20-53RESOLUTION NO. 20-53
CONFIRMATION OF COVID-19 EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION - October 1, 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,
extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on April 1, confirmed by City Council in Resolution 20-14
on April 2, extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on April 8 and 15, confirmed by City Council
in Resolution 20-16 on April 16, extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on April 22, 29, and May
6, confirmed by City Council in Resolution 20-19 on May 7, extended 7 days by Mayor Frank
Hibbard on May 13 and 20, confirmed by City Council in Resolution 20-22 on May 21, extended 7
days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on May 27 and June 3, confirmed by City Council in Resolution 20-
28 on June 4, extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on June 10 and 17, confirmed by City
Council in Resolution 20-30 on June 18, extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on June 24, July
1, 8, and 15, confirmed by City Council in Resolution 20-32 on July 16, extended 7 days by Mayor
Frank Hibbard on July 22, 29, and August 5, confirmed by City Council in Resolution 20-36 on
August 6, and extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on August 12 and 19, confirmed by City
Council in Resolution 20-44 on August 20, extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on August 26
and September 2, confirmed by City Council in Resolution 20-47 on September 3, extended 7 days
by Mayor Frank Hibbard on September 9 and 16, confirmed by City Council in Resolution 20-51 on
September 17, and extended 7 days by Mayor Frank Hibbard on September 23 and 30, 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
Resolution No. 20-53
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
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, on April 16, 2020 the City Council extended for 30 days and modified those
emergency measures enacted by Resolution 20-11; and
Resolution No. 20-53
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 Govemor 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. Home 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, on June 23, 2020 Pinellas County passed Ordinance 20-14 mandating, with
some exceptions, that individuals wear a face covering in public indoor places, and encouraged
exempt government entities to enact their own similar procedures to protect employees and
members of the public; and
WHEREAS, on June 25, 2020 City of Clearwater Emergency Management Director William
B. Home ordered that all persons, with some exceptions, wear a face covering in public indoor
places within City of Clearwater buildings, facilities, and properties in conjunction with Pinellas
County's Ord. 20-14; and
WHEREAS, on June 26, 2020 the Florida Department of Business and Professional
Regulation issued Executive Order 2020-09 suspending on -premises consumption of alcoholic
beverages by vendors who derive more than 50% of gross revenue from sales of alcoholic
beverages; and
Resolution No. 20-53
WHEREAS, on July 16, 2020 the City Council adopted Resolution 20-32 confirming
extensions of the state of emergency and confirming the Emergency Management Director's face
covering order; and
WHEREAS, on July 29, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-179
extending prior executive orders allowing local govemments to hold virtual meetings without a
physical quorum, and Executive Order 20-180 extending prior executive orders suspending
mortgage foreclosure and eviction final actions; and
WHEREAS, on August 7, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-193
extending prior executive orders allowing local governments to hold virtual meetings without a
physical quorum until October 1, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on August 31, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-211
extending a prior executive order suspending final executions of mortgage foreclosure and eviction
actions until October 1, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on September 4, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-213
extending the statewide state of emergency an additional 60 days; and
WHEREAS, on September 10, 2020 the Florida Department of Business and Professional
Regulation issued Emergency Order 2020-10 rescinding Emergency Order 2020-09, effective
12:01 a.m. Monday September 14, allowing bars to reopen at 50% capacity pursuant to the
Governor's Executive Order 20-39; and
WHEREAS, on September 25, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-
244, titled "Phase 3; Right to Work; Business Certainty; Suspension of Fines." The order rescinds
prior restrictions on business, prohibits emergency ordinances preventing individuals from working
or from operating a business, and suspends the collections of fines and penalties associated with
COVID-19 against individuals; and
WHEREAS, on September 30, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-
246 extending prior executive orders allowing local governments to hold virtual meetings without a
physical quorum; and
WHEREAS, as of October 1, 2020 698,051 Florida residents (706,516 total cases in Florida
including non-residents), including 42,248 in Hillsborough County (including 646 deaths), 11,579 in
Manatee County (including 291 deaths), 9,322 in Pasco County (including 209 deaths), and 22,181
in Pinellas County (including 753 deaths) 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-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
Resolution No. 20-53
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 September 23, 2020 state of emergency proclamation is hereby
confirmed.
Section 2. The September 30, 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.
Attest:
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1St day of October, 2020.
YL
Rosemarie Call
City Clerk
Approved as to form:
pik Pamela K. Akin
City Attorney
Resolution No. 20-53
nk Hibbard
Mayor