For City Council Meeting [September 27, 2022]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Marcus Fuller, City Manager
FROM: Brian Park, Fire Chief
Title
Request City Council to: (1) Receive an Update on and Confirm the Continued Existence of the Local Emergency Throughout the City of Rialto in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic; (2) Make Findings for Continuing "Hybrid" Public Meetings Pursuant to AB 361; and (3) Provide any Further Direction in Relation thereto
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BACKGROUND
On March 12, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution 7600 declaring a local emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. In the action, staff indicated that the item would be brought back to the City Council for updates at each City Council meeting for the duration of the local emergency. The City Council received an update on and approved the continuation of the local emergency at each City Council meeting since the adoption of the resolution. There have been significant changes in the impact of COVID-19 on the community since the State's rollback of specific COVID-19 protections.
On February 17, 2022, the Governor of California unveiled the SMARTER Plan. SMARTER stands for:
* Shots - Vaccines are the most powerful weapon against hospitalization and serious illness.
* Masks - Properly worn masks with good filtration help slow the spread of COVID-19 or other respiratory viruses.
* Awareness - We will continue to stay aware of how COVID-19 is spreading, and evolving variants, communicate clearly how people should protect themselves, and coordinate our state and local government response.
* Readiness - COVID-19 is not going away and we need to be ready with the tools, resources, and supplies we will need to quickly respond and keep public health and the healthcare system well prepared.
* Testing - Getting the right type of tests-PCR or antigen-to where they are needed most. Testing will help California minimize the spread of COVID-19.
* Education - California will continu...
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