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Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board approve Urgency Ordinance 5121 providing an administrative enforcement mechanism to address the immediate threat to the public peace, health, safety, and welfare relative to COVID-19, pursuant to California Government Code section 25131 and 25123. (4/5 vote required) (Est. Time: 30 Min.)
FUNDING: General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
At the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 7, 2020, the Board considered options to reduce travel to the South Lake Tahoe area in accordance with the County Health Officer’s April 3, 2020 Order restricting travel into the Lake Tahoe Basin in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Acknowledging an influx of visitors to the Tahoe Basin, County Health Officer Dr. Williams first issued a directive on March 24, 2020 clarifying that staying in short-term lodging for recreation, tourism, or as a location other than one’s residence to “shelter in place” is not considered an essential activity and Californians are in violation of the Governor’s Order and the Public Health Officer’s Directive if they do so.
On March 31, 2020, Dr. Williams extended the Shelter-in-Place Directive through April 30, 2020.
On April 3, 2020, acknowledging that continued inappropriate travel into the Lake Tahoe Basin was still occurring, Dr. Williams issued an order restricting travel into the Lake Tahoe Basin. Specifically, Dr. Williams ordered “the cessation of all nonessential travel into the El Dorado County portion of the Lake Tahoe Basin effective immediately.” The order is to remain in place through April 30, 2020, unless extended, terminated, or modified by the Health Officer.
Local residents and officials in the Tahoe Basin have continued to express concerns about non-essential travel to the area. On April 7, the Board directed staff to move forward with preparation of an urgency ordinance to authorize administrative citations and fines, in the amount of $1,000 each, for violation...
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