Submitted By
Cara Pavlicek, Village Manager
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 20 (“Public Health”), Article 1 (“Oak Park Department of Public Health”), Section 20-1-6 (“Authority and duties of the Director”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Permit the Public Health Director to Make Reasonable Rules, Regulations and Orders due to the Outbreak of COVID-19 Disease
End
Overview
Overview
Under Illinois Governor Pritzker’s Restore Illinois five-phased plan to reopen state, it is anticipated that as early as May 29, 2020 the Village will move to Phase 3 which will allow certain businesses and activities to resume. Under Resolution 20-128, the Village Board’s extension of declaration of emergency affecting the public health will expire at the end of the day on June 1, 2020.
Should the Village move to Phase 3, further extension of the Village’s emergency declaration is not recommended based upon the public health situation. However, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease in the State of Illinois and Oak Park is a rapidly changing situation, an ordinance establishing additional authority and duties of the Oak Park Public Health Director has been prepared and is recommended to allow for the Director to continue to take the necessary steps to respond to the pandemic and adapt services, especially in congregate settings and similar.
End
Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Ordinance.
Fiscal Impact
N/A.
Background
On March 13, 2020, the Village Board adopted Resolution 20-120 declaring an emergency affecting the public health due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease in the State of Illinois. On April 6, 2020, the Village Board adopted Resolution 20-124 and on April 27, 2020 the Village Board adopted Resolution 20-128 which extended the declaration through June 1, 2020.
As the Village continues the public health response to the pandemic, it is the staff’s recommendation that the Village move in step with the State of Illinois, under the Restore Illinois five-phased plan in order to reopen the community guided by health metrics. Currently, the Village and State are under Phase 2 of the plan and it is anticipated that as early as Friday, May 29, 2020, the Village and State will move to Phase 3.
At such time as the Village is under Phase 3, it is recommended the existing declaration of an emergency affecting public health expire. However, the day to day response to the pandemic from a public health perspective is expected to continue, especial in the Village’s long term care and assisted living facilities and therefore, an ordinance has been prepared to provide for the following authorities and duties, which have been performed by the Public Health Director to continue in relationship to COVID-19:
Make such reasonable rules, regulations and orders as may from time to time be deemed necessary without review by the Village Board of Health and approval by the Village Board of Trustees due to the outbreak of COVID-19 disease in the State of Illinois through November 15, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Any rules, regulations and orders promulgated by the Public Health Director prior to June 1, 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 disease which are not due to expire on or before June 1, 2020 shall remain in effect through their respective expiration dates or through November 15, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. as applicable.
Alternatives
The Board could alternatively require such public health matters to come before the Village Board for approval.
Previous Board Action
On March 13, 2020, the Village Board adopted Resolution 20-120 declaring an emergency affecting the public health due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease in the State of Illinois. On April 6, 2020, the Village Board adopted Resolution 20-124 and on April 27, 2020 the Village Board adopted Resolution 20-128 which extended the declaration through June 1, 2020.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
The Board of Health has not weighed in on this recommendation.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Subject to the course of the pandemic, further review of the ordinance may be required in the future.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
As a Certified Public Health Department, the Village’s staff works closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health and other local certified public health departments.