ITEM TITLE:
#21-54 - Rescinding the Valdez COVID-19 Local Government Disaster Declaration
SUBMITTED BY: Sponsor: Mayor Sharon Scheidt
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution #21-54
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
On September 29, 2021, after a series of Council work sessions regarding the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Sharon Scheidt declared a local government disaster in Valdez.
• At that time, Mayor Scheidt outlined the disaster was being declared specifically due to the impacts of the pandemic on our local hospital and the ability of healthcare providers to care for the sick and injured.
• Section 6 of the declaration set a benchmark for revisiting or rescinding the declaration as the point in time when the Providence Alaska medical system was no longer operating under crisis standards of care.
• Under state statute and Valdez municipal code, a local government disaster declaration made by the mayor remains in effect for seven days unless otherwise extended by a vote of the city council.
On September 30, 2021, Council passed Resolution No. 21-40, extending the COVID-19 local government disaster declaration until rescinded.
• The current disaster declaration does not have an automatic expiration date. Council must take action to rescind the declaration, based upon formal benchmarks noted in Resolution No. 21-40.
• Section 2 of the extension of the local government disaster declaration set a benchmark for revisiting the declaration as the point in time when the Providence Alaska medical system was no longer operating under crisis standards of care or the second regular Council meeting in December 2021, whichever occurred first.
In early December, City administration received notice from Providence Valdez Medical Center administration that that while the state of Alaska crisis standards of care protocol remains in place for Providence Hospital, they have not needed to utilize their triage committee or elements of crisis standards of care for the past several weeks.
In addition, and in accordance with Title 9, Chapter 9.36.060 of Valdez Municipal Code, the mayor or city council may only issue emergency mandates to protect public peace, health, safety, or general welfare during a declared emergency as permitted by law.
• Thus, Valdez Public Health Mandate #004 (Mask Mandate) must expire or be rescinded prior to or at the same time as the current disaster declaration to remain compliant with Code.
• The mask mandate currently expires on December 22, 2021. So if the disaster declaration is rescinded prior to that date, the mandate must also be rescinded at the same time.
• The attached resolution rescinds both the declaration and the mandate.
Outcomes related to this resolution:
• If the resolution passes:
1) Both the disaster declaration and mask mandate will be rescinded, based upon the previously established benchmark set by Council.
2) The City of Valdez will remain committed to continuing our ongoing partnership with the Valdez medical team and other local stakeholders to address community concerns related to COVID-19. A disaster declaration is not necessary for this partnership and support to continue.
3) The City of Valdez will remain ready to quickly pivot and reinstate a local disaster declaration or other mitigation measures if and when pandemic conditions change
• If the resolution fails:
1) The disaster declaration would remain in place until rescinded by Council at some later date. As the previously established benchmark for revisiting/rescinding the declaration (today’s meeting) has been met, Council would need to discuss establishing new benchmark(s).
2) The mask mandate would continue to automatically expire on December 22, 2021.
It is of utmost importance to note, the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over regardless of whether or not a disaster declaration or mandates are in place.
We continue to ask the community to:
• Please continue to follow CDC, Alaska DHSS, and local medical provider guidance related to masking, physical distancing, testing, isolation, and quarantine.
• Please consider COVID-19 vaccination, including booster vaccination, for your family.
• Please continue to be kind and respectful when in local businesses, non-profits, agencies, and facilities. These places have the authority to require certain COVID-19 mitigation measures while you are in their establishments, including masking, even without a formal mandate in place.
• Please consider risk for yourself, your family, your friends and co-workers, our local healthcare system, and our community when making decisions.
• Please continue to do what Valdezeans do best - work together to support each other so we can keep our community healthy, our children in schools, and our businesses open.