At-home saliva based test kits • Free appointment-based drive-thru COVID-19 and flu testing • Other locations such as retail stores and medical offices that conduct testing. • https ://occovidl9 .ochealthinfo.com/covid-19-testing The Need to Extend the Local Emergency • In light of the continuing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in and around Tustin and the threat to public health that it represents, staff recommends that the Council approve Resolution 20-80 to make the required findings to extend the declared local emergency.