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RESOLUTION of the City of San Leandro City Council Approving Appropriation of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) of General Fund Reserves to Address Business and Community Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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WHEREAS, international, national, state, and local health and governmental authorities are responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus, “SARS-CoV-2,” and the disease it causes which has been named “coronavirus disease 2019,” abbreviated COVID-19, (“COVID-19”); and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2020, the Governor of the State of California declared a state of emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and to help the State prepare for a broader spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States of America declared a national emergency and announced that the federal government would make emergency funding available to assist state and local governments in preventing the spread of and addressing the effects of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the City Council of the City of San Leandro (“City”) ratified the Director of Emergency Service’s Proclamation of Local Emergency due to the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in the City (COVID-19); and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Health Officer of Alameda County issued an Order directing all individuals to shelter in place and requiring essential businesses to implement Social Distancing Protocols (‘Shelter In Place Order’); and
WHEREAS, the Health Officer of the County of Alameda has issued revised Shelter In Place Orders on March 31, 2020, May 18, 2020, June 5, 2020, June 18, 2020, October 21, 2020, and November 18, 2020 extending restrictions on activities and requiring individuals to shelter at home, while allowing for certain specified activities; and
WHEREAS, on November 19, 2020 the California Department of Public Health issued a Limited Stay At Home Order, imposing a curfew on counties in the Purple Tier of the State’s Tier program; and
WHEREAS, on December 7, 2020, the Health Officer of the County of Alameda implemented California State’s Regional Stay at Home Order, placing additional restrictions on residents and businesses in order to slow the rapidly increasing spread of COVID-19 and ensure sufficient ICU capacity, including requiring the closing of indoor and outdoor dining, personal services, and other indoor business operations such as fitness and movie theaters; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Leandro, pursuant to its police powers, has broad authority to maintain the public peace, health, and safety of its community and preserve quality of life; and
WHEREAS, due to restrictions on business operations enacted by the State, County, and City in order to promote public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, local small businesses are struggling financially; and
WHEREAS, on November 10, 2020, the County of Alameda authorized the use of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) in Federal CARES Act funds for the County of Alameda CARES Act Grant Program, as well as up to Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) to match contributions made by Alameda County incorporated cities to the program; and
WHEREAS, on December 14, 2020, the City of San Leandro authorized the transfer of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) in budgeted business incentive funds for the Alameda County CARES Grant Program, which were matched by Alameda County, for a total of $300,000 in grants to 60 San Leandro businesses; and
WHEREAS, City of San Leandro businesses were also a part of the general selection pool for the Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) allocated by the County of Alameda for grants; and
WHEREAS, small businesses located in an incorporated city in the County of Alameda that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and that have twenty-five (25) or fewer employees and are not part of a chain are eligible, subject to the restrictions and limitations outlined in the program; and
WHEREAS, approximately 660 small businesses in San Leandro applied for the county grant, showing that there is a great need for business assistance; and
WHEREAS, at their meeting of December 14, 2020, the City Council directed staff to evaluate the amount of City reserve funds to provide grants to additional businesses in need who were not able to be funded under the County program; and
WHEREAS, the City Council also directed staff to evaluate whether there are additional unmet community needs that are not otherwise being addressed by the City and may need immediate assistance from reserve funds.
NOW, THEREFORE THE CITY OF SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES that the above recitals are true and correct and made a part of this resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the City Council that the City of San Leandro will direct a total of $400,000 from the General Fund Reserves to provide grants to businesses that have applied to the Alameda County CARES Small Business Grant program, and who have not previously received a grant from the San Leandro Small Business Continuity Grant Program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the City Council that:
1. Grant awardees will be selected in keeping with the parameters of the County of Alameda CARES Act Grant Program, and not all who apply will receive a grant.
2. Full program details for allocation of City funds will be developed by City staff in accordance with the County program, as applicable.
3. During the existence of the declared local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the City Manager, acting as Director of Emergency Services, and the emergency organization of this City, shall be those prescribed by State law and by ordinances and resolutions of the City of San Leandro.
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