CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION modifying the March 3, 2020 Mayoral Proclamation of Civil Emergency related to the spread of COVID-19, novel coronavirus.
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WHEREAS, pursuant to Seattle Municipal Code ("SMC") Section 10.02.010, the Mayor issued a Proclamation of Civil Emergency (Proclamation), and filed the proclamation with the City Clerk for presentation to the City Council, on March 3, 2020; and
WHEREAS, SMC subsection 10.02.010.C requires that the Seattle City Council either ratify and confirm, modify, or reject such a proclamation; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:
Section 1. The Proclamation of Civil Emergency of Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, dated March 3, 2020, attached to this resolution as Exhibit A, is modified, as shown in Exhibit B.
Section 2. The Council requests that the Mayor make expenditures pursuant to the authority assumed in Section 3 of the modified Proclamation that include:
A. Investments in handwashing stations;
B. Investments in hygiene services consistent with appropriations made by Council in the 2020 Adopted Budget, such as mobile pitstops;
C. Investments that increase the access of lower income persons to COVID-19 testing; and
D. Investments in culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach materials for limited English proficiency communities.
Section 3. The Council further requests that the Mayor consider the following additional actions and make recommendations to the Council:
A. Amendments to City personnel policies and / or collective bargaining agreements to provide an expectation to City staff and contractors that they will work from home as much as practicable and / or flexibility to care for a family member, including activating a new, or revising any existing, telecommuting policy;
B. Review options for City staff and contractors to take paid days off, if their leave runs out, especially in the case of hourly, new and temporary workers;
C. An analysis of the Race and Social Justice implication of exercising emergency powers;
D. Consideration of how emergency power could impact homeless communities;
E. Issuance of an order related to economic controls and price stabilization on products that may be used by the general public to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as disinfectants and hand sanitizer, and price controls on essentials for survival such as housing and shelter; and
F. Identification of actions the City can take:
1. To encourage service sector employers, gig economy employers, and employers whose activities require close proximity to large segments of the public to provide sanitary and safe working conditions and to allow their employees to use paid sick time for time away from work for public health purposes, other than sick leave; and
2. To discourage and prevent punitive actions against employees who miss work because of illness or public health reasons.
Section 4. Before affirming any order authorizing involuntary restrictions on civil liberties, the Council will consider whether the order is consistent with evidence-based public health practices and the least restriction necessary to accomplish the public health, safety, and welfare objective.
Section 5. The Council requests that the Mayor provide a weekly report to the Council, with the first report submitted by March 20, 2020, on actions taken pursuant to the civil emergency. At a minimum, the report should include:
A. Emergency expenditures by department and Budget Control Level;
B. New contracts entered into or amendments to existing contracts, including information on contract amount and contracted-for service;
C. New permanent and term-limited positions added or empty positions filled to address the civil emergency, as well as temporary staffing re-assignments;
D. A list detailing whether and how enforcement of current criminal and civil laws and regulations are being prioritized to address the public health, safety, and welfare, and
E. For each action taken pursuant to civil emergency, any limitation identified by Seattle Municipal Code Section, adopted financial policy, or other governing internal or external regulation or statute to the action being taken without emergency authority.
Section 6. The Council intends to consider whether to continue the civil emergency or further modify orders or authority invoked by the Mayor pursuant to the civil emergency at least monthly, and by April 5, 2020. A decision from the Council to continue the civil emergency will be based on advice from the Mayor’s Office, City Departments, and Public Health - Seattle & King County and on responses in reports requested in Section 5 of this resolution.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2020, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)
Exhibits:
Exhibit A - Mayoral Proclamation of Civil Emergency
Exhibit B - Modified Mayoral Proclamation of Civil Emergency