Res 2020- 23 Declaration of EmergencyCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2020-23
PROCLAMATION AND DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, the virus named "SARS-CoV-2," is a new strain of coronavirus that has
not previously been identified in humans and can easily spread from person to person and
which causes a disease named "coronavirus disease 2019," commonly known as "COVID-
19," which is a respiratory disease that can result in serious injury or death; and
WHEREAS, on January 21, 2020 the first case of COVID-19 was detected in the
United States; on March 6, 2020 the first case of COVID-19 was detected in the State of
Minnesota; and as of March 16, 2020, there are 54 known cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota,
with a majority being in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared that the COVID-
19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a National Emergency; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, Governor Tim Walz declared a Peacetime State of
Emergency to authorize and all necessary State resources to be used in support of the COVID-
19 response; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 has been identified by the World Health Organization as a
pandemic, and the United States Centers for Disease Control has provided guidance for
individuals, healthcare professionals, and businesses to slow the spread of COVID-19, which
include cancelling or postponing in-person events that involve more than 50 people for eight
weeks; and
WHEREAS, additional local cases will trigger a more aggressive public health
response and are predicted to impact residents of the City and those who work in or travel
through the City, including City employees; and the need for social distancing, school
closings, and quarantine methods to stop the spread of COVID-19 is expected to cause, and
have already caused, significant challenges; and
WHEREAS, the City Administrator finds that this situation threatens the health,
safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City and will cause a significant impact on the ability
of public safety personnel to address any immediate dangers to the public as a result of
COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the City Administrator finds that traditional sources of financial aid,
assistance and relief will not be able to compensate for the potential impact of COVID-19,
and have determined that the necessary resources to respond to and recover from this
pandemic will exceed those resources available within the City of Mendota Heights, and
additional resources will be needed from Dakota County and state and federal sources, as
those resources become available.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MENDOTA
HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA, PROCLAIMS, DECLARES, REQUESTS, AND DIRECTS
AS FOLLOWS:
1. Under the authority given by Minnesota Statutes, Section 12.29, and Title 2, Chapter 3 of
the Mendota Heights City Code (Emergency Management Organization), a local
emergency exists within the City of Mendota Heights, effective March 17, 2020.
2. City staff is directed to review City ordinance and regulatory requirements, operations,
civil and legal proceedings, events, and resources to determine whether the foregoing
should be adjusted or suspended, and to make recommendations regarding additional
emergency regulations to support the employees and residents of the City.
3. All City departments and offices are directed to operate and support the response to this
emergency, including implementing new employee protocols, strategies, and processes to
ensure that public services are maintained.
4. Appropriate City staff shall request and coordinate appropriate aid and resources from
surrounding jurisdictions, Dakota County, the State of Minnesota, and the Federal
government, as needed and as available.
5. In-person meetings of the City Council, the Planning Commission, the Parks and
Recreation Commission, and the Airport Relations Commission may not be practical or
prudent due to the COVID-19 health pandemic and the peacetime emergency declared by
Governor Walz pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 12. This Council orders that any
un -cancelled meetings of the City Council, the Planning Commission, the Parks and
Recreation Commission, and the Airport Relations Commission may be conducted by
telephone or other electronic means, and hereby directs City staff to take such action as
may be necessary to enable such meetings accordingly, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes,
Section 13D.021, until such time as it is no longer impractical or imprudent for such
entities to resume in-person meetings, in the reasonable discretion of the City
Administrator.
6. This emergency declaration shall continue indefinitely, until revoked by this Council.
7. All provisions of the City's emergency management ordinance, found in Title 2, Chapter
3 of the Mendota Heights City Code, shall be effective and not superseded by this
Resolution.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Mendota Heights this 17t1i day of March, 2020.
CITY COUNCIL
C�I�TY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
ATTES Neil Garlock, Mayor
C
QCe7ZA-t'o<�
Lorri Smith, City Clerk
Res 2020-23 Page 2 of 2