CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Office of the Hearing Examiner; temporarily suspending deadlines imposed by the Seattle Municipal Code for the duties of the Hearing Examiner; temporarily superseding several sections of the Seattle Municipal Code that impose deadlines on the actions of the Hearing Examiner; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has announced novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is officially a global pandemic; 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 March 3, 2020, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan proclaimed a civil emergency exists in the City of Seattle; and
WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020 the Washington Governor issued Proclamation 20-05, proclaiming a state of emergency for all counties throughout the state of Washington in response to new cases of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020 the President of the United States declared a national state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020 the Office of Hearing Examiner adopted an emergency rule entitled "Office of Hearing Examiner Operating Rules During COVID-19," which requires all hearings be conducted remotely; and
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020 the Washington Governor issued Proclamation 20-25, prohibiting all people in Washington State from leaving their homes and all non-essential businesses in Washington State from conducting business ("Stay Home - Stay Healthy Proclamation"); and
WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020 the Washington Governor issued Proclamation 20-28, suspending in-person meetings under the Open Public Meetings Act; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 outbreak presents an extreme risk of person-to-person transmission of the virus and public health experts worldwide advise...
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