Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board discuss and possibly approve actions related to re-opening El Dorado County for employers and businesses related to the COVID-19 public health emergency and related orders and guidelines issued by the Governor and the California Department of Public Health, consider approval of additional letter(s) to the Governor regarding additional aspects of re-opening of the local economy which the County feels the State should consider, and provide related direction to staff based on these discussions.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Since March 19, 2020, all California residents and businesses have been operating under a Stay-at-Home order from the Governor which prohibits all but essential businesses and activities. On April 14, the Governor presented the Pandemic Roadmap, a four-stage plan for modifying the Stay-a-Home Order, but did not set forth timing for when Stage 2 would start. On April 28, El Dorado County's Public Health Officer presented the County's proposed Stage 2 plan at a special board meeting (#20-0617), sharing the County's Reopening Guidelines for all businesses and employers. At the conclusion of that meeting, the Board sent a letter to the Governor requesting that he allow El Dorado County to move forward into Stage 2.
On May 4, the Governor announced that entry into Stage 2 of the plan would be imminent. The County set a special meeting to be able to move to Stage 2 as quickly as possible. On May 7, the Governor held a press conference and the California Department of Public Health released a document setting forth the process by which counties could increase the pace by which they could advance through Stage 2.
On May 8, 2020, the Board of Supervisors considered action to submit plans to the State of California for El Dorado County to move at an accelerated rate through Stage 2 of re-opening. During that discussion, the Board requested that staff place additional discussion items on the agenda for Tuesday, May 11, 2020.
Consider and discuss the option of sending additional letter(s) to the Governor encouraging consideration of adding addition business types to those which are approved for re-opening in Stage 2, including but not limited to a discussion on:
- Churches
- Tourism and Recreation businesses and facilities
- Salons
During the May 8 meeting, there was also discussion regarding the recently issued resolution from Placer County asking the State to rescind the Stay-at-Home order. Members of the Board expressed interest in considering a similar resolution from El Dorado County. The Placer County resolution is attached to this item for reference.
ALTERNATIVES
These items are presented for discussion and possible action by the Board, and the Board may make modifications as deemed necessary, within the agendized items.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
See Background/Discussion, above.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Public Health, Sheriff - Emergency Operations
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
None at this time.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety, Healthy Communities, Economic Development
CONTACT
Don Ashton, Chief Administrative Officer