Full Text
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT December 1, 2020 COVID-19 PANDEMIC The Whitefish COVID-19 Task Force continues to meet regularly to work on its mission to encourage community wide implementation of recommended and required health measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, support our hospitals and clinics, keep our businesses and schools open, and support our first responders and front-line workers. Numerous videos have been released within the last few weeks featuring Task Force members, doctors, nurses, teachers, and business owners. On Monday, December 7th, the “Mask Up” banners will be hung downtown that include pictures of community members donning their masks and with the reason why masks are needed. As we have 30 days to go due to CARES Funding constraints, great urgency has been placed on the remaining deliverables that include posters, website updates, additional videos, and more. At the last meeting, the Task Force was asked if there was more the City Council could be doing in response to the rising cases in our community. A resolution of support for the Task Force messaging and the need to follow health guidance and requirements had support from members present, but any additional restrictions on businesses and gatherings outside what the Governor implemented on November 20th were not recommended at this time. If the City Council wants to place a resolution on the agenda for the next City Council meeting, staff is happy to prepare the resolution for your consideration. CARES Funding will no longer be available for any purchases after December 30th. However, the City has been able to take advantage of many of these funds in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the second meeting in January the total amount received/requested for reimbursement will be reported. While starting January 1st, all COVID-19 costs revert to our general fund contingency, the hope is that additional funding will be approved by Congress for costs incurred by state and local governments during 2021 as the need remains, especially as vaccinations are coming soon and distribution of those will be critical. Progress continues to be made on adding the City of Whitefish and City of Columbia Falls to the Interlocal Agreement between Kalispell and Flathead County for the Flathead City-County Health Department and the Board of Health. My hope was to have it for your consideration at the December 7th meeting, but the drafting of the Interlocal Agreement is still in progress at the County level. Should a draft Interlocal be ready for City Council consideration in December, the 2nd meeting may need to be re-scheduled for this item only. The urgency is due to two positions on the Board of Health coming open at the end of December. If we can all agree before the end of the year, that would be ideal timing-wise to add the two positions, Whitefish and Columbia Falls, as standing members. REMINDERS City Hall will be closed December 24th at 12:00 p.m. for Christmas Eve, all day on December 25th for Christmas Day, and all day on January 1st for New Year’s Day. ---PAGE BREAK--- NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING The City Council has cancelled the December 21st meeting. The next City Council meeting is expected to be held remotely via WebEx on Monday, January 4th. For the work session, the City Council will hear a presentation by Montana Kids vs. Big Tobacco regarding flavored tobacco. Respectfully submitted, Dana M. Smith, CPA City Manager