City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
City Council Confirmation of Extending Local Emergency Declaration for COVID-19. (This item will be considered on the Roll-Call Consent Calendar)
BODY
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ISSUE: Confirmation of the extension of Local Emergency Declaration for COVID-19.
RECOMMENDATION: (1) adopt the attached amendment to Resolution 2928, Declaration of Local Emergency to extend the emergency through January 31, 2022; 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 Declaration of Local Emergency, so that the City can utilize any State or federal assistance that might become available to address the emergency. The City Council confirmed that Declaration in Resolution 2928 on March 14, 2020 extending the declaration through June10, 2020. Resolution 2928 was amended on June 9, 2020 to extend the declaration through September 30, 2020. On September 22, 2020, City Council again amended Resolution 2928 to extend the declaration through March 31, 2021 and then again extended it through September 30, 2021. Due to the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and its continued impact on the community, I believe it is necessary to again extend the Declaration of Local Emergency. Although the State has ended its Declaration of State Emergency, Alexandria, Northern Virginia, and the entire Commonwealth of Virginia remains in a High Transmission status in accordance with the measurements used by the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health. We have recently reinstated the requirement to wear masks in public buildings. I therefore recommend that the Declaration be extended until January 31, 2022 unless sooner amended or rescinded.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Extension of Local Emergency Declaration
STAFF:
Ray Whatley, Acting Emergency Management Coordinator