City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 3, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
City Council Confirmation of Extending the Declaration of Local Emergency for COVID-19.
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ISSUE: Confirmation of extending the Declaration of Local Emergency for COVID-19.
RECOMMENDATION: (1) Confirm the Extension of the Declaration of Local Emergency (Attachment 1); and (2) Authorize the Director of Emergency Management to enter into contracts and incur obligations as enumerated in Section 44-146.21 of the Code of Virginia.
DISCUSSION: As a result of COVID-19 on March 9, 2020, I issued a Local Declaration of Emergency, so that the City was positioned to take advantage of any State or federal assistance that might become available. Council subsequently confirmed that Declaration. The Declaration of Emergency allows the City Manager to take actions in the best interest of the City when time to act during this COVID-19 pandemic is limited. However, due to the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have extended the Local Declaration of Emergency to September 30, 2020 (unless sooner terminated in writing), and would again request Council’s concurrence. It is staff’s understanding that other Northern Virginia jurisdictions either are planning to extend their declarations, or their original declarations had a longer timeframe (including in at least one jurisdiction to the end of the calendar year, and in one jurisdiction, the County Executive determines when the Declaration of Local Emergency ends).
State law requires that City Council affirm my Local Emergency Declaration within 14 days.
I recommend that Council confirm the extension.
ATTACHMENT: Local Emergency Declaration Extension
STAFF:
Ray Whatley, Acting Emergency Management Coordinator