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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5581 RESOLUTION NO. 5581 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, TEMPORARILY DESIGNATING THE LOCATIONS FOR REGULAR, SPECIAL AND STUDY SESSION MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND OF THE COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF THE CITY AS VIRTUAL LOCATIONS UNTIL WASHINGTON'S GOVERNOR AUTHORIZES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CONDUCT IN-PERSON MEETINGS. WHEREAS, like many areas of the state of Washington and across the country, the City of Auburn, Washington, (hereinafter the "City"), has had to face, and is still facing, a public health emergency due to COVID-19, a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death, and is caused by the SARS- CoV-2 virus, which is a new strain of coronavirus not previously having been identified in humans and which can be easily spread from person to person; and WHEREAS, on January 21, 2020, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) confirmed localized person-to-person spread of COVID-19 in Washington State, significantly increasing the risk of exposure and infection to the general public in Washington State and creating an extreme public health risk that may spread quickly; and WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency for COVID-19, beginning on January 27, 2020; and WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee issued a proclamation declaring a State of Emergency in all counties of the state Resolution No. 5581 January 11, 2021 Page 1 of Washington in response to new cases of COVID-19, and the Governor subsequently issued additional/amended proclamations to prohibit social gathering of over fifty people, closing all public and private schools state-wide, closing restaurants and others social gatherings, and, further, exercising the Governor's emergency powers under RCW 43.06.220 by prohibiting certain other potentially problematic activities; and WHEREAS, on May 31, 2020, Governor Inslee issued his Proclamation Number 20-25.4, providing for Transition from "Stay Home — Stay Healthy" to his "Safe Start — Stay Healthy" County-by-County Phased Reopening; and, WHEREAS, in accordance with the Governor's Safe Start Reopening Plan, on June 22, 2020, City of Auburn adopted Resolution 5533, which temporarily designated a virtual location for Regular, Special and Study Session Meetings of the City Council and of the Committees, Boards and Commissions of the City until King County entered into Phase Three of the Governor's Safe Start Reopening Plan; and WHEREAS, January 11, 2021, Governor Inslee issued A Healthy Washington — Roadmap to Recovery, an updated COVID-19 phased recovery plan, which created a new two phase regional recovery plan, replacing the Governor's 4 phased Safe Start Reopening plan; and Resolution No 5581 January 11, 2021 Page 2 WHEREAS, the new regional recovery system aims to safely ease some restrictions while also maintaining crucial hospital capacity, ensuring care for Washingtonians that need it and paving the way for economic recovery; and WHEREAS, King County, Pierce, and Snohomish County are designated as the Puget Sound region; and WHEREAS, it is unknown when the Puget Sound region will transition into a phase that would permit in-person governmental agency meetings; and WHEREAS, it is appropriate for the City of Auburn to modify its public meeting language to conform to the new recovery plan. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES as follows: Section 1. The locations for Regular, Special and Study Session Meetings of the City Council and of the Committees, Boards and Commissions of the City are hereby temporarily designated to be virtual locations until Governor Inslee authorizes local governments to conduct in-person meetings. Section 2. The Mayor is authorized to implement such administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directions of this legislation. Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect and be in full force upon passage and signatures. Resolution No. 5581 January 11, 2021 Page 3 Dated and Signed this 19th day of January, 2021. CIglAXWBr Y OF AUBURN MAYOR ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: sZ� Vi',A P- bin"- Shawn iller' -Shawn Campbell, MMC, City Clerk Kendra Comeau, City Attorney Resolution No. 5581 January 11, 2021 Page 4