COVID-19 Update and Mayor's Declaration ProclamationCopyrighted
March 16, 2020
City of Dubuque Presentation(s) # 2.
ITEM TITLE: COVID-19 Update
SUMMARY: City staff will provide an update on COVI D-19 preparation
and response activities.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
News Relase March12, 2020 - Local COVI D-19
Update
Type
Supporting Documentation
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
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one of the greatest responsibilities of any elected official is the protection of
the electorate served and the protection of the greater public health and
safety; and
COVID-19 poses a serious and potentially deadly threat to the public and the
public health as the Federal Center for Disease Control ("CDC") has noted
that serious illness occurs in 16% of cases with older people and people of all
ages with severe chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung
disease and diabetes or those who are immunocompromised, seeming to be
at a higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness and noting that the
World Health Organization has determined COVID-19 to be a pandemic; and
across the globe, the disease has been dramatically spread through contact
by those with no known correlation to any affected areas or without contact
with those known to be infected, called "community spread" and the Iowa
Department of Public Health ("IDPH") has now identified community spread
in multiple areas in the State of Iowa and has issued new recommendations
for individuals with underlying medical conditions, and all Iowans should be
prepared for cancellations and disruptions in routine activities; and
a high rate of infection has been shown to overwhelm medical systems
throughout the world and numerous governmental entities and
epidemiologists have stated that community spread in the United States
poses the same risk of overwhelming American medical systems; and
the IDPH has recommended the immediate implementation of several
mitigation measures to have the most significant impact on slowing the spread
of the virus, including avoiding large gatherings of more than 50 people, and
considering adjustments for smaller gatherings with high risk groups; and
the Governor of Iowa has recommended schools in the state of Iowa close for
four (4) weeks; and
Iowa Code Section 372.14(2) and the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances
7-3-1 grant the Mayor powers in circumstances when public danger or
emergency exists to take extraordinary steps to protect the public health and
safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE FOREGOING AND OTHER VALID
EMERGENT CONCERNS, I, ROY D. BUOL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE,
PROCLAIM THE FOLLOWING:
I hereby determine that a state of emergency or public danger exists and direct that all
gatherings of 50 people or more on public property or public right-of-way are hereby
prohibited and any permits or permissions previously granted are hereby rescinded and any
amounts paid for such permits shall be refunded upon request.
I further determine and direct the Police Chief to enforce such direction to avoid any such
gatherings on public property and public right-of-way, whether formally or informally
organized.
I further strongly suggest, consistent with the recommendations of the IDPH, that private
gatherings of 50 or more people on private property should be avoided and appropriate
adjustments for smaller gatherings with high risk groups should be made.
For the protection of the residents, program participants, their families, city staff and the
contractors teaching or performing the programs through the City of Dubuque Leisure
Services Department I hereby cancel all City of Dubuque Leisure Services recreational
programs and Multicultural Family Center programs through at least April 12, 2020. City staff
will contact those registered and offer refunds and/or credits. The Leisure Services staff is
currently working on putting together summer activities and the summer brochure.
Registration for summer programs will not begin until at least April 13, 2020.
I hereby close the Multicultural Family Center for public use beginning Tuesday, March 17,
2020 and the Multicultural Family Center will remain closed through at least April 12, 2020.
The Multicultural Family Center has a Food Pantry scheduled on Friday, March 20, 2020.
Multicultural Family Center staff is working on a method that would allow the event to continue
while keeping both the pantry participants, volunteers, and staff protected by following the
protocols of the CDC and Iowa Department of Public Health. City staff will be corresponding
with Food Pantry participants to provide updates. It is of utmost importance we continue to
provide assistance to our most vulnerable populations in a safe manner during this crisis.
I hereby close Bunker Hill Golf Course; the golf course will not open through at least April 12,
2020 even if course conditions improve.
I hereby cancel meetings and other gatherings of the public scheduled for the Comiskey Park
building and the Allison Henderson building through at least April 12, 2020. During the
shutdown city staff will be sanitizing all areas of each of these facilities.
I hereby authorize City Boards and Commissions to make accommodations allowing for
remote attendance and participation at regularly scheduled meetings by board and
commission members and the public.
I hereby issue a moratorium on the issuance of special event permits and solicitor's licenses
through at least May 1, 2020.
I hereby close the following City buildings to public access beginning March 17, 2020 through
at least April 12, 2020:
• City Hall
• City Hall Annex
• Leisure Services Department Office at Bunker Hill
• Housing & Community Development Department at the Historic Federal Building
• The Municipal Services Center on Kerper Court
• Multicultural Family Center
City staff in these buildings shall work to provide services to the public electronically, by
phone, by mail, and when possible, by appointment as well as access to information and the
ability to participate in meetings by alternative means.
I hereby determine and direct the City Manager to evaluate the ongoing operations of the city
organization and adjust operations, accordingly, including the authority to further restrict
access to facilities. Per City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances section 7-3-1 , the public is
advised that the violation of a mayoral proclamation of emergency or of any subsidiary
proclamation thereto evidencing the exercise of emergency powers or of any rule or order
issued pursuant thereto by the mayor or city manager of any order issued pursuant thereto
by any peace officer or of any directive issued by designated emergency management or
emergency services personnel pursuant thereto shall constitute a violation of that section and
shall be punishable as a misdemeanor as provided by Title 1, Chapter 4 of the city code.
This Proclamation of emergency and public danger is part of an ongoing response of the City
of Dubuque to an ever -changing situation to protect public health and safety. This
proclamation may be modified or superseded with more restrictive proclamations at any time
as circumstances warrant. Please be aware these decisions have been made based upon
the information available today. You can find the most recent information about the City's
response to COVID-19 at www.cityofdubuque.org.
PROCLAIMED THIS 16T" DAY OF MARCH 2020 BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY
THE CODE OF IOWA AND THE CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Great Seal of the
City of Dubuque to be affixed this 16th day of
March 20201
2
Roy D. Buo7 Mayor
Attest:
Kevin/S. irnstahl, MC, City Clerk
March 16, 2020, 6:30 p.m.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
i5it LOCAL UPDATES
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dubuque County Supervisor Dave Baker
563.258.1421, Dave.Baker@DubuqueCounty.us
Dubuque Mayor Roy D. Buol
563.564.5455, rdbuol@cityofdubuque.orq
Please Practice Social Distancing
5 p.m., Thursday, March 12, 2020
DUBUQUE, Iowa — Dubuque County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dave Baker and Dubuque
Mayor Roy D. Buol are encouraging residents to closely monitor current reports related to the
COVID-19 outbreak and to make responsible, personal decisions on how they can practice
personal "social distancing" to slow the transmission of COVID-19 and minimize illness and
death.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds recently signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency, activating
the disaster response and recovery aspects of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management's Iowa Emergency Response Plan. The proclamation authorizes state
agencies to utilize resources including personnel, equipment and facilities to perform activities
necessary to prevent, contain and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 virus.
Based on current information, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Dubuque County.
Local public health officials continue to work with local healthcare providers and are in frequent
communication with Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) officials as statewide, national,
and international conditions evolve.
Social distancing measures are taken to restrict when and where people can gather to stop or
slow the spread of infectious diseases. Social distancing measures can include limiting large
groups of people coming together, including canceling events. Many local and regional
educational institutions, special events, and businesses are announcing efforts to encourage
social distancing and advise patrons on staying home when they are ill.
"We're encouraging all Dubuque County residents, especially our senior citizens and those with
underlying health conditions, to think carefully about attending events and large gatherings,"
said Dubuque County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dave Baker. "This is a very serious
situation and we all need to follow the advice of our public health officials and healthcare
providers and practice common sense."
"The number one priority of local government is public safety and public health is public safety,"
said Dubuque Mayor Roy Buol. "While government and healthcare have obvious roles in
preparing for and responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, so does the public. I encourage
residents to think carefully about how they can make good decisions to help prevent the spread
of the virus."
The Dubuque County Health Department and City of Dubuque Health Services Department
encourage residents to rely on information regarding COVID-19 from the IDPH and the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. They also recommend individual residents take
these action steps:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol -
based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not
available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Avoid close contact (at least 6 feet distance) with people who are sick or experiencing
respiratory symptoms such as cough
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your mouth with your upper arm or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Take social distancing measures. Restrict where and when you gather with others.
For more information, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerqing-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus
For Dubuque County specific information, call the Dubuque Visiting Nurses Association at
563.556.6200 (8 a.m. — 4:30 p.m., Monday -Friday), the Dubuque County Health Department at
563.557.7396 (8 a.m. — 4:30 p.m., Monday -Friday), or the City of Dubuque Health Services
Department at 563.589.4181(8 a.m. — 5 p.m., Monday -Friday).
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