To: Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma
Department or Agency Name(s): Emergency Management and Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Chris Godley/565-1152; Barbie Robinson/565-4700; Dr. Sundari Mase/565-4426; Sheba Person-Whitley/565-7170; Bert Whitaker/565-2041
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): All Districts
Title:
Title
1:00 P.M. - Novel Coronavirus/COVID-19 Threat, Response, Reopening and Recovery Update
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Receive a staff update on the Novel Coronavirus threat, current response efforts, community reopening considerations, economic recovery planning coordination, and County parks restrictions.
B) Discuss and provide input to proposed additional easing of non-coastal park restrictions to allow for limited reopening or parking areas in parks, individual and household use of certain low risk outdoor park facilities and permit access to inland and coastal boat launches for fishing and recreation.
C) Restore Park Membership Program and day use parking fees to sustain increased park services at Regional Parks.
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Executive Summary:
An update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 Pandemic will be provided by the County Department of Health Services, Regional Parks, Economic Development Board, allied stakeholders, and Department of Emergency Management.
Staff will request guidance and actions to support reopening and recovery efforts. A PowerPoint presentation will be provided to the Board.
Regional Parks has been working collaboratively with local park agencies and the Department of Public Health discussing an easing of certain restrictions and developing safety guidance for outdoor activities. Regional Parks is requesting the Board restore the Park Membership Program and day use parking fees that sustain park services including enhanced restroom cleaning, personal protective equipment for staff safety, and the necessary additional staff to manage parking lots and trail corridors where we anticipate crowding concerns on peak use days. The Health Officer is seeking input from the Board on proposed additional easing of restrictions to be included in next amendment to the Parks Closure Order.
Discussion:
Medical / Health
The Department of Health Services continues to lead key COVID-19 policy and response efforts including developing and managing data regarding community impacts, developing and managing Public Health Officer orders, assessing guidance, models and data relevant to reopening planning, supporting development of community information and education, advising on community and organizational health protective measures, conducting community testing and surveillance, addressing vulnerable individuals in the homeless community and establishing and managing and the Alternate Care Site.
1. Elective Surgeries Guidance: The Health Officer is working with the local healthcare community organizations to develop and implement guidance on resuming elective and non-urgent procedures and surgeries so that these treatments can restart when it is safe to do so. Many elective procedures were cancelled, postponed, or put on hold during shelter in place in order to limit transmission, protect the health of workers, and preserve critical supplies of personal protective equipment. The success so far with shelter in place, and the other protective measures that have been put in place, has put the County in a position where some of these procedures may be safe to resume with modifications to the way that healthcare providers operate. The guidance applies to both hospital and non-hospital healthcare setting, including dental offices. The Health Officer requests review from the Board of Supervisors on the guidance.
Business Reopening and Economic Recovery
County staff and allied stakeholder organizations have been working as part of the new Business Recovery Task Force Workgroups. The Workgroups and other stakeholders have supported development of Best Management Practices to support the safe operation of various businesses and industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic Development is working to finalize a Full Roadmap to Reopening Plan that will include Self-Certification resources. Staff will provide an update the Board on efforts to make the County a more Business Friendly Environment.
Regional Parks
The Public Health Officer issued Order No.C19-10 on April 28, 2020, that amended the previous Health Order closing parks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Nearly two weeks has passed with inland parks being available to residents who can access nearby parks by walking or cycling with no significant issues of overcrowding or visitors being unable to distance themselves from other users. As testing capacity continues increasing and healthcare capacity has remained stable, the Health Officer has signaled she is considering further easing of the restrictions to park access and activities the public may enjoy individually or with household members.
1. Limited Opening of Parking Areas: The current requirement for residents to access nearby parks and trails would be modified to allow park operators to reopen parking lots for vehicle access. Residents will be permitted to travel to nearby park locations in their vehicle to engage in outdoor activities. Park operators may limit parking availability as necessary to prevent or respond to overcrowded conditions. Most park restrooms at Regional Parks will be reopened with an enhanced cleaning schedule.
2. Low Risk Outdoor Park Facilities and Amenities: Individuals and households would be permitted to utilize specified outdoor park facilities and amenities with protective criteria and safety guidance from the Health Department. The outdoor facilities and amenities being considered include tennis, pickle ball, volleyball, disc golf, bocce ball, kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding, bocce ball, BMX tracks, park benches and other park facilities and amenities that are determined to be low risk for coronavirus spread. However, at this point, the listed activities where shared equipment is involved is only for members of the same household. Organized sports, playgrounds, individual and group picnic sites, campgrounds and other activities requiring high touch equipment or where social distancing would be difficult or impossible would remain closed.
3. Inland and Coastal Boat Launch Ramps: Boat launch ramps would be reopened inland and along the coast for boating, recreational fishing, and car top boat launch.
4. Restore Park Membership Program and day use parking fees: Regional Parks is requesting the Board restore the Park Membership Program and day use parking fees that sustain park services including enhanced restroom cleaning, personal protective equipment for staff safety, and the necessary additional staff to manage parking lots and trail corridors where we anticipate crowding concerns on peak use days. Additionally, we are requesting Board approval to credit current Park Members a 2-month extension to the expiration date of their parking pass due to the parking lot closures in effect since March 23, 2020.
Emergency Management
As the COVID-19 incident evolves, the County is continuing to assess and re-align its related emergency management structures. The County/Operational Area Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated since March 3rd and the Health Services Department Operations Center (DOC) since April 6th. As the Operational Area’s efforts to “flatten the curve” have demonstrably lowered the rate of infection, and as preparations to address the potential for a major medical crisis move forward, the Operational Area EOC is transitioning its remaining functions to the Health DOC as well as other County departments/agencies. This transition began on May 6th and should be completed by May 12th.
The County Department of Emergency Management is conducting Operational Area response planning and preparedness efforts to address the challenges of conducting emergency response to hazards such as wildfire and power shut-offs in a COVID-19 environment
Prior Board Actions:
April 28, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
April 21, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
April 14, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
April 7, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
March 24, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
March 17, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency and response activities.
March 10, 2020: Received an update on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 threat and approved the Pandemic Annex to the Sonoma County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan.
March 4, 2020: The Board ratified the proclamation a local emergency and the Public Health Officer declaration of Public Health emergency for COVID-19.
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
1. Guidance Relating to Non-Urgent, Non-Essential or Elective Hospital Procedures Relative to the 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
2. Guidance Relating to Non-Urgent, Non-Essential or Elective Non-Hospital Procedures Relative to the 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
3. PowerPoint Presentation
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.