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
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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
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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.
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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
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(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