Mayor Buol's Emergency Declaration Proclamation UpdateCopyrighted
June 8, 2020
City of Dubuque Presentation(s) # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Mayor Buol's Emergency Declaration Proclamation Update
SUMMARY: Mayor Buol will provide an update to his Emergency
Declaration Proclamation of June 1, 2020.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Emergency Declaration Proclamation Amendment#5 Supporting Documentation
,Mn. terriece nn the 1lississippi
IP I': S CLAMATI
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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, the Iowa Department of Public Health ("IDPH") has issued
recommendations for behavior modification to flatten the curve of COVID-19; 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 and
protect employees of the organization, it is necessary to maintain and extend several
mitigation measures; 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.
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 continues. Any
permits or permissions previously granted for events on public property or public rights -
of -way through July 6, 2020, are hereby rescinded and any amounts paid for such permits
shall be refunded upon request. I hereby issue a moratorium on the issuance of special
event permits, solicitor's licenses, and permits/permissions for events on public property
or public rights -of -way through at least July 6, 2020. However, in light of recent acts of
racism against people of color across the nation, I hereby authorize the City Manager to
issue permits for events on public property and public rights -of -way, on a case by case
basis, to bring attention to systemic racism, social justice issues, and to build on local
efforts to identify and address inequities in Dubuque and across the nation.
I further strongly encourage all citizens to comply with the closures, modification of
operations, and recommendations issued by Governor Kim Reynolds.
I hereby authorize the City Council, City Boards, and City Commissions to make
accommodations allowing for remote attendance and participation in regularly scheduled
meetings by members of each body, staff, and the public.
I hereby suspend any requirements within the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances which
mandate or require physical meeting locations and physical notifications or mailings and
hereby 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 authorize the City Manager to evaluate the suspension of fees within the control
of the City of Dubuque to support restaurants and bars due to the significant financial and
operational impacts they are experiencing due to DOVID-19 and encourage creative
thinking to provide assistance to other struggling businesses related to regulatory
requirements under the City's control.
I hereby extend the closure of City facilities to the public through July 6, 2020; however,
this closure does not apply to:
• Bunker Hill Golf Course
• Miller Riverview Park & Campground
• Port of Dubuque Marina Docks
• City parks.
While City parks are open to the public, playground equipment in city parks and swimming
pools shall remain closed. The reopening of playground equipment in city parks and
swimming pools continues to be evaluated.
City staff working in facilities closed to the public, or working remotely, 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 reopen or
further restrict access to city 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.
I further determine and direct the Police Chief to enforce the provisions of the Governor's
proclamation and this proclamation.
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.citvofdubuque.orq.
PROCLAIMED THIS 4TH DAY OF JUNE 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 tfais 1 St day of June 2020.
Roy-D. BI, Mayor
Attest:
Kevin . Firnstahl, CMC, City Clerk