20-16 RESOLUTION NO. 20-16
CONFIRMATION OF COVID-19 EMERGENCY PROCLAMATIONS—APRIL 16, 2020
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA,
CONFIRMING DECLARATIONS OF A STATE OF
EMERGENCY AND CONTINUING EMERGENCY MEASURES;
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, a state of emergency in the City of Clearwater was proclaimed by Mayor
George N. Cretekos, upon recommendation by the Emergency Management Director (City
Manager William B. Home), after certification of emergency conditions by the Emergency
Management Coordinator(Fire Division Chief of Emergency Management Jevon Graham), on
March 18, 2020 due to the unmitigated spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19); and
WHEREAS, the March 18, 2020 state of emergency was confirmed by City Council in
Resolution 20-11 later that day, then extended 7 days by Mayor George N. Cretekos on March
25, 2020, extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on April 1, 2020, and confirmed by City
Council in Resolution 20-14 on April 2, 2020, then extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard
on April 8 and April 15, 2020; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among
humans through respiratory transmission and presents with symptoms similar to those of
influenza, with no available vaccine or cure; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human
Services declared that a public health emergency exists nationwide as a result of confirmed
cases of COVID-19 in the United States; and
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-51,
declaring that appropriate measures to control the spread of COVID-19 in the State of Florida
are necessary, and therefore directed that a Public Health Emergency be declared in the State
of Florida; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-52
declaring a State of Emergency for COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March
11, 2020, which is defined as "worldwide spread of a new disease," and is the first declared
pandemic since the H1 N1 "swine flu" in 2009; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump declared a national state
of emergency; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, President Trump and CDC issued the"15 Days to Slow
the Spread" guidance advising individuals to adopt far-reaching social distancing measures.
such as working from home and avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people; and
Resolution No. 20-16
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-68
closing bars, pubs and nightclubs for 30 days, recommending that public beachgoers follow
CDC guidelines limiting group sizes and social distancing, and ordering that restaurants limit
occupancy to 50% of current building capacities and begin employee screening; and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020 the City of Clearwater passed Resolution 20-11,
cancelling most City meetings and groups, prohibiting all in-person gatherings of 10 people or
more, closed all beaches, closed all libraries, closed all recreation centers, required businesses
open to the public to provide hand sanitizer, gave the Emergency Management Director
authority to close parking as necessary, prohibited price gouging, and enabled emergency
procurement procedures; and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020 Pinellas County passed Resolution 20-17, closing all
public beaches within the county; and
WHEREAS, on March 20, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-71,
suspending all sales of food and alcohol in the State by establishments for on-site consumption
and allowing for take-out or delivery service, and closing all gyms and fitness centers; and
WHEREAS, on March 20, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-72,
prohibiting elective and unnecessary medical procedures; and
WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-83,
recommending an advisory to all persons over 65 and those with underlying serious medical
conditions to stay home and limit risk of exposure; and
WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020 Pinellas County passed Resolution 20-20, "COVID-19
Safer at Home Order," directing individuals to limit non-essential activity and/or transportation,
closing places of public assembly, and ordering the closure of non-essential businesses if they
can not comply with current CDC social distancing guidelines; and
WHEREAS, on March 27, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-86,
retroactively ordering any person entering the State of Florida from "an area with substantial
community spread" to self-quarantine for 14 days and inform anyone they have had direct
physical contact with of their status; and
WHEREAS, on April 1, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Orders 20-91
and 20-92, ordering all persons in Florida to limit their movements and personal interactions
outside of their homes to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or
conduct essential activities; and
WHEREAS, as of April 16, 2020, 21,865 Florida residents (22,519 total cases in Florida
including non-residents), including 870 in Hillsborough County (including 18 deaths), 277 in
Manatee County (including 19 deaths), 186 in Pasco County (including 3 deaths), 513 in
Pinellas County (including 14 deaths), at least 108 cases of which are believed to be City of
Clearwater residents, have tested positive for COVID-19; and
Resolution No. 20-16
WHEREAS, the City of Clearwater continues to be threatened by COVID-19 because
of the apparent ability of the virus to spread rapidly among humans, and COVID-19 thereby
constitutes a clear and present threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens and
visitors of the City of Clearwater, and
WHEREAS, Section 252.38, Florida Statutes authorizes the establishment and
amendment of emergency measures during a state of emergency; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 15, Code of Ordinances requires City Council to confirm any
declaration of a state of emergency at their next regularly scheduled meeting; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA;
Section 1. The April 8, 2020 state of emergency proclamation is hereby confirmed.
Section 2. The April 15, 2020 state of emergency proclamation is hereby confirmed.
Section 3. The emergency measures enacted in Section 2. of Resolution 20-11,
passed March 18, 2020 are hereby extended for 30 days or as otherwise amended and
ordered, or until competent authority declares the state of emergency or measures
terminated.
Section 4. The emergency measures extension in Section 3 is modified so that the
Emergency Management Director is hereby empowered to open and close Beach Walk as
necessary.
Section 5. The emergency measures extension in Section 3 is modified so that the
City of Clearwater Development Review Committee may schedule meetings to be held
virtually in compliance with Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine Law and in accordance
with current social distancing guidelines.
Section 6. This resolution shall take effect immediately. The state of emergency
must be renewed in seven-day increments pursuant to Section 15.07(5), Code of Ordinances.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of April, 2020.
Attest: i! j
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Rosemarie Call >- arvi ;ak Hibbard
City Clerk Mayor
Approved as to form: 'Sr
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Pamela K. Akin
+ City Attorney
Resolution No. 20-16
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