Loading...
Resolution 2021-31591 RESOLUTION NO. 2021-31591 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS TO PRIORITIZE THE FOLLOWING GROUPS IN PHASE II OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE ADMINISTRATION: TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS, POLICE OFFICERS, AND OTHER FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AS SPECIFIED BY THE UNITED STATES CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES, INCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, PUBLIC TRANSIT WORKERS, CHILD CARE WORKERS, FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, MANUFACTURING WORKERS, UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE WORKERS, GROCERY STORE WORKERS, HOTEL WORKERS, RESTAURANT WORKERS, HOME HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND PERSONS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT INCREASE THE RISK OF SEVERE COVID-19, AS CERTIFIED BY A PHYSICIAN. WHEREAS, the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 ("COVID-19") is a severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among humans through respiratory transmission and continues to pose a public health threat to individuals across the planet; and WHEREAS, the disease has spread globally, and on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic; and WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020 Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order No. 20- 51, directing the State Health Officer and Surgeon General to declare a public health emergency in the State of Florida and directing the State Health Officer to take any action necessary to protect the public health, including following the guidelines established by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") to control the spread of COVID-19; and WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order No. 20-52, declaring a state of emergency for the State of Florida due to COVID-19; and WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez declared a State of Emergency for all of Miami-Dade County due to the threats associated with COVID-19; and WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, Jimmy Morales, City Manager for the City of Miami Beach, declared a State of Emergency for the City of Miami Beach, as COVID-19 poses a health risk to the City's residents, particularly elderly residents and those who Page 2 are immunosuppressed or otherwise have high risk of medical conditions, which declaration was amended on March 13, 2020, and the findings of which are hereby incorporated by reference; and WHEREAS, these orders have since been extended; and WHEREAS, the United States government, through Operation Warp Speed, has allocated the initial doses of COVID-19 vaccines to states, including Florida; and WHEREAS, states have discretion to determine their own vaccine distribution plans, including the priority of vaccine recipients; and WHEREAS, on December 1, 2020, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that health care personnel and long-term care facility residents be offered COVID-19 vaccination first; and WHEREAS, on December 20, 2020, the Centers of Disease Control ("CDC") Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that Phase II of COVID- 19 vaccinations should be offered to persons aged 75 years and older, as well as to frontline essential workers, including first responders (e.g. firefighters and police officers), corrections officers, food and agricultural workers, United States Postal Service workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, and those who work in the education sector (teachers and support staff members) as well as child care workers; and WHEREAS, the CDC defines frontline essential workers as the subset of essential workers likely at highest risk for work-related exposure to COVID-19, because their work- related duties must be performed on-site and involve being in close proximity to the public or to co-workers; and WHEREAS, on December 23, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-315 (the "Executive Order"), establishing a priority list of population groups eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during Phase One of Florida's COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan (the "Vaccine Distribution Plan"), consisting of : long-term care facility residents and staff, persons 65 years of age and older, and health care personnel with direct patient contact; and WHEREAS, COVID-19 cases have continued to rise across Miami-Dade County and across much of Florida; and WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County Public Schools is the fourth largest school district in the United States; and WHEREAS,teachers are among the most important essential workers in the State, educating our youth, providing children with essential skills to compete in the 21st century economy, and enriching and inspiring children; and Page 3 WHEREAS, earlier access to vaccines for teachers and school staff will increase the likelihood of returning to face-to-face learning, without the roller coaster of opening, closing, and reopening schools, and will promote the safety of school personnel who serve these essential roles; and WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade Police Department is one of the largest police departments in the United States, and through its sworn officers, is integral to ensuring public order and safety; and WHEREAS, as first responders, police officers routinely engage with the public in a variety of settings, including businesses, vehicles, and private residences; and WHEREAS, in operating 72 fire-rescue stations serving unincorporated Miami- Dade County and 29 municipalities, the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department and its firefighters are routinely called upon to respond to a variety of emergencies, and in so doing, perform a fundamental service to the community; and WHEREAS, through operation of the County's detention facilities, the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department and its corrections officers perform an essential function; and WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade Transportation and Public Works Department and its transit employees provide countywide mass transit services to the public that are essential to the functioning of society; and WHEREAS, childcare workers, food and agricultural workers, manufacturing workers, United States Postal Service workers, grocery store workers, restaurant workers, hotel workers, and home healthcare workers also serve in sectors essential to the functioning of society and perform in close proximity to the public or to co-workers; and WHEREAS, persons with certain pre-existing health conditions are at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19-related illness, potentially resulting in hospitalization or death; and WHEREAS, as such, the Mayor and City Commission respectfully urge Florida Governor DeSantis to, in light of the current limited supply of vaccines, to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations during the next phase of vaccine administration for police officers, teachers and support staff members, and other frontline essential workers, as specified by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, to include firefighters, corrections officers, public transit workers, child care workers, food and agricultural workers, manufacturing workers, United States Postal Service workers, grocery store workers, restaurant workers, hotel workers, and home healthcare workers, as well as for persons at risk of severe COVID-19 due to an underlying medical condition as certified by a physician. Page 4 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby urge Governor Ron DeSantis to prioritize the following groups in Phase II of the COVID-19 vaccine administration: teachers and support staff members, police officers, and other frontline essential workers, as specified by the United States Centers for Disease Control Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, including firefighters, corrections officers, public transit workers, child care workers, food and agricultural workers, manufacturing workers, united states postal service workers, grocery store workers, restaurant workers, hotel workers, and home healthcare workers, and persons with medical conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19, as certified by a physician. PASSED AND ADOPTED this J0 day of Febru- —021. Dan Gelber, Mayor ATTES Rafael . Granado, City Clerk / (Sponsored b Commissioner Micky Steinberg) 'Ibf�RP OR�iED' APPROVED AS TO FORM & LANGUAGE & FOR EXECUTION nc-D - - 2 ) City Attorney '` Date Resolutions -C7 X MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM: Rafael Paz,Acting City Attorney DATE: February 10, 2021 SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS TO PRIORITIZE THE FOLLOWING GROUPS IN PHASE II OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE ADMINISTRATION: TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS, POLICE OFFICERS, AND OTHER FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AS SPECIFIED BY THE UNITED STATES CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES, INCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, PUBLIC TRANSIT WORKERS, CHILD CARE WORKERS, FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, MANUFACTURING WORKERS, UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE WORKERS, AND GROCERY STORE WORKERS, HOTEL WORKERS, RESTAURANT WORKERS, HOME HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND PERSONS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT INCREASE THE RISK OF SEVERE COVID-19, AS CERTIFIED BYA PHYSICIAN. ANALYSIS Pursuant to the request of Conxr>assioner Micky Steinberg, the attached Resolution is submitted for consideration by the City Commission. SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA N/A Is this a "Residents Right Does this item utilize G.Q. to Know" item. pursuant to Bond Funds? City Code Section 2-14? No No Legislative Tracking Office of the City Attorney Sponsor Commissioner Micky Steinberg Page 531 of 1252 ATTACHMENTS: Description ❑ Resolution Page 532 of 1252