03/18/2020 - EmergencyCity of Clearwater
Main Library - Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Special Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
5:00 PM
Emergency Council Meeting
Main Library - Council Chambers
City Council
March 18, 2020City Council Special Meeting Agenda -
Final
1. Call to Order
2. City Manager Reports
2.1 Confirm a declaration of a state of emergency, establish COVID-19 emergency
measures and adopt Resolution 20-11.
3. City Attorney Reports
4. Closing comments by Councilmembers (limited to 3 minutes)
5. Closing Comments by Mayor
6. Adjourn
Page 2 City of Clearwater Printed on 3/18/2020
Cover Memo
City of Clearwater Main Library - Council
Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
File Number: ID#20-7657
Agenda Date: 3/18/2020 Status: City Manager ReportVersion: 1
File Type: Action ItemIn Control: City Council
Agenda Number: 2.1
SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Confirm a declaration of a state of emergency, establish COVID-19 emergency measures and
adopt Resolution 20-11.
SUMMARY:
Page 1 City of Clearwater Printed on 3/18/2020
Resolution No. 20-11
RESOLUTION NO. 20-11 COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES - MARCH 18, 2020
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER,
FLORIDA, CONFIRMING A DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND ESTABLISHING 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. 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, 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 H1N1 "swine flu" in 2009; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump declared a national state of emergency; and WHEREAS, on March 14 and 15, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis said that there was
evidence of "community spread" in Broward County, Florida, and that he was encouraging beach closures and restrictions on bars and restaurants; and WHEREAS, on March 15, 2020, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended that for the next 8 weeks, organizers postpone in-person events that consist
of 50 people or more throughout the United States, in addition to implementing aggressive measures to slow and contain transmission of COVID-19; that on March 16, 2020 the CDC and White House reduced group sizes to 10; and
Resolution No. 20-11
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, as of March 18, 2020 289 Florida residents (314 total cases in Florida including non-residents), including 13 in Hillsborough County, 8 in Manatee County, 3 in
Pasco County, and 10 in Pinellas County, some of which are believed to be City of
Clearwater residents, have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19; and WHEREAS, the City of Clearwater is 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, Chapter 15, Code of Ordinances and § 252.38, Florida Statutes authorizes the establishment of emergency measures during a state of emergency; now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA;
Section 1. The March 18, 2020 state of emergency proclamation is hereby
confirmed. Section 2. This state of emergency has seriously affected and threatened the safety and security of the lives and property of residents of the City of Clearwater and requires the
establishment of the following emergency measures:
1. The following events and activities within the City of Clearwater are postponed, cancelled, or suspended for the duration of the emergency: a. All regular meetings of the City Council (EXCLUDING the March 19, 2020
regular Council Meeting), Community Redevelopment Agency, City
Boards, including all advisory and statutory boards, City committees and City working groups. The Emergency Management Director shall have the authority to bring together emergency groups as needed; b. All Municipal Code Enforcement Board Hearings, Red Light Camera
Hearings, and Nuisance Abatement Board Hearings;
c. Any homeowner association and civic association meetings conducted or held on City property; d. All special events with any level of City co-sponsorship; e. All City recreational programs and facilities, facility rentals, and organized
sports leagues.
Resolution No. 20-11
2. All in-person mass gatherings of any type, whether organized or otherwise, consisting of 10 people or more are prohibited, EXCLUDING critical infrastructure and public safety and health functions.
3. All non-essential businesses within the city limits of the City of Clearwater shall be required to CLOSE by no later than 10:00 p.m. (including weeknights and weekends). The term "non-essential businesses" shall EXCLUDE the following: restaurants, pharmacies, grocery stores, convenience stores, private offices,
banks, hotels, hospitals, medical service providers, medical supply stores,
hardware stores, gasoline service stations, and automotive supply/repair centers. 4. Pursuant to the Florida Governor’s Executive Order 20-68, all bars, pubs, and
nightclubs (alcoholic beverage licensee deriving more than 50% gross revenue
from the sale of alcoholic beverages) shall suspend all sales of alcoholic beverages until April 16, 2020 at 5 p.m. or as further ordered by the Governor. 5. Pursuant to the Florida Governor’s Executive Order 20-68, all restaurants shall
limit occupancy to 50% of their pre-emergency building occupancy and
implement employee screening. 6. All restaurants shall cease daily sales of all alcoholic beverages no later than 10:00 p.m. (including weeknights and weekends).
7. All visitors to public bathing beaches, public beach accesses, public beach parking lots in the City of Clearwater, the Courtney Campbell Recreation Area, Beach Walk, and Sand Key Bayside Park shall follow CDC guidelines by limiting their gatherings to no more than 10 persons and distancing themselves from
other parties by 6 feet, as recommended in Florida Governor’s Executive Order
20-68. 8. All City of Clearwater Libraries are CLOSED.
9. All City of Clearwater Recreation Centers are CLOSED.
10. Every public place, building, and facility, including all businesses, restaurants, bars, and retail establishments, but excluding public parks, shall have alcohol-based hand sanitizer (so long as publicly available) at every entrance for use by
patrons and employees upon entering and exiting.
11. The Emergency Management Director is empowered to close any City of Clearwater parking facilities and the Clearwater Ferry (routes servicing the City of Clearwater only) as needed.
Resolution No. 20-11
12. No person or business entity offering goods or services for sale within the City of Clearwater shall charge more than the normal average retail price as defined by § 15.01, Code of Ordinances, during the period of the declared emergency.
13. Pursuant to § 15.07(3)H., Code of Ordinances, the City of Clearwater’s procurement code is hereby waived. Emergency procurement is hereby authorized to be signed by the Emergency Management Director / City Manager.
Section 3. Pursuant to § 252.50, Florida Statues, any person violating the provisions of this emergency measures resolution after first being warned by a law enforcement officer is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. All violations shall be subject to prosecution under § 1.12, Code of Ordinances.
Section 4. This resolution shall take effect on March ___, 2020 at __________ (a.m. or p.m.) and the measures in Section 2. shall remain in effect for 30 days thereafter or as otherwise amended and ordered, or until competent authority declares the state of emergency and measures in Section 2. terminated. The state of emergency must be
renewed in seven-day increments pursuant to § 15.07(5), Code of Ordinances.
RESOLUTION NO. 20-11 COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES - MARCH 18, 2020
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ___ day of March, 2020.
Attest:
___________________________ _______________________________
Rosemarie Call George N. Cretekos City Clerk Mayor Approved as to form:
___________________________ Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER
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