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Home My WebLink AboutD-5 Staff Report - COVID-19 Status UpdateSCHEDULED ITEM D-5 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER DATE: APRIL 6, 2020 SUBJECT: CITY RESPONSE TO COVID-19 AND STATUS UPDATE ON CITY OPERATIONS, SERVICES TO RESIDENTS AND SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY BACKGROUND: The City, County and State have taken several actions in response to the threat posed by COVID-19. Actions taken were required to protect public health and the economic well-being of residents and local business community. A list of local, county and state actions are as follows: •On March 4, 2020, the State of California declared a State of Emergency as a result of the threat of COVID-19 •On March 4, 2020, declares local health emergency. •One March 16, 2020, City Council Adopted Resolution No. 2020-C11, Proclaiming Existence of Local Emergency Regarding Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) •On March 16, 2020, Los Angeles County Health Officer issued a Health Order temporarily prohibiting group events and gatherings and requiring social distancing measures and closure of certain businesses. The Health Order was amended on March 19, 2020 and March 21, 2020 and remains in place until April 19, 2020 •On March 19, 2020 the State issued its version of the Stay Home Order and that was updated last on March 31, 2020 and that remains in place until further notice •On March 1, 2020 Governor Newsome issued Executive Order N-28-20 restricting residential evictions to those impacted by COVID-19. The Order is in place through May 31st but does not waive the tenant’s responsibility to pay the rent or landlord’s ability to recover rent due. The order did not apply to commercial tenants, leaving it up to each local jurisdiction to address •On March 19, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors issued an Executive Order commencing March 4, 2020 through May 31, 2020, establishing a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent by residential and commercial tenants impacted by the COVID-19. Since then, several local municipalities have enacted similar ordinances including: Arcadia, Baldwin Park, El Monte, Duarte, La Verne, Pasadena, Rosemead, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena and Walnut APPROVED CITY COUNCIL 4/6/2020 COVID-19 RESPONSE AND STATUS April 6, 2020 Page 2 RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends the City Council take the following actions: 1) Receive and File Status Report; and 2) Provide direction in regards to City operations and/or Policy Matters Council would like to discuss and consider implementing ANALYSIS: In response to the threat, on March 13, 2020, the City activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to the lowest level (3). Executive Staff met on Saturday, March 14, 2020 to prepare and commence appropriate response to emergency. On Monday, March 16th, several city operations were modified: • Azusa Senior Center and Library were closed to the public • Azusa Police Department Lobby Limited Access • Light and Water, Planning Department remained open with restrictions • Parking Enforcement was relaxed to support residents that have to be home during Health Order On March 23, 2020, further measures were put in place to comply with Safer at Home Health Orders: • Emergency Operations Staffing Protocols began, with work-shifts created and workers assigned to work from home to limit the number of employees reporting to work, while maintaining appropriate staff levels to carry out essential city services • Informational video recorded featuring Mayor, City Manager and several key departments (Police, Fire, Economic & Community Development, Light & Water and Community Resources) • Playgrounds, skate park, Frisbee golf, basketball courts, tennis courts and picnic shelters closed • Park restrooms that remained open are cleaned and disinfected 2x/day • Canvassing, contacting and advising nonessential businesses still in operation via email, phone or in person if need arises Focus Areas: • Supporting Residents a. Health & Safety information continually pushed out via several social media platforms b. Patrol shifts modified to increase police presence in neighborhoods, shopping centers and essential businesses c. Parking regulations relaxed to support residents staying home during Health Order d. Light and Water will not shout off water and/or electric services during local emergency e. Payment plans will be implemented to help residents catch up f. Local seniors receiving meals at home (week of 3/23 delivered over 1,000 meals) g. Food insecurity continues to be a concern for our local seniors with a 30% increase in demand weekly, due to current emergency COVID-19 RESPONSE AND STATUS April 6, 2020 Page 2 h. Mobilizing to offer limited recreation services online and looking to partner with Azusa Pacific University on some creative online virtual recreation programs i. Partnering with school district on an Easter Egg Hunt activity j. Recreation Leaders and Park Ambassadors visible at parks to encourage social distancing k. City Library is providing virtual services and phone support Monday-Friday 9am-5pm l. Fines and fees accrued during the closure will be waived m. Residents encouraged to use online databases and borrow free ebooks 24 hours a day n. Online story times 3 days a week, as well as online craft ideas and other fun activities • Supporting local businesses and ongoing business and construction activities a. Light and Water will not shout off water and/or electric service during local emergency b. Payment plans will be implemented to help residents catch up c. A phone bank was conducted on March 18, 2020 and 123 business owners were informed of restrictions and resources available. 21 businesses were assisted as a follow up. d. 3,630 business owner’s received an email campaign with information and resources achieving open rate of 57%. e. The following email campaigns have been sent to business owners: i. East SGV American Job Center Webinar on Resources ii. SBA Disaster Loan Webinar iii. COVID-19 Temporary Business Closures f. A bilingual English/Spanish PSA educating residents on avoiding the tendency to over- buy and only buy what is necessary for a normal workweek was created g. Staff will be conducting Business Canvassing in the following days to identify businesses that have closed their doors temporarily or permanently those that remain open h. Staff is drafting a Business Resilience Toolkit that will be made available online i. Staff is continuing inspection services for essential & urgent inspections. Temporary inspection protocol is as follows: 1) Interior Inspections - Unoccupied Buildings Only; 2) Exterior Inspections - Occupied & Unoccupied Buildings j. Staff is assisting major projects with needed services to continue construction k. Staff is developing protocol for virtual inspection services for specific project types (Exs: water heater replacements, new windows, HVAC units, etc.) l. Staff is continuing with plan check services and encouraging electronic submittals/resubmittals. Paper submittals are discouraged and subject to a 3-6 day quarantine m. Permit issuance continues for essential and emergency work. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications electronically n. Permits for interior work are being reviewed on a case by case basis o. Business license renewals are being done online and extended the deadline to June 1st COVID-19 RESPONSE AND STATUS April 6, 2020 Page 2 FISCAL IMPACT: Staff is actively tracking all expenditures related to a local emergency response and is working closely with Area D Office of Disaster Management to submit appropriate documentation for reimbursement for such expenditures. The largest unknown, at this time, is the loss of revenues related to COVID-19. Particularly, we anticipate the most significant losses in General Fund revenues in Sales Tax, Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT), Utility Users Tax (UUT) and Franchise Fees from lower anticipated utility sales as a result of business closures, and fees for services related to economic and community improvement activities. The County does not have the authority to stop enforcing the collection of Property Taxes due April 1st, but it can be expected that fall collections may be lower due to business closures and difficulty with residents making their mortgage payments. Loss of special revenues such as Gas Tax, SB-1 transportation funding, and Measures R and M funds, is also anticipated. It’s too early to estimate the full impact of revenue losses at this time, but Staff is working with our county and state representatives to better ascertain the impacts the COVID-19 emergency will have on revenues in the next several months. In the meantime, Staff is diligent in taking advantage of all cost recovery opportunities, applying for grants reimbursements, and working with our insurance provider to recoup revenue losses from business interruption coverage if applicable. Staff will have a better estimate of the revenue impacts when presenting Council a draft proposed FY 2020/21 budget in late May. Prepared By: Sergio Gonzalez City Manager Attachments: 1. City of Azusa Local Emergency Declaration 2. State of California Executive Order N-33-20 3. State of California Executive Order N-28-20 4. Los Angeles County Safer at Home Order (Revised: March 21, 2020) 5. Los Angeles County Evictions Moratorium Executive Order Attachment 1 Attachment 2 Attachment 3 Attachment 4 Attachment 5