Loading...
LTC 186-2021 Office of the Governor Executive Order Suspending All Remaining Local Government MandatesMIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER NO. L TC# 186-2021 LETTER TO COMMISSION TO : Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manag~ DATE: May 5, 2021 SUBJECT: Office of the Governor Executive Order Suspending All Remaining Local Government Mandates On May 3, 2021, the Governor issued Executive Order 21-101 (Invalidating All Remaining Local Emergency Orders Based on the COVID-19 Emergency) and Executive Order 21-102 (Suspending All Remaining Local Government Mandates and Restrictions Based on the COVID- 19 State of Emergency) (the "Executive Orders"). The Administration has carefully reviewed the Executive Orders, in consultation with the City Attorney's Office. Based on Executive Order 21-102, the City's most recent Emergency Order, which was effective April 29, 2021, is now suspended. As the current City Emergency Order is set to expire on May 5, 2021, at 11 :59 p.m., I do not intend to renew or extend the City's Emergency Order at this time. As discussed at the April 21, 2021 City Commission meeting, notwithstanding the Governor's Order, the City was already in the process of streamlining the remaining limited measures in the City's Emergency Order. Remaining items included the maximum occupancy limits for short-term rentals and the package liquor sale restrictions in certain districts of the City. The main effect of the Governor's action, however, is that the City of Miami Beach would no longer have the ability to enforce the facial covering and social distancing requirements that are defined in Miami-Dade County Emergency Order 33-20. Notwithstanding the impact of the Executive Orders on the City's emergency authority, the City has adopted a number of policies and practices that are designed to mitigate the public health threats. With respect to our City government operations, most services have been performed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as made possible through the use of technology and online services, and by scheduling appointments. The experience of COVID-19 has accelerated the City's efforts to upgrade our online platforms. We will continue to conduct as much business as possible through online channels, in an effort to provide quality innovative services and expand public access. At the same time, we continue to plan for full "in-person" operations for our customers. To this end, the health, safety and well-being of our employees and the public shall remain my highest priority. We are collaborating with the County, neighboring cities, and respective attorneys as we adapt our policies to a new legal framework and an evolving emergency response. I understand that M ia m i-D a d e C o u n ty w ill b e is s u in g g u id a n c e w ith re s p e c t to th e s e is s u e s in th e c o m in g d a y s , a n d I w ill ke e p th e C ity C o m m is s io n in fo rm e d a s w e re c e iv e a d d itio n a l in fo rm a tio n . N o te th e C o u n ty M a y o r re c e n tly is s u e d th e fo llo w in g sta te m e n t: "M ia m i-D a d e C o u n ty w ill c o n tin u e to re q u ire ke y C O V ID sa fe ty p re c a u tio n s in cl u d in g m a s k in g , d is ta n ci n g , an d d is in fe c tin g a t a ll C o u n ty sp a c e s , in c lu d in g lib ra rie s , C o u n ty pa rk s , a n d C o u n ty b u ild in g s . A fe d e ra l m a s k m a n d a te re m a in s in p la c e fo r p u b lic tra n s it, M ia m i In te rn a tio n a l A irp o rt , a n d P o rt M iam i ." I w ill c o n tin u e to b e p ro a c tiv e a n d m o v e o u r e ff o rt s fo rw a rd , p a rt ic u la rly a s th e y re la te to th e fo llo w in g a re a s : • A s an e m p lo y e r, c o n tin u e to pro v id e a s a fe w o rk e n v iro n m e n t b a s e d o n C D C g u id e lin e s fo r C ity w o rk p la c e s , fo r th e be n e fit o f e m p lo y e e s , re s id e n ts , a n d c u s to m e rs . T h is in c lu d e s e m p lo y e e s w e a rin g m a s k s in d o o rs , so c ia l d is ta n c in g , he a lth sc re e n in g p ro to c o ls a n d o th e r be s t p ra ct ic e s to e n s u re p u b lic he a lth a n d sa fe ty in a ll C ity -o w n e d b u ild in g s , p a rk s , a n d e n te rt a in m e n t v e n u e s . A s in fo rm a tio n d e v e lo p s , I w ill co n tin u e to w o rk w ith th e C ity A tt o rn e y 's O ff ic e o n th e b e s t a p p ro a c h to th e p u b lic 's w e a rin g of m a s k s w ith in C ity fa c ilitie s b u t no te th a t, at a m in im u m th is w ill be stro n g ly e n c o u ra g e d ; • A s a n e m p lo y e r, co n tin u e fo llo w in g C D C g u id e lin e s fo r w o rk p la c e s a fe ty . T h is in cl u d e s eff o rt s su c h a s h ig h d is in fe c tio n , s ig n a g e , ha n d sa n itiz e rs , h ig h e r ra te d a ir filte rs , im p ro v e d o u ts id e a ir, a n d pl e x i-g la s s . E v er y D e p a rt m e n t re c e iv e s a "c a re p a c k a g e " fo r e m p lo y e e s th a t in cl u d e s ite m s su c h a s m a s k s , g lo v e s a n d pe rs o n a l ha n d sa n itiz e rs o n a m o n th ly ba s is . In a d d itio n , e le c tro s ta tic s p ra y is us e d in ev e ry b u ild in g e v e ry d a y w ith 9 9 % e ff e c tiv e n e s s fo r d is in fe c tio n ; • Imp l em e nt ing C O VI D -19 rel a te d b e n e fit p ro g ra m s a p p ro v e d by th e M a y o r a n d C ity C o m m is s io n , s u c h a s th e e x p a n d e d re s ta u ra n t se a tin g p ro g ra m ; • C o n tin u in g th e C ity 's co m m u n ic a tio n s a n d o u tre a c h e ff o rt s , to stro n g ly e n c o u ra g e e m p lo y e e s , re s id e n ts a n d v is ito rs to b e v a c c in a te d a g ai ns t C O VI D -19 an d fo llo w C D C g u id a n c e ; • P re s e rv in g th e C ity 's e lig ib ility fo r F E M A re im b u rs e m e n ts fo r th e C ity 's on g oi ng C O VI D - 19 rel ief e ff o rt s , b y e x te n d in g th e C ity 's D e cl a ra tio n of a S ta te o f E m e rg e n c y , if ne c e s s a ry , fo r a s lo n g a s th e C ity in c u rs co s ts in re s p o n d in g to th e p an d em i c '; an d • C o lla b o ra tin g w ith o u r pu b lic a n d p riv a te s e c to r p a rt n e rs , a s w e c o n tin u e to im p le m e n t ne c e s s a ry s a fe ty p re c a u tio n s , in th e b e s t in te re s ts of th e C ity . In a d d itio n , I ha v e c o n s u lte d w ith th e C ity A tt o rn e y 's O ff ic e a n d o u r C ity C le rk , a n d we will be revising the meeting procedures for the conduct of City Commission meetings City Commission meetings will be held in the Commission Chambers, and members of the public will have the ability to attend or participate either via Zoom, or in person. In an effort to limit the number of persons in Chambers, the City's professional staff will continue to fully participate in City Commission meetings via Zoom. The City will strongly encourage members of the public to 1 Note: The City's Declaration of a State of Emergency is a separate matter from the issuance of any emergency measures pursuant to such Declaration. While the Executive Orders suspend and/or invalidate certain "restrictions and mandates on individuals and businesses," the Orders do not restrict the City from continuing to declare a State of Emergency or taking any other action in order to obtain reimbursement for COVID-related expenses ad h e re to a ll a p p lic a b le C D C g u id e lin e s . A d d itio n a l g u id a n c e w ill a ls o be is s u e d w ith re g a rd to oth e r b o a rd a n d c o m m itt e e m e e tin g s , in cl u d in g th e C ity 's la n d u s e b o a rd s . P le a s e co n ta c t m e at a linah u d ak @ m iam ibe a ch f l _g o y or R a fa e l P a z , A c tin g C ity A tt o rn e y , at ra fae lp a z @ m ia m ib e a c h fl.g o v w ith a n y q u e s tio n s .