PREPARED BY: Lynn Tracy Nerland DATE OF MEETING: 01/19/21
SUBJECT:
TITLE
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO, CALIFORNIA EXTENDING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY DUE TO NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AND CONFIRMING THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
Council Priority Workplan
This action is not in the City Council’s Priority Workplan, but is necessary for the operation of government during an emergency.
CEQA Compliance Statement
The adoption of a resolution extending a declaration of an emergency in light of a pandemic is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 14 CCR section 15378, and if deemed a project would be exempt pursuant to 14 CCR sections 15061 and 15269.
BACKGROUND
Following declarations of emergency by the State of California (March 4, 2020), Contra Costa County (March 16, 2020) and the Federal government (March 13, 2020), the City Council of the City of San Pablo adopted Resolution 2020-034 (attached) on March 16, 2020 proclaiming the existence of a local emergency due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. A copy of that resolution was provided to the State and County Emergency Operations Centers. The City’s Emergency Operations Center was activated on or about 7:00 a.m. on March 16, 2020. The City Manager/Director of Emergency Services issued a Modified City Operations Plan dated March 16, 2020.
Since then, the Governor of California has issued many executive orders in light of COVID-19, including Executive Order N-33-20 on March 19, 2020 directing all residents in the State of California to stay at home (often referred to as “shelter-in-place”) except as needed to maintain essential critical infrastructure sectors and as designated by the State Public Health Officer as critical to protect the health and well-being of all Californians. These actions were taken in part to “flatten the curve” of the infection rate to avoid overwhelming limited medical resources. A particular challenge with containing the COVID-19 virus is the high infection rate for asymptomatic individuals; thus, creating “superspreader” events when people are in close proximity.
In addition, the Contra Costa Health Services Officer, in conjunction with other Bay Area Health Officers, issued on March 31, 2020 further Shelter-in-Place orders through May 3, 2020 with further limitations on activities. The Bay Area shelter-in-place order was then extended through May 31, 2020. The Contra Costa County Health Department issued Order HO-COVID19-16 dated June 2, 2020 and HO-COVID19-17 dated June 5, 2020 extending the shelter-in-place orders, but with increasing allowance for certain businesses and other activities to occur under certain conditions, recognizing the goals of the Governor’s announcement on May 4, 2020 of a “Roadmap for Recovery”. On June 16, 2020, the Contra Costa Health Services issued Order HO-COVID19-18 with further guidance on businesses and activities. The State also issued guidance on June 18, 2020 regarding when the wearing of face coverings (masks) is required.
On June 28, 2020, the Governor recommended that Contra Costa County delay reopening efforts given increasing COVID-19 numbers. On July 1, 2020, the Governor sent a letter to all elected officials in California urging State and local unity and cooperation in the fight against COVID-19. The letter warns that lack of such cooperation could extend the pandemic and its economic effects, as well as jeopardizing eligibility for State funding.
On July 5, 2020, the Contra Costa Health Services Officer issued Order HO-COVID19-22 generally requiring members of the public and workers to wear face coverings when less than 6 feet away from any person who is not a member of the individual’s household and when inside or on the grounds of any business. On July 5, 2020, the Contra Costa Health Services Officer also issued Order HO-COVID19-23 updating its mass quarantine order to require persons with close contact to a person diagnosed with COVID-19. On July 11, 2020, the Contra Costa Health Services Officer issued HO-COVID19-24 increasing restrictions on high-risk businesses and activities due to increasing community transmissions of COVID-19, hospitalizations, illness and positivity rate.
On July 28, 2020, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors passed Ordinance No. 2020-21, authorizing the issuance of warnings, citations or fines to businesses and people not complying with COVID-19 health orders. Fines for businesses start at $250 for the first violation and increase for subsequent violations. Fines for individuals start at $100 and increase for subsequent violations. COVID-19 violations can be reported online: <https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/civicalerts.aspx?aid=2352> The initial effort from both the County and the San Pablo Police Department was to focus on education, particularly for businesses and larger entities whose violations can impact a greater number of residents.
On August 5, 2020, the Contra Costa Health Services issued an updated Mass Isolation Order and on August 26, 2020 issued a revised social distancing order to allow certain business sectors to begin outdoor operations in light of steadying hospitalization and COVID-19 positivity rates in Contra Costa County.
On August 28, 2020, the State issued a new Public Health Order dated August 28, 2020 effective August 31, 2020, which creates a new tier system of Counties with guidance for business re-openings known as “California’s Plan for Reducing COVID-19 and Adjusting Permitted Sector Activities to Keep Californians Healthy and Safe.” <https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap-counties/>; <https://calcat.covid19.ca.gov/cacovidmodels/>
On September 4, 2020, the County Public Health Department recognized some stabilization in the rate of COVID-19 cases and hospitalization and issued Health Order HO-COVID19-27 to reiterate social distancing, limitations on gatherings and mask requirements, but also to ease restrictions on some gatherings of children, to allow mining and logging operations and to clarify vehicle gatherings. On September 14, 2020, the County Public Health Department issued Health Order HO-COVID19-28 to align with state guidelines for personal care services, cardrooms, racetracks and professional sports without live audiences.
On September 16, 2020, the County Public Health Department issued Health Order HO-COVID19-29 to align with CDC guidelines on quarantining if exposed to someone with COVID-19, including exceptions for health care workers, first responders, and critical infrastructure workers to continue working if certain conditions are met. Instructions for quarantining in English, Spanish and other languages can be found at this link:
<https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/for-covid-19-patients>
On September 29, 2020, the Contra Costa Health Department announced that Contra Costa County had moved into the less restrictive red tier ("substantial" spread of COVID-19) of the State's tiered reopening system.
As of October 6, 2020, the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy <https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID19CountyMonitoringOverview.aspx> includes a “health equity metric” that will also be used to determine a county's tier. The purpose of this metric is to ensure California reopens its economy safely by reducing disease transmission in all communities, particularly given higher COVID rates among communities of color.
<https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/CaliforniaHealthEquityMetric.aspx> For Contra Costa County, in order to advance to the next less restrictive tier, the County must ensure that the test positivity rates in its most disadvantaged neighborhoods, defined as being in the lowest quartile of the Healthy Places Index census tracts (<https://healthyplacesindex.org/> ), do not significantly lag behind its overall county test positivity rate. San Pablo as a city has a Healthy Places Index in the 36th percentile <https://map.healthyplacesindex.org/>; however, some census tracks within the City are in the lowest quartile.
On October 8, 2020, the County Public Health Department issued Health Order HO-COVID19-32 to update its Mass Quarantine Order (HO-COVID19-29) to comply with the State of California Public Health Officer’s guidance.
On October 27, 2020, Contra Costa Health Services issued a press release indicating that the County had moved into the less-restrictive orange tier allowing more businesses and activities to occur. However, increasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations forced the County Public Health Officer to issue new orders to curtail some of the riskier activities.
On November 16, 2020, in light of increasing COVID infection and hospitalization rates throughout the United States, including California, twenty-eight counties were moved back into the purple/widespread infection Tier 1, including Contra Costa County.
On December 3, 2020, the California Department of Public Health issued a Regional Stay at Home Order based on the increasing rate of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and positivity rates across California. Regional Stay at Home Order (ca.gov) <https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Regional-Stay-at-Home-Order-.aspx> Of particular concern was a projected lack of ICU hospital beds by mid-December. The Order divided the State into five regions with San Pablo part of the Bay Area Region. Once a region has less than 15 percent ICU bed availability, all counties within that regional are required to follow the Regional Stay Home Order for at least three weeks. On December 4, 2020, the Bay Area Region implemented the State’s Stay at Home Order from December 6 through January 4, 2021.
Contra Costa Order No. HO-COVID19-37: 84606e_4ec88b181449404e8dcb7e63e48ed483.pdf (filesusr.com) <https://813dcad3-2b07-4f3f-a25e-23c48c566922.filesusr.com/ugd/84606e_4ec88b181449404e8dcb7e63e48ed483.pdf> The County Health Department has allowed outdoor playgrounds to open, but given the high number of COVID cases in San Pablo and staffing resources for cleaning, the City has kept the playgrounds closed.
The State’s Regional Stay at Home Order was triggered on December 15, 2020 due to ICU bed availability dropping under 15% and remains in effect.
The County has produced a handy list of “Openings at a Glance” in both English and Spanish that has been updated as conditions have changed.
<https://cchealth.org/covid19/pdf/Contra-Costa-County-Openings-at-a-Glance.pdf>;
<https://cchealth.org/covid19/pdf/Contra-Costa-County-Openings-at-a-Glance-es.pdf> . The County’s website also includes updated Frequently Asked Questions in both English and Spanish (<https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/frequently-asked-questions>), as well as a flyer in English and Spanish about the risks of various activities entitled “COVID-19: Know the Risk.” (<https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/safer-social-interactions>)
Information on the rollout of the vaccine, including various priority tiers, can be found here: <https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/vaccine>
The Federal Government has also issued orders and directives in response to COVID-19. Resources can be found at these links:
<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html>
In addition to COVID-19 public health emergency, the State has also faced issues of civil unrest and further emergencies due to wildfires and smoke in 2020.
City Actions since the Declaration of a Local Emergency
On April 6, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-042, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services including but not limited to:
1. Emergency Services Order No. 1 issued March 23, 2020, which addressed operational issues during the emergency including a Modified City Operations Plan dated March 19, 2020; and
2. Revised Modified City Operations Plan dated April 1, 2020, declaring certain City projects as “Essential Governmental Functions/Public Works Projects” and further limiting activities.
On April 20, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-051, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director:
1. Revised Modified City Operations Plan dated April 8, 2020 further limiting access to City Administrative Offices and essential services occurring at City facilities; and continuing to cancel all City-sponsored community events and gatherings per the Governor’s State-wide Executive Orders No. N-25-20 (03/12/20) and No. N-33-20 (03/19/20) and Contra Costa County Health Department Order no. #HO-COVID-19-03 (03/31/2020) to “flatten the curve” of the infection rate of COVID-19.
In addition, the Annual 4th of July Multi-Cultural Family Celebration Event is regrettably cancelled because operational planning and staffing resources for major community events is a “Non-Essential Service” at this time; and the financial costs are deemed “Non-Essential Spending” given the impacts to the City’s General Fund budget from the closure of the Casino and decreased sales tax revenues during the COVID-19 emergency.
1. City of San Pablo Administrative Policy - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLE) dated April 1, 2020.
2. City of San Pablo Administrative Policy - Limited Duration Telework Policy dated April 1, 2020.
On May 4, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-055, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services including but not limited to:
1. Revised Modified City Operations Plan dated April 20, 2020 regarding face coverings in response to Contra Costa County Health Department Order no. #HO-COVID-19-08 (04/17/2020) to “flatten the curve” of the infection rate of COVID-19;
2. Revised Modified City Operations Plan dated April 30, 2020 in response to Contra Costa County Health Department Order no. #HO-COVID-19-09 (04/29/2020) extending the shelter-in-place order to May 31, 2020 but allowing some businesses and activities to resume; and
3. City Essential Business/Project Updates dated May 4, 2020.
On May 18, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-060, the City Council extended
the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services including but not limited to:
1. Memorandum dated May 7, 2020 to implement COVID-19 Informational Hotline for San Pablo residents
On June 1, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-068, the City Council extended the declaration of local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services including but not limited to:
1. Letter dated May 22, 2020 to the Contra Costa County Health Services Department re: Casino San Pablo Notification to Re-open and discussion with Contra Costa County Health Officials.
On June 15, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-077, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the additional actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services including but not limited to:
1. Memos from the City Manager and Assistant City Manager: “Expectations of Employees Returning to Work” dated June 3, 2020; “Protocols for Social Distancing -- COVID-19 Response Plan” dated June 3, 2020; “COVID-19 Health Screenings” dated June 3, 2020; and
2. Revised Modified City Operations Plan dated June 4, 2020
On July 6, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-086, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services.
On July 20, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-094, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services including but not limited to:
1. COVID-19 Health Screening and Protocols for candidates and those involved with ballot measures who need to come to City Hall.
The City has also established a City hotline for assistance with COVID-19 resources and questions. City staff is available to respond to calls in English and Spanish. As of July 20, 2020, the City had received 21 calls from San Pablo residents and one call from a Richmond resident.
On August 3, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-105, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services including but not limited to:
1. City Council Meeting Protocols at City Hall during COVID-19 Emergency
On September 8, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-115, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services including but not limited to:
1. “COVID-19 Hot Zone and Employee Reporting in the Workplace” dated August 6, 2020
Also, on September 8, 2020 per Resolution No. 2020-112, the City Council confirmed an agreement with Contra Costa County to provide financial support for the COVID-19 Youth/Young Adult Ambassadors to be trained about COVID-19 and then to prepare and post messages about COVID-19 on social media. Further, on September 8, 2020 per Resolution No. 2020-116, the City Council amended the City Council Priority Workplan to explore the feasibility of a financial assistance grant or loan program for local San Pablo businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in collaboration with the San Pablo EDC (San Pablo Economic Development Corporation).
On September 21, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-123, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Service since the last meeting. Also, on September 21, 2020, the City Council adopted Ordinance 2020-010 repealing Ordinance 2020-006, which suspended automatic approval deadlines during the COVID-19 emergency. The City Council also approved Resolution 2020-124 extending the Housing Assistance Grant Program and Resolution 2020-125 creating an Ad Hoc City Council Committee to address COVID-19 issues.
On October 5, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-127, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Service since the last meeting.
The City has also been working with County services for the homeless and has set up three temporary restroom and wash stations on San Pablo Dam Road (near Princeton Plaza), Wanless Park and Luna Lane near the Library and City Hall.
On October 19, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-131, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Service since the last meeting.
On November 2, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-136, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Service since the last meeting, including but not limited to:
1. Coronavirus COVID-19 Update and Revised City Modified Operations Plan (Version #9 dated October 28, 2020)
On November 2, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-135, the City Council also authorized a one-time event sponsorship of $3,000 for the Free COVID-19 Testing Event available to the public scheduled for November 7, 2020 at the West County Health Center.
On November 16, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-139, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Service since the last meeting. The City Council also approved a memorandum of agreement with Contra Costa Health Services to create of COVID-19 testing site at the Davis Park Multi-purpose room, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-143 (flyer attached).
On December 7, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-154, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services since the last meeting.
On December 21, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-159, the City Council extended the declaration of a local emergency and confirmed the actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services since the last meeting.
Medical Data on COVID-19 Cases
As of January 11, 2021, Contra Costa County is in the purple tier/widespread infection rate along with the Bay Area Region with 49.8 cases per day per 100,000 (7-day average from 12/27/20-1/2/21-12/26) and with a 10.7% positive tests rate (7-day average from 12/27/20 - 1/2/21); however, the positivity rate in those in the lowest health equity quartile is 15.6%. <https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/>
As of January 11, 2021, there were 47,940 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Contra Costa County with 392 deaths. As of January 10, 2021, there were 2,670,962 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California with 29,701 deaths.
<https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx>
As of January 11, 2021, there were 22,322,956 cases of COVID-19 in the United States with 373,167 deaths.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcases-updates%2Fcases-in-us.html#cases_totalcases <https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcases-updates%2Fcases-in-us.html> All of those numbers are expected to continue to rise.
Further, San Pablo continues to be identified as a “hot spot” with 3,801 confirmed COVID-19 cases at an increasingly high rate of 12,100 cases per 100,000 population. Currently, San Pablo has the highest per capita number of COVID-19 cases in the County and has the fifth highest total number of COVID-19 cases in the County (Richmond, Antioch, Concord, and Pittsburg are higher). According to the County’s website, there have been 19 COVID-related deaths in San Pablo (with 13 deaths not in long-term care facilities).
During an earlier Council meeting, there were questions about why San Pablo is a hot spot. Information from the California Department of Health on racial and ethnicity demographics with COVID-19 can be found here, as well as an article from the LA Times discussing a study done at UCLA regarding COVID-19 risk factors: <https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx>; <https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Race-Ethnicity.aspx>
As discussed above, the State is focusing on the COVID case number in disadvantaged communities before allowing counties to move to less restrictive tiers.
Economic Impacts of COVID-19 and Shelter-in-Place Orders
According to the East Bay Economic Development Alliance’s (East Bay EDA) Business Recovery Survey Results published on May 19, 2020, 80% of East Bay businesses are “microbusinesses” employing fewer than 10 employees, which often have limited cash reserves and are not positioned to take on more debt to survive COVID19 and shelter-in-place orders. Microbusinesses are more likely to be minority- or women-owned compared to larger businesses. Nearly 40% of the survey respondents were temporarily closed because they were not considered “essential” and 42.3% of West Contra Costa County businesses temporarily closed. Eleven out of fifteen surveyed West Contra Costa County businesses indicated staff reductions in the 75-100% range. Layoffs and revenue losses hit low-wage workers the hardest with impacts in the following industries: food and beverage; retail and personal services; hospitality/leisure/entertainment.
<https://eastbayeda.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/East-Bay-Business-Recovery-Survey-Findings-5-19-20.pdf>
More recent data from 300 small business owners who received funding via the Paycheck Protection Program showed that year-over-year revenues of small business owners plummeted 52% while their payroll expenses dropped 54%. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rohitarora/2020/08/07/study-finds-small-business-revenues-dropped-52-and-payrolls-declined-54-due-to-covid-pandemic/#32eebb4356db <https://www.forbes.com/sites/rohitarora/2020/08/07/study-finds-small-business-revenues-dropped-52-and-payrolls-declined-54-due-to-covid-pandemic/> The Mercury News is reporting that one out of every 100 businesses in the San Francisco metropolitan area including Contra Costa County has permanently closed since March 1, 2020.
<https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/09/22/the-bay-areas-small-business-closure-crisis-is-already-here/?utm_source=CalMatters+Newsletters&utm_campaign=e468b56429-WHATMATTERS_NEWSLETTER&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_faa7be558d-e468b56429-150509020&mc_cid=e468b56429&mc_eid=76e28003c7> There is no reason to believe that small businesses in San Pablo fared better during the COVID19 shutdown.
Many San Pablo residents have experienced job loss or reduced hours due to COVID-19 and shelter-in-place orders. Contra Costa County overall saw an increase in unemployment from a March unemployment rate of 4.1 percent to an April unemployment rate of 14.5 percent. According to the East Bay EDA, there were 25,560 jobs lost in the East Bay during March and April, representing nearly 30% of job cuts in the nine-county Bay Area. However, the Urban Institute estimated 45,666 low-income jobs (annual earnings below $40,000) lost just in Contra Costa County through May 8, 2020. <https://www.urban.org/features/where-low-income-jobs-are-being-lost-covid-19> Nearly 3.7 million Californians filed for unemployment during the first six weeks of COVID-19 pandemic and the nation seeing the highest level of unemployment in 70 years.
It was reported in the LA Times on August 21, 2020 that California’s unemployment rate is at 13.3% with 3 million on unemployment and 202,136 new claims in the week prior to the article. Contra Costa County’s rate is 14.5% with 77,600 unemployed individuals.
<https://www.latimes.com/projects/california-coronavirus-cases-tracking-outbreak/unemployment/>
On December 14, 2020, the website for the State’s Employment Development Department (EDD) showed that California’s unemployment rate in September 2020 was 11.0% with 2,058,800 unemployed individuals, but that data was from September 12 before current shut down. https://www.edd.ca.gov/newsroom/unemployment-october-2020.htm#:~:text=September's%20unemployment%20rate%20of%2011.0,sectors%20gained%20jobs%20last%20month <https://www.edd.ca.gov/newsroom/unemployment-october-2020.htm> .
To address these economic impacts and the critical need that residents remain sheltered during the pandemic to decrease the transmission of COVID-19, on April 27, 2020, the City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 2020-008 temporarily prohibiting evictions of residential and commercial real property tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and establishing a moratorium on rent increases through May 31, 2020. The State and County also adopted protections for tenants impacted by COVID-19. Information on the County’s ordinance, which was recently extended to January 31, 2021, along with Frequently Asked Questions and Template Notice documents in English and Spanish, can be found here: <https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7836/Eviction-and-Rent-Freeze-Ordinance-FAQs> The County’s ordinance continues a moratorium on certain evictions for residential tenants and on certain residential rent increases. Information on the State’s “Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act of 2020” can be found here: file:///Y:/2004%200209/Emergency%20Operations/COVID-19%20Pandemic%202020/Eviction%20Moratorium/Factsheet-Tenant-Homeowner-and-Small-Landlord-Relief-and-Stabilization-Act-of-2020.pdf <file:///Y:\2004%200209\Emergency%20Operations\COVID-19%20Pandemic%202020\Eviction%20Moratorium\Factsheet-Tenant-Homeowner-and-Small-Landlord-Relief-and-Stabilization-Act-of-2020.pdf>
In addition, following previous City Council direction, on May 4, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-054, the City Council approved the guidelines for a grant program for residents financially impacted by COVID-19. On June 29, 2020, the City Council increased the grant for COVID Housing Assistance Program for FY 2019/20 (Resolution No. 2020-081) and established a COVID Housing Assistance Program for FY 2020/21 (Resolution No. 2020-082). A recent social media blast provided information on the program. The Council will be receiving a separate update on this assistance program and the business loan program.
On October 21, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-133, the City Council established and approved program guidelines for the San Pablo “Back to Business” COVID-19 Relief Fund to offer forgivable loans to small businesses with the San Pablo Economic Development Corporation administering the program with funds that were reallocated from the City’s Community Grant Foundation program. <http://www.sanpabloedc.org/san-pablo-b2b-small-business-grant-program>
The County has compiled resources for businesses and employees affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19. <https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7778/COVID-19-Economic-Resources>
City Council Meetings
Currently, San Pablo, as well as Contra Costa County and all cities in the County are conducting their Council (Board) meetings virtually. City staff has discussed when it might be possible for Elected Officials and ultimately the public to be present in the Council Chambers. This is, of course, dependent on how the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, especially here in Contra Costa County. The County Health Department is still recommending online meetings as they have the lowest risk of COVID-19 transmission. <https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/frequently-asked-questions>
On August 3, 2020, the City Council confirmed the timeline/thresholds for having the elected officials (Phase 2) and eventually the public (Phase 3) in the Council Chambers based on health criteria. The Public Works Department continues to explore physical barriers that can be installed in the City Council Chambers to separate individuals without permanently damaging the dais. Technological equipment to capture live video feed from the Council Chambers and Zoom meeting to Granicus has been procured.
RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager/Director of Emergency Services recommends that the City Council extend the declaration of a local emergency and confirm the additional actions taken by the Director of Emergency Services, including those actions taken since December 21, 2020.
FISCAL IMPACT
At this time, the full fiscal impact of COVID-19 is unknown. As indicated in prior staff reports, the San Pablo Lytton Casino closed on March 17, 2020. For every month that the Casino is closed, the City is projected to lose approximately $2.34 million in revenue in addition to $1.3 million every month for other City revenue sources such as sales tax. The Casino reopened on June 16, 2020 although its capacity is limited in its effort to comply with social distancing and other protocols to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
On March 25, 2020, the City Manager directed staff to reduce costs in FY 2019/20 by an immediate suspension of all non-essential spending; a City-wide full-time hiring freeze effective April 1, 2020; and a City-wide part-time hiring freeze effective immediately. This budget expense directive was due to the impacts of the prolonged shelter-in-place order and the Casino shutdown and the anticipated General Fund revenue shortfall during FY 2019/20. Further budget information was provided at the Special Council meeting on April 27, 2020, at which time City Council approved by minute order the recommendations made by the City Manager to balance the FY 2019/20 budget. Further budget information was provided at the City Council meetings on May 18, 2020 and June 1, 2020. On June 1, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-069, the City Council adopted an Employee Voluntary Separation Program to help address the fiscal impacts to the City’s budget due to COVID-19 and the shelter-in-place orders. The City Council adopted the revised budgets for FY 2019/20 and 2020/21 on June 15, 2020, with each year relying on use of budgeted reserves per the Fiscal Resiliency Reserve Policy to close the budget shortfalls. For FY 2020/21, balancing the budget also relies on concessions from the City’s labor groups and unrepresented employees to close the budget gap.
The City received $387,860 in the current fiscal year in CARES Act funding, which is the full allotment due to the City.
The City of San Pablo is not unique in facing a significant revenue shortfall due to COVID-19 and the shelter-in-place orders, requiring the City to look to use of reserves and reduction in expenses to balance its budget. According to data from the League of California Cities, California cities are anticipating a nearly $7 billion general revenue shortfall over the next two fiscal years. <https://www.cacities.org/Images/COVID19-Fiscal-Impact-on-CA-Cities-Infographic-FIN.aspx> The State’s announcement of a one-year reprieve on the payment of sales and use taxes for certain businesses will also impact the City’s budget. The economic recovery from COVID-19 and its impacts are being estimated in terms of years not months.
ATTACHMENTS
1) Proposed Resolution
2) Openings at a Glance in English and Spanish
3) Davis Park COVID-19 testing site flyer
4) Resolution 2020-034 Proclaiming the Existence of a Local Emergency dated March 16, 2020
5) PowerPoint presentation on Extension of Local Emergency