Submitted By
Cara Pavlicek, Village Manager
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
Discussion of upcoming Recommendations related to the Declaration of an Emergency Affecting the Public Health and Chapter 20 “Public Health” of the Municipal Code which Permits the Public Health Director to make rules, regulations, and orders due to the outbreak of COVID-19 Disease and both the Resolution and Ordinance Amendment will expire June 15, 2021.
End
Overview
Overview
At the June 14, 2021, Special Meeting of the Village Board, it will be recommended that the Village Board allow the Emergency Declaration to sunset without further action. In addition, at the June 14, 2021, Special Meeting of the Village Board, it will be recommended that the Village Board approve an amendment to Chapter 20 “Public Health” Section 20-1-6 of the Municipal Code to continue to Permit the Public Health Director to make rules, regulations, and orders due to the outbreak of COVID-19 Disease through November 15, 2021.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Staff is seeking to address any questions prior to preparing the amendment to the Village Code for the upcoming June 14, 2021 meeting.
Fiscal Impact
N/A
Background
On March 13, 2020, the Village Board approved the first in a series of Resolutions that declared an Emergency affecting the Public Health due to COVID-19. The most recent, Resolution 21-43 will end on June 15, 2021.
On October 19, 2020, the Village Board adopted the first Ordinance amending Chapter 20 of the Municipal Code in order to authorize ongoing COVID-19 public health response authority to the Public Health Director, regardless of the existence of an Emergency Declaration related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent, Ordinance 21-8 will end on June 15, 2021.
Adoption of the Resolution declaring an emergency has authorized purchase and/or contracts necessary to place the Village in a position to protect the public health and safety and protect property. The existence of the Emergency Declaration to date has been valuable in the ability of staff to manage the number of issues related to the pandemic, including but not limited to license agreements for the temporary use of Village property for outdoor dining as well as temporary zoning waivers to use private parking for outdoor dining at restaurants. Adoption of the amendments to Chapter 20 of the Village Code have independent of the Emergency Declaration allowed the Oak Park Public Health Director to continue to take the necessary steps to respond to the pandemic and adapt services, and empower municipal administrators to continue to respond more quickly to the novel coronavirus disease as well as allocate and administer vaccine for COVID-19 under the Emergency Use Authorizations (EAU) granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Staff does not believe service response will be negatively impacted by the sunset of the Public Emergency on June 15, 2021. However, staff recommends amending Chapter 20 of the Village Code to extend thru November 15, 2021, the currently established specific authorities for the Public Health Director to respond to the pandemic in order to ensure response measures can be accomplished by Public Health staff.
The novel coronavirus disease continues to change and as such presents the need for staff to adapt to public health guidance in response to conditions in Oak Park. It is also noted that Oak Park has a certified Public Health Department, one of six others that exist in Cook County along with Cook County, the City of Chicago, City of Evanston, Village of Skokie, and the Stickney Public Health District and this continues to be a significant responsibility.
Alternatives
Discussion only.
Previous Board Action
The Village Board approved Resolutions 20-120, 20-124, 20-128, 20-184, 20-232, and 21-43 declaring an emergency affecting the public health due to COVID-19. In addition, the Village Board adopted Ordinance 20-041, 20-094, and 21-8 to amend Chapter 20 of the Municipal Code in order to authorize ongoing COVID-19 public health response authority to the Public Health Director.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
The Village Board may be asked to take further such action as necessary.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
The Village is working closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) as a certified public health department.