Mayor Buol's Declaration Proclamation UpdateCopyrighted
April 6, 2020
City of Dubuque Presentation(s) # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Mayor Buol's Declaration Proclamation Update
SUMMARY: Mayor Roy D. Buol will present an update to the March 17,
2020 COVI D-19 Declaration Proclamation.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
COVI D-19 Mayor's Declaration Proclamation
Type
Supporting Documentation
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
PROCT ,AMA
'ION
WHEREAS, 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
WHEREAS, 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
WHEREAS, 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 area 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
WHEREAS, 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
WHEREAS, the Governor has issued numerous State of Public Health Disaster Emergency
orders; and
WHEREAS, in order to flatten the curve of COVID-19 in the City of Dubuque it is necessary
to maintain and extend several mitigation measures; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of Iowa recommended schools in the state of Iowa remain closed
until April 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, 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.
4/2/2020 3:10:01 PM
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 10 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 all citizens comply with the mandated closures issued by
Governor Kim Reynolds.
I further strongly suggest, consistent with the recommendations of the IDPH, that
private gatherings of 10 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 spring
recreational programs and Multicultural Family Center programs.
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 May
4, 2020.
I hereby cancel meetings and other gatherings of the public scheduled for the
Comiskey Park building and the Allison Henderson building through at least May 4, 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 suspend any requirements within the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances
which mandate the requirement for physical meeting locations and physical notifications or
mailings and authorize electronic and virtual meetings and electronic notifications; this
includes but is not limited to notices required by Title 16 of the city code.
I hereby issue a moratorium on the issuance of special event permits and solicitor's
licenses through at least May 4, 2020.
I hereby extend the closure of the following City buildings to public access through
at least May 4, 2020:
• City Hall
• City Hall Annex
• Leisure Services Department Office at Bunker Hill
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• 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 bel 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 6th DAY OF APRIL 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 6th day of April 2020.
Roy . Buol, Mayor
Attest:
Ke(iin S. Firnstahl, CMC, City Clerk
4/2/2020 3:10:01 PM