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CITY MANAGER’S REPORT May 12, 2020 COVID-19 PANDEMC UPDATE A timeline of significant events is provided at the end of this report to show the state and local response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City continues to provide accurate, timely, and valuable information to our citizens and interested parties through various media outlets and is working hard to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our community members and employees. As of the date of this report, Flathead County has not reported a new case of COVID-19 since the last positive case on April 14th. While reassuring, we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to prevent the spread in our community. The Whitefish Parks & Recreation Department opened our tennis courts at Riverside Park and Grouse Mountain Park, as well as the pickleball courts at Memorial Park on Friday, May 8th. Precautionary measures are in place to ensure we are following the guidelines of Governor Bullock and the Flathead City- County Health Department. Spray bottles of sanitizer are at all of the courts that can be used on the gate latches, as well as your hands. The boat launch at City Beach has also opened for the season with our Aquatic Invasive Species Inspection Station fully operational. A Parks Ambassador Program has also been created to ensure those visiting and recreating in our parks are following the social distancing and gathering guidelines. At the last City Council meeting, the idea of restaurants utilizing the parking spaces in front of their establishments to increase capacity was discussed briefly. I reached out to the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, and a community member who had proposed the idea referencing the “Street Seats” in Portland. Both individuals had not received any feedback or interest from restaurant owners at the time of our discussions. Concepts like the Portland model are geared toward a more permanent option and require an investment by the restaurant to ensure safety of those sitting in the parking area and to put into place certain improvements to meet permitting requirements. It is important to note that these programs were carefully planned and in place prior to the pandemic. City staff has concerns about this idea for our downtown, specifically issues surrounding alcohol sales and containment of those beverages within the premises approved by the State at the time of licensing, enforcement with our already limited resources, parking demands in downtown (employees and visitors), traffic safety (closing Central Avenue frequently is not ideal for our retail businesses), liability risks, and how to accommodate restaurants on streets controlled by MDT 2nd Street) and other locations in town. Due to the lack of interest expressed at this time and the uncertainty of what is being proposed (temporary vs. permanent) city staff does not intend to research this idea further without direction from the City Council. THE WAVE With the recent easing of Phase I restrictions allowing gyms to reopen with limited capacity and safety measures, The Wave released the following statement: "We are very excited to hear Governor Bullock announce the fitness industry may reopen as early as Friday, May 15th under strict guidelines. The Wave will be making final preparations to safely open our doors on Monday, May 25th to ensure our employees and members will remain as safe as possible during their time in the facility. Please stay tuned for additional information and we look forward to seeing all of our members soon." ---PAGE BREAK--- REMINDERS AND OTHER INFORMATION City Hall will be closed May 25th for the Memorial Day holiday. NEXT COUNCIL MEETING The FY21 budget work sessions will be held remotely this year via WebEx at 5:30 p.m. The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26th, and the second meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 8th. The next City Council meeting will be held remotely via WebEx on Monday, June 1st. The need for a work session has yet to be determined. Respectfully submitted, Dana M. Smith, CPA City Manager ---PAGE BREAK--- COVID-19 Pandemic Timeline of Significant Events March 15th – “Governor Bullock Directs the Closure of Public K-12 Schools for Two Weeks; Strongly Recommends Social Distancing Measures to Slow the Spread of COVID-19.” Marth 15th – City Administrative Policies for employees issued covering Travel Restrictions, Telecommuting/Remote work, and accrued leave use during school closures due to COVID-19. March 16th – Emergency Ordinance adopted by City Council cancelling all non-essential meetings, waiving resort tax late fees, waiving late fees and shut-offs for utilities, closing public restrooms, approving two weeks of paid emergency sick leave for employees who are directed by the Flathead City-County Health Department or a licensed physician to be isolated or quarantined due to COVID-19, and authorizing City Hall to be closed to the public. March 17th – Letters to residents and businesses from the City Manager and a letter to the community from Mayor Muhlfeld were emailed to the City’s notification list and posted on the City’s website. March 17th – Park Board closed park facilities, restrooms, and playgrounds. March 18th – City Hall officially closed to the public through March 27h. March 18th – Letter to residents regarding certain park closures emailed to the City’s notification list and posted on the City’s website. March 18th – Community update video series started with an update from Mayor Muhlfeld. March 18th – City Administrative Policy issued for emergency paid sick leave adopted by City Council. March 18th – Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) became law and required updates to the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Policy. FFCRA also expanded FMLA benefits to employees who cannot work due to having children out of school or daycare due to COVID-19 and provides for 2/3 of the rate of pay for the 10 weeks after the two unpaid weeks. March 19th – Declaration of a State of Emergency by Mayor Muhlfeld. March 19th – Flathead City-County Health Officer ordered closure of restaurants, bars, gyms, casinos, cinemas, etc. through March 30th. March 19th – City assisted Flathead County by sending a request to hotels/motels meeting specific criteria to respond to a survey for potential identification as overflow sites if the need arises. March 20th – “Governor Bullock Announces Closure of Dine-In Food Service and Alcoholic Beverage Businesses, and Other Activities that Pose Enhanced Risks to Curtail Spread of COVID-19.” March 22nd – Community update video from City Manager. ---PAGE BREAK--- March 23rd – City Administrative Policies issued to align previously issued Emergency Paid Sick Leave Policy with new FFCRA and to expand FMLA coverage. March 24th – Governor extended school closures and mandates social distancing. March 24th – Community update video from Mayor Muhlfeld. March 24th – City Hall closure to the public extended to April 10th. March 25th – Community update with Whitefish Community Foundation highlighting available resources. March 26th – Governor Bullock issued the Stay-at-Home Directive through April 10th. March 26th – Flathead City-County Health Officer ordered additional closures for salons, body art establishments, and massage services through April 10th. March 26th – Community update video from City Manager. March 27th – All park facilities are closed with the exception of open space parks. Signs were placed at all parks regarding closures. Signs were also placed on trash receptacles requesting people to “pack in, pack out” to lessen the risk to employees and the frequency needed to haul trash while the City is operating essential services only. March 27th – Community tourism update from Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau. March 27th – Glacier National Park closed to all visitors until further notice. State and Federal public lands started closures of campsites and restrictions for day-use only. March 29th – Community update from Mayor Muhlfeld. March 30th – City began operating at essential service levels to follow the Governor’s Stay-at- Home Directive. Most employees in City Hall are working remotely unless their position requires duties to be completed in the office. Public Works Department crews operating out of the Water Treatment Plant, Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Public Works Shop have been reduced by about 50% and are alternating paid days off under the emergency sick leave. Building inspectors continue to operate as normal and will adjust with demand. Parks and Recreation staff operating out of the Parks Shop are primarily on paid leave under the emergency paid sick leave through April 10th with some minor remote work and garbage service as needed. The Library is closed and those with remote work are doing so. Police, Court, and Fire are operating with normal staffing levels and taking extra precautions for safety. March 30th – Governor Bullock issued directive for mandatory quarantine for those traveling into Montana from out of State. Montana National Guard will assist in checking temperatures at airports and rail stations. March 30th/31st – Letter emailed and mailed to all licensed short-term rental and lodging properties in Whitefish requesting the businesses to voluntarily refrain from booking stays for visitors traveling for non-essential purposes through April 30th as supported by the new federal guidelines. ---PAGE BREAK--- March 31st – Governor Bullock’s new directive temporarily stops evictions, foreclosures, and cancellations of utilities. Late fees and penalties are also prohibited through April 10th. April 2nd - Governor Bullock issued a new directive designating childcare as an essential business with certain requirements for operations and limiting the number children. April 5th – City Council held a remote special session and adopted an emergency ordinance prohibiting motels, hotels, short-term rentals, and other lodging facilities from accepting reservations for non-essential purposes through April 30, 2020, with possible extensions in accordance with federal, state, and local guidance. April 5th – Letter emailed to all short-term rental and lodging properties from the City Manager notifying them of the new emergency ordinance. April 6th – Letters mailed to all short-term rental and lodging properties from the City Manager notifying them of the new emergency ordinance. April 6th – The first remote regular City Council meeting was held. The City Council adopted an emergency ordinance clarifying the authority of the City Manager, addressing the ability for remote City Council, Planning Board, and Architectural Review Committee meetings, amending the original emergency ordinance, and identifying certain deadlines tolled and held in abeyance in accordance with a directive issued by Governor Bullock. April 7th – Flathead City-County Health Department issued a public notice confirming community spread of COVID-19. April 7th – Governor Bullock extended the previously issued directives including the directive to stay at home, the closure of dine-in food service and alcoholic beverage businesses, closure of public schools, and others through April 24th. April 7th – Governor Bullock also issued two new directives. One directive waives the required two-mill emergency levy in order to access new funding coming into the state through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the other provides protective measures for first responders. April 7th – City Hall closure to the public extended to April 24th. April 9th – Frequently Asked Questions and example confirmation form for essential short-term lodging arrangements posted to the City’s website as referenced in letter mailed on April 6th. April 10th – First lawsuit filed against a Montanan City for their response to the pandemic. Known information so far is that the lawsuit is related to the opening of a golf course and the failure of the City to meet the CDC guidelines relating to masks. City Attorney Jacobs is looking into this case to learn more. April 13th – Flathead City County Health Department issued a statement regarding the first death of a Flathead County resident from COVID-19. April 13th – Community Update from the CEO of North Valley Hospital, Kevin Abel. ---PAGE BREAK--- April 14th – Governor Bullock announced the release of the first Interim Analysis of COVID-19 Cases in Montana (as of 4/10/2020 10 pm). April 14th – City Administrative Policy 2020-08 issued to address operational and personnel policy changes in response to COVID-19. This policy includes updates to the travel policy, meetings, remote work, leave use, etc. April 16th – First remote Whitefish Planning Board meeting held. April 16th – Governor Bullock announced the creation of the Coronavirus Relief Fund Task Force. The Task Force, comprised of business owners, nonprofits, and local government representatives, will help determine how the $1.25 billion appropriated to Montana from the Federal CARES Act should be used. April 17th – Community Update from Assistant Police Chief, Bridger Kelch. April 22nd – Governor Bullock announced the phased approach “Reopening the Big Sky,” provides directives for Phase One with certain businesses allowed to open, extends the mandatory 14-day quarantine of certain travelers coming into Montana from another state or country, extends certain waivers provided in other directives, and lifts the Stay-at-home Directive on April 26, 2020. April 23rd – Flathead City-County Health Department provides additional guidance for businesses preparing to reopen under Phase One. April 23rd – Community Update from Mayor Muhlfeld and City Manager regarding the phased reopening of Montana. April 23rd – In accordance with Ordinance 20-05, City Manager issues order extending the prohibition of non-essential stays in Whitefish lodging facilities until May 10th with a plan for the City Council to review a phased reopening plan on May 4th. April 23rd – City Hall closure extended to May 1, 2020. Anticipated reopening on May 4th. April 25th – Community Update from Whitefish Legacy Partners featuring guidelines and reminders for recreating safely on the Whitefish Trail System. April 26th – Whitefish School District Board of Trustees decides to continue with remote learning through the end of school year. April 27th – In accordance with Ordinance 20-04, City Manager issues Order 2020-02 that cancels all City Board, Commission and Committee meetings through Phase One, with the exception of City Council, Planning Board and the Architectural Review Committee which will be held remotely via WebEx, clarifying remote meeting participation, temporarily waives all late fees and service shut off for delinquent water and sewer accounts through May 24, 2020, temporarily waives resort tax delinquency fees through May 24, 2020, and keeps public restrooms located in the parking structure and the O'Shaughnessy Center closed through Phase One. ---PAGE BREAK--- April 27th – City Administrative Policy issued to clarify operations in accordance with state and local guidance for Phase One, Phase Two, and Phase Three. April 27th – City releases information about public access and operational changes at City Hall in preparation for reopening date of May 4th. April 27th – Whitefish Parks & Recreation release phased reopening plan for parks and park facilities. April 29th – City releases two signs for businesses to use to join our outreach to “Prevent the Spread” and keep consistent guidance. These signs were approved by the City-County Health Department. May 1st – The Governor’s Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Council submitted its recommendations to the Governor for use of the $1.25 billion coming to Montana from the CARES Act. May 4th – City Hall reopens to the public with safe measures in place. May 4th – City Council adopts Emergency Ordinance No. 20-07 amending Ordinance Nos. 20-04 and 20-06 to clarify rules for public participation in remote meetings. May 4th – City Council adopts Emergency Ordinance No. 20-08 amending Emergency Ordinance No. 20-05 and establishing a phased plan for reopening motels, hotels, short term rentals, and all other lodging facilities. May 5th – City issues press release regarding phased plan for reopening lodging facilities and mails letter to lodging properties. May 7th – The Montana Department of Commerce began accepting applications for the new Montana Business Stabilization Grant Program, as well as other grant programs, that are available due to the $1.25 billion allocated to Montana from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. May 7th –The Governor announced additional businesses (Gyms, Movie Theatres, and Museums) can reopen on May 15th with certain capacity, social distancing, and sanitation requirements as part of Phase One of Reopening the Big Sky. May 8th – The City opened the tennis courts at Riverside Park and Grouse Mountain Park, as well as the pickleball courts at Memorial Park. The boat launch at City Beach also opened for the season with our Aquatic Invasive Species Inspection Station fully operational.