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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03_2020 Declaration of Local Emergency protl tton CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION DECLARATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY MARCH 20,2020 WHEREAS, A.R.S. § 26-311 authorizes the Mayor of the City of Apache Junction, Arizona to proclaim the existence of a local emergency when the City of Apache Junction is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity or disaster and the City of Apache Junction and State Law allow the Mayor to govern by proclamation during such times; and WHEREAS, the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China in December 2019, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers this virus to be a significant public health threat that has, and continues to spread globally; and WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 illness a public health emergency of international concern and on January 31, 2020 the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 illness; and WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, Governor of the State of Arizona, Douglas A. Ducey, determined that the COVID-19 outbreak presents conditions in Arizona that justified his declaration of a State of Emergency; and WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, found and proclaimed that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitute a national emergency; and WHEREAS, the City continues to plan and prepare for event and facility closures, modified staffing plans, work-from-home programs, and enhanced communications to employees to ensure effective continuity of operations of City government; and WHEREAS, the widespread nature of COVID-19, including at least ten confirmed cases in Pinal County as of the morning of March 19, 2020, constitutes an immediate threat to life, public health, safety, and welfare, and to the economic well-being of Apache Junction; and WHEREAS, prudence requires that precautionary measures be taken proactively due to the widespread nature of COVID-19 and its threat to public health, safety, and welfare as referenced in the Governor's Declaration of Emergency, and that impacts from the same threaten public health and safety and the economic well-being of Apache Junction; and WHEREAS, this local declaration of emergency and the regulations promulgated as a result will help flatten the curve of the pandemic, allowing healthcare resources to be more efficiently employed rather than overwhelmed and by doing so help ensure the long-term social and economic well-being of Apache Junction; and WHEREAS, the immediate threat of COVID-19 is widespread across the State and precautionary measures are necessary to curtail the imminent impact on numerous homes and businesses in Apache Junction because it is a threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the general public in Apache Junction; and WHEREAS, the above facts demonstrate the conditions of extreme peril and public health emergency that currently exist and the declaration of a local emergency will enable the City of Apache Junction to provide emergency resources, request additional resources, and receive mutual aid from other political sub-divisions and entities. NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED AS FOLLOWS: 1. I, as Mayor of Apache Junction, and pursuant to the City of Apache Junction and ARS § 26-311, do hereby declare that a local emergency now exists in the City of Apache Junction. 2. During the existence of this local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of this City shall be those prescribed by State Law, as well as Ordinances and Resolutions of the City of Apache Junction. Citizens are urged to cooperate with this and any other proclamation and, to every degree possible, abide by safety announcements and advisories, and to cooperate with the community's public safety agencies and emergency services personnel. 3. The City of Apache Junction's Emergency Response Plan is hereby reaffirmed, adopted and incorporated herein by reference as if set out in full. 4. In order to flatten the curve of the spread of the COVID-19 virus to help keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed, it is further proclaimed and ordered that: a. Businesses and establishments that offer food and beverages for on-premises consumption are encouraged to offer food and beverages using delivery service, window service, drive-through service, or drive-up service, and to use precautions in doing so to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19, including social distancing. In offering food or beverages, a business or establishment subject to this section that does not have the ability to offer window service, drive-through service, or drive-up service are encouraged to permit members of the public on its premises only for the limited purpose of picking up their food or beverage orders. b. Public gathering places, such as bars, clubs, libraries, gyms, and other places where groups in excess of ten congregate are encouraged to take measures to implement social distancing practices of at least a six foot separation for their patrons, as well to increase the use of alternative service delivery wherever possible to minimize face-to-face contact to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19. c. Members of the public are urged to follow all social distancing and other safety announcements to avoid groups of ten or more people, avoid contact with those with elevated risks associated with COVID-19, stay home and contact your medical provider if you or others within your household feel sick, and practice good personal hygiene including regular thorough washing of your hands, avoiding contact with your face and frequently disinfecting high-use areas. 5. I strongly urge the leaders of the City's houses of worship to limit gatherings on their premises and to explore and implement ways to practice their respective faiths while observing social distancing practices. 6. The City Manager of the City of Apache Junction is authorized and directed to implement the provisions of this Proclamation and Declaration and to take those measures that are necessary and appropriate to protect and promote public health and safety, including but not limited to taking all actions he deems reasonable and appropriate to limit face-to-face interactions between City staff and members of the public and to limit or prohibit public access to public buildings and facilities, including public attendance at public meetings as authorized by Arizona law. All citizens and businesses are urged to cooperate with this Proclamation and, to every degree possible, abide by and cooperate with the safety announcements, advisories, and restrictions established by national, state, and local officials. Signed and attested to this )O day of , 2020. JEFF Y Mayor ATTEST: 4-4� JE IFER ftNA My Clerk