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Adopt a Resolution Extending the Confirmation of a Proclamation of Local Emergency and Declaring its Termination in line with the Termination of the Governor’s State of Emergency by the City’s Director of Emergency Services Pursuant to California Government Code Section 8630 and San Leandro Municipal Code Section 3-4-124 because of the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Background and Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities around the world, and the City of San Leandro is no exception. More specifically, emergency conditions presently exist within the community, as described and in accordance with the City of San Leandro Director of Emergency Services’ March 16, 2020 proclamation of a local emergency and state of emergency. This proclamation was ratified by the City Council on March 16, 2020 by Resolution No. 2020-024, based on conditions described in the Director’s proclamation.
Here in Alameda County, best available estimates from relevant subject matter experts indicate that to date there have been 389,576 cases, and 2,099 deaths due to COVID-19. Furthermore, as of January 3, 2023, the Alameda County Public Health Department estimates that there were 1,901 probable cases of COVID-19 within San Leandro, demonstrating that COVID-19 continues to be a threat to local public health. Additionally, coronavirus variants remain an issue of major public concern, including the Omicron variant and its sub-variants that continue to infect individuals internationally, nationally, and locally, with individuals in San Leandro spreading those sub-variants, thereby increasing infection risks and threatening the public health.
Furthermore, in spite of data indicating that 87% of individuals in San Leandro have received the primary vaccine series and 51% have received the primary series and booster, it is estimated that only 10% of San Leandro residents have received the bivalent booster, which may affect infection rates especially if sub-variants are resistant to the primary and secondary dosages.
As a result of the above factors, it is clear that emergency conditions continue to exist in San Leandro, which warrant continued emergency actions to preserve and protect public health, safety, welfare, and property, consistent with the previously adopted proclamation as ratified by Resolution No. 2020-024, and the resolution that accompanies this staff report,.
Nevertheless, on October 17, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency will conclude on February 28, 2023. In order to ensure that the City of San Leandro’s local state of emergency period aligns with the Governor’s announcement, staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution, which would affirm that the ongoing local state of emergency continues to exist, and that it will automatically conclude when the Governor terminates California’s State of Emergency, or on February 28, 2023, whichever is later.
Fiscal Impact
None. Sufficient funds to address the ongoing local state of emergency are already programmed in the adopted FY 2022-2023 budget.
Prepared by: Eric Engelbart, Deputy City Manager, City Manager’s Office