HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 5216-04-2020 RESOLUTION NO. 5216-04-2020
RESOLUTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, in December 2019 a novel coronavirus, now designated COVID-19, was
detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, with symptoms including fever, cough, and
shortness of breath and with outcomes ranging from mild to severe illness and in some cases,death;
and
WHEREAS, on .January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization Director General
declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
(PHFIC), advising countries to prepare for the containment, detection, isolation and case
management,contact tracing and prevention of onward spread of the disease; and
WHEREAS, on March 5, 2020, the World Health Organization Director General urged
aggressive preparedness and activation of emergency plans to aggressively change the trajectory
of this epidemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World .Health Organization declared COVID-19 a
worldwide pandemic; and
WHEREAS,COVID-19 spreads between people who are in close contact with one another
through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes; and
WHEREAS,the continued worldwide spread of COVID-19 presents an imminent threat of
widespread illness, which requires emergency action; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, County Judge Glen Whitley issued a Declaration of
Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency for Tarrant County,Governor Greg Abbott issued a State
of Disaster for all Texas counties, and President Donald Trump declared a State of National
Emergency for the United States of America on March 13, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of Fort Worth issued and subsequently amended a
Declaration of Public Health Emergency for the City of Fort Worth to implement measures to help
mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and stop its spread across the City and surrounding areas; and.
WHEREAS, the Fort Worth City Council adopted resolutions to extend the Mayor's
Declaration of Public Health Emergency, as amended, through April 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Governor Abbott issued Executive Order GA-18 and GA-19 on April 27,
2020,to provide for statewide measures to address the spread of COV.ID-19 and implement Phase
1 of his Open Texas strategic plan ("Open Texas Plan"), which allows certain nonessential
businesses to reopen for restricted business on May 1, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Governor Abbott has indicated that he intends to issue executive orders to
implement additional phases of his Open Texas Plan as certain metrics are met on a state-wide basis
related to containing the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the current situation with COVID-19 leads the City Council to believe that the
mitigation efforts and emergency response must continue past April 30,2020, with specific changes
to address the evolving nature of the emergency situation and to ensure that the City remains
consistent with Governor Abbott's executive orders and Open Texas Plan.
NOW THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED 13Y THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF FORT WORTH,TEXAS:
I.
1. That the designation of a public health emergency for the City is hereby extended and shall
be coterminous with the State of Disaster issued by Governor Greg Abbott on March 13,
2020, as may be amended and renewed.
2. That all Fort Worth Declarations of Public Health Emergency are hereby superseded by this
Resolution of Public Health Emergency,
3. That the City's Emergency Operations Plan shall continue to be implemented, pursuant to
§41.8.108(d) of the Texas Government Code.
4. That this resolution authorizes the City to order the evacuation of all or part of the population
from a stricken or threatened area under the jurisdiction and authority of the mayor if
necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster mitigation, response, or recovery, and
to control the movement of persons and the occupancy of premises,pursuant to §418.108(f,
(g) of the Texas Government Code.
5. That the City adopts the provisions of Executive Orders GA-I8 and GA-19 issued by
Governor Greg Abbott on April 27, 2020, as may be amended or superseded by subsequent
executive orders related to the Open Texas Plan issued by the Governor ("Executive
Orders"). The provisions of the Executive Orders are incorporated herein by reference as if
written word for word.
6. That any person, firm, corporation, agent or employee thereof who violates any of the
provisions of this resolution commits an offense that is considered a class C misdemeanor
and each day the violation continues shall be a separate offense punishable by a fine of not
more than $500. A culpable mental state is not required for the commission of an offense
under this resolution and need not be proved. The penalty provided for in this resolution is
in addition to any other remedies that the City may have under City ordinances and state law,
including said penalties outlined in the Executive Orders issued to address the spread of
COVID-19.
7. That all of the regulations provided in this resolution are hereby declared to be governmental
and for the health, safety, and welfare of the general public.
II.
That this resolution shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance.
ADOPTED THIS 29"' day of April, 2020.
Betsy rice
Mayo
Sarah J. Fu enwider
City Atto_ ey .-
�pF
Mary J. Kayse * _
City Secretary
�S