20-28RESOLUTION NO. 20-28
CONFIRMATION OF COVID-19 EMERGENCY PROCLAMATIONS — JUNE 4, 2020
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER,
FLORIDA, CONFIRMING DECLARATIONS OF A STATE OF
EMERGENCY; 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. Horne), 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, 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, extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on
April 8 and April 15, 2020 and confirmed by City Council in Resolution 20-16 on April 16,
2020, then extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on April 22, April 29, and May 6, 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
Resolution No. 20-28
measures. such as working from home and avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people;
and
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
Resolution No. 20-28
WHEREAS, on April 16, 2020 the City Council extended for 30 days and modified
those emergency measures enacted by Resolution 20-11; and
WHEREAS, on April 28, 2020 Pinellas County passed Resolution 20-34, "Order
Relaxing Beach Restrictions With Conditions," allowing public beaches to reopen
consistent with CDC social distancing guidelines effective May 4, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on April 29, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-
112, ordering all persons in Florida to continue to limit their movements and personal
interactions outside of their homes, and allowing restaurants to resume on -premises
service with restrictions; and
WHEREAS, on May 1, 2020 Pinellas County passed Resolution 20-39 "Order
Clarifying Local Restrictions," which gives support to Governor DeSantis' EO 20-112,
terminates Pinellas County Res. 20-20 and 20-23, but continues to restrict public
playgrounds and pools, and requires social distancing; and
WHEREAS, on May 1, 2020 City of Clearwater Emergency Management Director
William B. Horne announced that Clearwater beaches would reopen May 4 in conjunction
with Pinellas County's Res. 20-34; and
WHEREAS, on May 14, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order
20-123, initiating the full Phase 1 of his "Safe. Smart. Step -by -Step. Plan for Florida's
Recovery" relaxing social distancing requirements and allowed limited reopening of
businesses, including gyms and fitness centers; and
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2020 the City Council adopted Resolution 20-22 terminating
the emergency measures portions of Resolutions 20-11, 20-16, and 20-19, and granting
the Emergency Management Director authority and flexibility to manage City facilities in
response to Covid-19; and
WHEREAS, on June 3, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-
139, initiating Phase 2 of his "Safe. Smart. Step -by -Step. Plan for Florida's Recovery" which
further relaxes social distancing guidelines, including avoiding congregating in groups
larger than 50 persons, allows for restaurants, bars, and entertainment businesses to
operate at 50% indoor capacity; and
WHEREAS, as of June 4, 2020, 57,293 Florida residents (58,764 total cases in
Florida including non-residents), including 2,384 in Hillsborough County (including 84
deaths), 1,110 in Manatee County (including 98 deaths), 398 in Pasco County (including
15 deaths), 1,361 in Pinellas County (including 90 deaths), at least 126 cases of which are
believed to be City of Clearwater residents, have tested positive for COVID-19; and
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-
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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 and all emergency regulations activated under the
provisions of this chapter at their next regularly scheduled meeting; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA;
Section 1. The May 27, 2020 state of emergency proclamation is hereby
confirmed.
Section 2. The June 3, 2020 state of emergency proclamation is hereby
confirmed.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. The state of
emergency must be renewed in seven-day increments pursuant to § 15.07(5), Code of
Ordinances.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of June, 2020.
Attest:
Rosemarie Call
City Clerk
Approved as to form:
Pamela K. A in
City Attorney
Resolution No. 20-28
rank Hibbard
Mayor