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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item Summary FormAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORM File ID: #8256 Date: 11/20/2020 Requesting Department: City Commission Commission Meeting Date: 11/19/2020 Sponsored By: Ken Russell, Joe Carollo District Impacted: Type: Resolution Subject: Urging Governor to allow Municipalities to hold Virtual Meetings Budget Impact Analysis Total Fiscal Impact: Reviewed By City Commission Nicole Ewan Meeting Completed 11/19/2020 9:00 AM Legislative Division Valentin J Alvarez Legislative Division Review Completed 11/20/2020 11:04 AM Office of the City Attorney Xavier Alban ACA Review Completed 11/20/2020 4:24 PM Office of Management and Budget Christopher M Rose Budget Review Completed 11/23/2020 7:26 AM Office of the City Attorney Barnaby L. Min Deputy Attorney Review Completed 11/23/2020 7:34 AM Office of the City Attorney Victoria Mendez Approved Form and Correctness Completed 11/24/2020 11:37 AM Office of the City Clerk City Clerk's Office Rendered Completed 11/24/2020 2:01 PM of .�f City of Miami CityHall * iM°nr H°TF° * 11 °° Legislation 3500 Pan American Drive g Miami, FL 33133 Resolution www.miamigov.com Enactment Number: R-20-0393 File Number: 8256 Final Action Date:11/19/2020 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS ("GOVERNOR") TO AMEND EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-244 TO ALLOW THE CITY OF MIAMI AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THE ABILITY TO ENACT MITIGATION MEASURES TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 ("COVID-19") AND PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS; FURTHER URGING THE GOVERNOR TO REINSTATE EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-69, OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, AUTHORIZING LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES IN SOUTH FLORIDA TO HAVE THE OPTION TO HOLD VIRTUAL MEETINGS DURING THE DECLARED STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN. WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus Disease 2019 ("COVID-19") a pandemic; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") declared a State of Local Emergency on March 12, 2020; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the State of Local Emergency, the City has taken all prudent actions necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community; and WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") has recommended social distancing standards for public gatherings and interaction; and WHEREAS, on September 25, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis ("Governor') issued Executive Order 20-244 initiating Phase 3 of Re -Opening Florida and limiting the mitigation measures counties and municipalities may enact to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the safety, health, and welfare of their respective residents; and WHEREAS, on March 20, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order 20-69, as extended and/or amended by Executive Orders 20-112, 20-123, 20-139, 20-150, 20-179, 20- 193, and 20-246, suspending any Florida Statute that requires a quorum to be present in person or requires a local government body to meet at a specific public place; and WHEREAS, Executive Order 20-69 expired on November 1, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. requiring local government bodies, including the City Commission, to physically meet in -person at such public location as is allowed by law; and WHEREAS, a traditional, in -person City Commission meeting increases the risk of the City's residents, elected officials, and City staff contracting COVID-19 due to the difficulty of adhering to CDC and social distancing guidelines in public locations; and WHEREAS, according to the CDC, high -density urban areas may face challenges implementing COVID-19 mitigation measures due to space limitations within and between households; and WHEREAS, Miami -Dade County ("County") is one of the most densely populated counties in the State of Florida ("State"); and WHEREAS, the total number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the State and the new case positivity rate has been rapidly and dangerously increasing; and WHEREAS, adults who are 65 years age or older are at increased risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19; and WHEREAS, approximately sixteen percent (16%) of the City's population is over the age of 65; and WHEREAS, people with underlying medical conditions are also at increased risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19; and WHEREAS, there are over eight hundred ninety thousand (890,000) confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over seventeen thousand, five -hundred (17,500) COVID-19 related deaths in the State; and WHEREAS, there are over two hundred thousand (200,000) confirmed cases of COVID- 19 and over three thousand, seven hundred (3,700) COVID-19 related deaths in the County; and WHEREAS, over one hundred forty (140) City employees have tested positive for COVID-19; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City and its residents to allow the County and the City to enact mitigation measures to safely and effectively reduce the spread of COVID-19; and WHEREAS, the reinstatement of Executive Order 20-69 will assist the City and other local government bodies to protect their residents, elected officials, and employees while continuing to conduct the public's business; and WHEREAS, it is prudent for the State and local governments to take any and all actions necessary to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of our residents, elected officials, and employees, especially those who are at greatest risk of severe illness and death from COVID- 19; and WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 2-33(f) of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, the City Commission, by a majority vote, hereby deems this Resolution to be of an emergency nature; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings set forth in the Preamble to this Resolution are hereby adopted by reference thereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. The City Commission hereby urges the Governor to amend Executive Order 20-244 to allow the City and other municipalities the ability to enact mitigation measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health, safety, and welfare of our residents and visitors. Section 3. The City Commission hereby urges the Governor to reinstate Executive Order 20-69, or, in the alternative, authorize local government bodies in South Florida to have the option to hold virtual meetings during the declared State of Local Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Section 4. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott A. Rivkees, County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, the Members of the County Board of County Commissioners, the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities, and the Miami -Dade County League of Cities. Section 5. The Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: 1 i riai "ndez, CifyAttor iey 11/2412020 Pursuant to the resolution, this item became effective immediately upon adoption by the Commission.