Submitted By
Cara Pavlicek, Village Manager
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Declaring an Emergency Affecting the Public Health through September 14, 2020 Due to the Outbreak of the COVID-19 Disease in the State of Illinois
End
Overview
Overview
The Village Board is being asked to approve a declaration of an emergency affecting the public health through September 14, 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease in the State of Illinois as previously declared by Resolution 20-120, Resolution 20-124 and Resolution 20-128. This is a necessary procedural step under state law and the Village Code to respond to changing data related to increasing positives cases experienced in July 2020 after a sustained reduction in June 2020 related to the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19.
Body
Staff Recommendation
The Coordinator of the Oak Park Emergency Service Disaster Agency (ESCA), who is Police Chief Reynolds, has recommended the adoption of a new declaration of emergency affecting public health through September 14, 2020 in accordance with Section 2-27-9 of the Village Code.
Fiscal Impact
Adoption of the Resolution authorizes any purchase or contracts necessary to place the Village in a position to protect the public health and safety and protect property. Section 2-6-10 of the Oak Park Village Code further provides that urgently needed material or urgent repairs involving labor and material may be obtained through negotiated contract without formal advertising with the approval of the Village Manager, when it is in the best interest of the Village and when it is impractical to convene a meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Background
Following cessation of the previously enacted Declaration of an emergency affecting public health which ended June 1, 2020, the Village Board is being asked to adopt a new Declaration, a procedural step under state law and the Village Code, that empowers municipal administrators to continue to respond more quickly to the recent increase in positive COVID-19 cases in Oak Park.
The novel coronavirus disease is rapidly changing and as such presents challenges as staff works to support economic reopening, respond to the public health impact of the disease which is disproportionately affecting black residents in Oak Park and consider public health orders that are intended to reduce community spread. A declaration of emergency will provide staff additionally tools to respond to these issues by giving the legal authority for rapid mobilization of resources as needed and create the mechanisms necessary for any future reimbursements by the state and federal governments.
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. While the Village Board adopted Ordinance 20-241 which established specific authorities for the Public Health Director to respond to the pandemic thru November 15, 2020, as positive cases increase, broader response measures can be accomplished by staff under the recommended Emergency Declaration.
On Friday, July 24, 2020, demographic data will be updated and attached to this item which will illustrate the changing nature of COVID-19 in the community. Currently, Public Health Director Charley report the following data is informative:
• 14 day rolling average for Oak Park cases have increased since a week ago, 2.21 cases/day to 3.57 cases/day (out low was June 14 1.14 cases/day)
• The rolling averages for Illinois Cases have also started to increase
• In Illinois we reached our low cases per day on 06/23 at 615 cases/day, as of today the state is at 1,184 cases/day
• Another trend that we’ve observed recently is that we are starting to see a greater percentage of younger Oak Park residents testing positive.
• Prior to July 1, 70% of the cases were over 40
• Since July 1, 70% of the cases are under 40 with our greatest percent increase amongst the 20-29 age range, but we’ve also seen increases in the all age ranges below 40
The following chart also illustrates prior to July versus July in terms of shift impact of COVID-19 by age range:
Age <July 1 Cases % of Cases >July 1 Cases % of Cases
Birth - 4 3 0.9% 0 0%
5-14 4 1.2% 3 5%
15-19 6 1.7% 9 14%
20 to 29 50 14.5% 19 30%
30-39 57 16.5% 13 20%
40-49 59 17.1% 9 14%
50-59 58 16.8% 6 9%
60-69 44 12.7% 4 6%
70-79 35 10.1% 0 0%
Total: 346 64
Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 in Oak Park, the following charts show the cumulative impact by age and race:
In consideration of the above information, the Board is asked to establish an Emergency Declaration through September 14, 2020.
Alternatives
The Village Board could delay action or seek additional information.
Previous Board Action
N/A.
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.