HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-163 COA State of Emerg. Declaration Ext. •
CITY OF ASHLAND
DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY - EXTENSION
FEBRUARY 1, 2022, THROUGH APRIL 5, 2022
TO: Danny Jordan,County Administrator and the Jackson County Office of Emergency Management
FROM: Joseph L. Lessard,City Manager, City of Ashland,Oregon
The City Manager of the City of Ashland finds that:
A. Pursuant to the authority granted by Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 401,the City of Ashland has
enacted a local ordinance codified in Ashland Municipal Code Chapter 2.62, Emergency Powers,that
provides direction for the City, its officials, and others in the event that an emergency or disaster
exists within the City and assigns executive responsibility in times of emergency. The City Council
has approved a detailed Emergency Management Plan in Ashland Municipal Code Chapter 2.62,
which specifically delegates the authority to declare a state of emergency to the City Manager,
subject to subsequent ratification by the City Council.
B. The following conditions have resulted in the need for a City of Ashland Declaration of a State of
Emergency:
a. On March 8, 2020,the Governor of Oregon issued Executive Order 20=03 declaring a statewide
state of emergency due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Oregon.
b. On March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, in
recognition that this fast-spreading contagion is part of a group of viruses that can cause
respiratory disease,with the potential to cause serious illness or loss of life for individuals with
underlying health conditions.
c. On March 13, 2020,the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 outbreak a
national emergency.
d. On March 17,2020, pursuant to Ashland Municipal Code Chapter 2.62,the Ashland City Council
ratified the City Administrator's March 15, 2020 Declaration of State of Emergency vesting in the
City Administrator authority to take such actions and issue such orders as the City Administrator
deems necessary to protect the public and to minimize or mitigate the effect of the emergency.
By its terms,this initial Declaration was to be in effect through April 7, 2020, and could be
extended thereafter in increments.
e. In its June 2020 Special Session,the Oregon Legislature passed,and the Governor signed, House
Bill 4212 authorizing governing bodies of public bodies, other than the State of Oregon, until
termination of any extensions of Governor's Executive Order 20-03,to: (1) conduct all public
meetings and hearings using telephone or video conferencing technology or through other
electronic or.virtual means; (2) make available a method by which the public can listen to or
virtually attend such public meetings or hearings at the time they occur,without necessarily
providing a space for public attendance; and (3) provide an opportunity for submission of
testimony either by timely submission of written testimony or by electronic or virtual means—
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notwithstanding any requirements by law or policy that testimony during a public meeting or
hearing be in person.
f. On April 7,April 21, May 5, May 19,June 2,June 16,July 21,August 18, September 15, October
20, and November 17 of 2020, and on January 19, March 16, May 18,July 6,August 17, October
19, and December 21 of 2021,the Ashland City Council approved extensions of the City of
Ashland's State of Emergency and extended the initial Emergency Declaration through February
1, 2022.
g. A State of Emergency continues to exist in the City of Ashland, and the City has expended and.
will continue expending resources for responding to the COVID-19 emergency. The COVID-19
contagion continues to have impacts to Ashland residents,workers,visitors,and businesses; will
continue to require City resources to keep the community informed and as safe as possible; and
will continue to have negative consequences for Ashland's economy and workforce at least
through April 5, 2022.
C. The foregoing circumstances affect all of the territory within the-corporate limits of the City of
Ashland.
D. This extension of the initial March 15, 2020 City of Ashland Declaration of a State of Emergency is
intended to continue the authorization to take special measures to protect citizens' health and
safety,to assure that critical public services are maintained, and to reduce stress and fear. The City
urges citizens to show even greater-than-normal neighborliness,tolerance,and patience in the face
of inconveniences and uncertainty during this period.
NOW,THEREFORE, based upon the circumstances set forth above,the following emergency orders
have been issued by the City Manager and ratified by the City Council:
1. A State of Emergency is declared to continue to exist in the City of Ashland, Oregon.
2. The City of Ashland respectfully requests that Jackson County continue to provide any needed
assistance,consider the City an "emergency area" as provided for in ORS Chapter 401, and request
support from state agencies and/or the federal government.
3. The City shall take all necessary steps authorized by law to coordinate the response to and recovery
from the COVID-19 emergency including, but not limited to, requesting assistance and potential
reimbursements from the State of Oregon and the appropriate federal agencies for the City, business
owners,social service agencies, and citizens in general.
4. In conformance with AMC Chapter 2.62 and the adopted City Emergency Management Plan ("EMP"),
during the time the March 15, 2020 Declaration or any extension of it is in effect,the City Manager is
the Emergency Manager and has responsibility for command-and-control of City departments and
resources and for providing public information; the City Manager is exclusively responsible for approving
City agreements and deploying City resources; and City officials are authorized to continue to take such
actions and issue such orders as are determined by the City Manager to be necessary to protect the
public and property and to continue to efficiently conduct activities that minimize or mitigate the effect
of the emergency situation. (See AMC 2.62.040; AMC 2.62.0506; EMP 5.1; and EMP 5.4.1)
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5. Under direction from the City Manager(EMP 3.2.1.2),the duties of the Emergency Operations Public
Information Officer include: developing and coordinating release of information to incident personnel,
media, and the general public; implementing information clearance processes with the Emergency
Manager; and conducting and/or managing media briefings and implementing media-monitoring
activities. (EMP 5.5.2.2) With respect to public information,the responsibilities of the Mayor and City
Council during these emergencies include acting as liaison to the community and attending Public
Information Officer briefings. (EMP 3.2.1.1) ,Accordingly, during the time the initial March 15, 2020
Emergency Declaration or any extension of it is in effect,the role of the Mayor and City Councilors is to
convey the questions and concerns of community members through the Public Information Officer to
the Emergency Manager and to convey communications from the Public Information Officer to
community members.
6. During the time the City's initial March 15, 2020 Emergency Declaration or any extension of it is in
effect,the City,the City Council, and any City commissions, committees, or taskforces may: (1) conduct
any or all public meetings and hearings using telephone or video conferencing technology or through
other electronic or virtual means; (2) make available a method by which the public can listen to or
virtually attend such public meetings or hearings at the time they occur,without necessarily providing a
space for public attendance; and (3) provide an opportunity for submission of testimony either by
timely submission of written testimony or by electronic or virtual means-notwithstanding any
requirements by law or policy that testimony during a publicmeeting or hearing be taken in person.
7. Due to the economic impact COVID-19 emergency will have on its residents and businesses,the City
recommends that residential and commercial eviction proceedings based on failure to pay rent be
suspended during this State of Emergency or any extension thereof.
8. This extension of the Declaration of State of Emergency has been ratified by the City Council, is
effective immediately, shall remain in effect until and including April 5, 2022, unless terminated earlier
by the Emergency Manager, and may be extended thereafter as the City Council deems appropriate.
Dated and effective at 6:00 p.m.this 1st day of February, 2022.
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seph L Le ar , City Manager Julie Akins, Mayor
REVIEWED:
atri a L. Brown, City Attorney
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