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Home My WebLink About03/18/2020 - Special MeetingCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Special Meeting March 18, 2020 I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER H. ROLL CALL - 10:31 a.m. Present: Mayor Will O'Neill, Mayor Pro Tem Brad Avery (telephonically), Council Member Joy Brenner (telephonically), Council Member Diane Dixon, Council Member Duffy Duffield (telephonically), Council Member Jeff Herdman (telephonically) Absent: Council Member Kevin Muldoon (excused) Mayor O'Neill reviewed the purpose of and process for the special meeting, encouraged everyone to pay attention to the City's social media updates and website regarding COVID-19, and assured the senior community that the City supports them and they can call the OASIS Senior Center with any questions or concerns. III. PUBLIC COMMENTS Jim Mosher encouraged Council to conduct most of the Closed Session discussions in public and explained why he believed the Government Code does not pertain to the Coronavirus threat. Mayor O'Neill indicated that most, if not all, of what will be discussed during Closed Session will be reiterated during open session and assured everyone that Council is not hiding anything. City Attorney Harp reported the City Council would adjourn to Closed Session to discuss the item listed in the Closed Session agenda and read the title. The City Council recessed to Closed Session at 10:37 a.m. IV. CLOSED SESSION A. THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES (Government Code § 54957): 1 matter Consultation with: City of Newport Beach Police Chief, Jon Lewis, and Fire Chief, Jeff Boyles, regarding matters posing a threat to: the security of public buildings, the security of essential public services, and the public's right of access to public services or public facilities, all of which are associated with the COVID-19 outbreak and the State of Emergency declared by Governor Gavin Newsom on March 4, 2020, and the proclamation of a Local Emergency by the Director of Emergency Services on March 15, 2020. All Council Members, except for Council Member Muldoon, were present during Closed Session. The City Council reconvened at 11:02 a.m. City Attorney Harp announced that there were no reportable actions taken during Closed Session. Present: Mayor Will O'Neill, Mayor Pro Tem Brad Avery (telephonically), Council Member Joy Brenner (telephonically), Council Member Diane Dixon, Council Member Duffy Duffield (telephonically), Council Member Jeff Herdman (telephonically), Council Member Kevin Muldoon (telephonically) Volume 64 - Page 337 City of Newport Beach Special Meeting March 18, 2020 V. CURRENT BUSINESS 1. Resolution No. 2020-25: Ratifying the March 15, 2020 Proclamation of Local Emergency [100-2020] City Manager Leung reported that the City is moving forward at a rapid pace due to the information being disseminated; indicated the City is in the mode of preparing, not panicking, and moving forward with Federal, State, and County guidelines; and assured everyone that the City has the structure and organization in place to respond to the community and employees. She utilized a presentation to report on the current situation; highlight actions taken by the City in late February, early March, after the March 12 and March 15 State Guidelines were released, and after the March 17 Orange County Health Officer Order and clarifications were released; announce that, starting March 18, all City buildings were closed and all City meetings, except for Council meetings, were canceled or postponed until the end of March; review City services still available; and discuss next steps and considerations. She encouraged residents to go to newportbeachca.gov/covidl9 for information and for the senior community to contact the OASIS Senior Center at 949-644-3244 with questions or concerns. Police Chief Lewis reported that the Police Department remains a full-service law enforcement agency, but explained how it is operating differently to adhere to social distancing; noted that the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated; indicated that, as information is being released quickly, they are implementing measures and asked everyone to be patient with them. Fire Chief Boyles reported that there are currently 29 cases of Coronavirus in the County, the City EOC has been operational since Sunday, the Fire Department has been working with skilled nursing facilities and convalescent homes, fire stations have been closed to the public since last week, they discontinued all non-essential public outreach, no Fire Department personnel have exhibited any signs, supplies are sufficient for now, they have a system in place with local hospitals to track exposure of first responders. He indicated that testing has increased nationwide, so the counts will increase. He assured everyone that the Fire Department is ready to respond, not only to public safety, but also respond from a service standpoint. Mayor O'Neill encouraged the City's senior community to call the OASIS Senior Center if they have needs, expressed support and appreciation to medical professionals, their families, and first responders, noted the non -emergency Police number is 949-644-3717, expressed support toward the hospitality industry, restaurants, and parents, noted the City has asked Southern California Edison (SCE) to delay any power shutdowns or planned power outages, reminded everyone that cities are not public health agencies and are taking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), encouraged the public to pay attention to the medical experts' suggestions, and noted how important volunteers have become in the Year of the Volunteer. Council Member Herdman agreed with Mayor O'Neill, thanked him for his leadership, and asked everyone to stay safe. Council Member Dixon noted these are unprecedented times, received information from City Attorney Harp that the County order needs clarifying, but it was not a "shelter in place" order, thanked City staff and the first responders for activating the EOC, and believed that the message to the public should be to use common sense and do not put yourself or others at risk. Council Member Muldoon thanked the first responders, staff, and the medical professionals, encouraged everyone to practice social distancing and help one another, and believed this emergency will not be insurmountable. Mayor Pro Tem Avery noted how lucky he is to live in Newport Beach, commended City staff and first responders, and encouraged everyone to reach out to their neighbors and take care of each other. Volume 64 - Page 338 City of Newport Beach Special Meeting March 18, 2020 Council Member Duffield commended Mayor O'Neill, expressed support for all the actions the City has taken and will be taking in the future, and thanked staff. Council Member Brenner thanked everyone involved, expressed how proud she is of the City and how it is responding, and cautioned people to consider their health and practice social distancing. Jim Mosher believed the wording in the proclamation is overbroad relative to enforcement and should say the order is specifically related to the emergency, not for any other reason. Regarding Council meetings during the period of the emergency, he suggested that the public be allowed to call in their comments and the City should accept emails and texts during the meeting and they should be read aloud. City Attorney Harp confirmed that the proclamation stipulates that the order ends when the emergency ends. Motion by Mayor O'Neill, seconded by Council Member Dixon, to a) determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and b) adopt Resolution No. 2020-25, AResolution of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, (i) Ratifying the Proclamation of a Local Emergency Issued on March 15, 2020 by City Manager Grace Leung, the Director of Emergency Services for the City of Newport Beach, and (ii) Approving and Authorizing Certain Actions Relating Thereto. The motion carried unanimously. VI. ADJOURNMENT — 11:46 a.m. The special meeting agenda was posted on the City's website and on the City Hall electronic bulletin board located in the entrance of the City Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center Drive on March 17, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. Will O'Neill Mayor Leilani I. Brown City Clerk "WU._ Volume 64 - Page 339