Background:
The Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among humans through respiratory transmission and other potential methods, and presents with symptoms similar to those of influenza, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
The President of the United States declared a National Emergency, the Governor of the State of Florida declared a State of Emergency (which expired in June 2021), Broward County declared a state of Emergency (which Broward County continues to renew weekly) and the City of Sunrise declared a State of Local Emergency by enacting Emergency Ordinance No. 654 which authorized the City Manager to issue the weekly extensions of the Declaration of Local Emergency and also empowered the City Manager to issue certain Declaration(s) of Emergency Regulations, reserved certain powers to the City Commission, designated the Chief of Police as the City Official for Chapter 870, Florida Statutes, and provided for penalties for violations. On May 12, 2020, the City of Sunrise enacted Ordinance No. 654-20-A which adopted and extended the provisions of Emergency Ordinance No. 654 through July 17, 2020. On July 14, 2020, the City of Sunrise enacted Ordinance No. 654-20-B which adopted and extended the provisions of Emergency Ordinance No. 654 through September 15, 2020. On September 8, 2020, the City of Sunrise enacted Ordinance No. 654-20-C which adopted and extended the provisions of Emergency Ordinance No. 654 through November 14, 2020. On November 10, 2020, the City of Sunrise enacted Ordinance No. 654-20-D which adopted and extended the provisions of Emergency Ordinance No. 654 through January 13, 2021. On January 12, 2021, the City of Sunrise enacted Ordinance No. 654-21-A which adopted and extended the provisions of Emergency Ordinance No. 654 through March 12, 2021. On March 9, 2021, the City of Sunrise enacted Ordinance No. 654-21-B which adopted and extended the provisions of Emergency Ordinance No. 654 through May 15, 2021. On May 11, 2021, the City of Sunrise enacted Ordinance No. 654-21-C which adopted and extended the provision of Emergency Ordinance No. 654 through July 16, 2021. On July 13, 2021, the City of Sunrise enacted Ordinance No. 654-21-D which extended Section 2 of Ordinance No. 654 relating to the City Manager's authority to issue weekly declarations of the local state of emergency through September 17, 2021.
Commencing March 25, 2020 and every Wednesday since then, the City Manager has exercised the authority given to him by Emergency Ordinance No. 654, as amended and extended, to extend the Declaration of Local State of Emergency.
The City is unable to predict the duration of the COVID-19 global pandemic and the City's declaration of a state of local emergency is necessary for the City to receive funding. The proposed Ordinance only extends Section 2 of Ordinance No. 654 through November 16, 2021. Section 2 allows the City Manager to issue the weekly declarations of a local state of emergency. Without this authority, staff would be asking the City Commission to meet weekly to issue the declaration of a local state of emergency.