HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 20-020 COOPRESOLUTION NO.20-020
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA ADOPTING THE
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, the City Council of the City of Saratoga adopted Resolution 20-
010 confirming and affirming the existing of a local emergency due to the spread of the novel coronavirus
(named "COVID-19"); and
WHEREAS, efforts to reduce and slow the spread of COVID-19, including shelter at home orders
issued by both the State of California and County of Santa Clara as well as guidance for the public and
workplaces, have had significant impacts to the City's routine operations; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that it provides many vital services that must remain operational,
even during an emergency; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan (attached) identifies the City of
Saratoga's critical functions by department and position to ensure continuation of government during and
after a disaster.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Council of the City of Saratoga does hereby
adopt the COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan.
The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted at a special meeting of the Saratoga City
Council held on the 15"' day of April 2020 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Howard A. Miller, Vice Mayor Mary -Lynne Bernald, Council Members E. Manny
Cappello, Yan Zhao, Rishi Kumar
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
k
Howard A. Miller, Mayor
ATT
DATE:
Y �uya
Debbie Bretschneider, City Clerk
123,0163.1
INTRODUCTION
In March 2020, the City of Saratoga issued a local emergency proclamation for the first
time in many years as a result of the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Recognizing that the City provides many vital services, the COVID-19 Continuity of
Operations Plan (COOP) was developed to ensure critical functions remain operational
under the spread of the novel coronavirus, enabling the City to continue serving the
community. The City has an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that is used to prepare for,
respond to, and recover from major disasters. The COVID-19 COOP supplements the EOP
by identifying the most important functions of the City by department to ensure the
continuation of government during and after a disaster.
While the COVID-19 COOP was prepared amid a global pandemic, the City of Saratoga is
vulnerable to a host of local hazards, including earthquakes, wildfires, landslides, severe
weather, civil unrest, terrorism, transportation disasters, disease pandemics, and more.
While this plan is specifically intended to inform continuity of City operations during
COVID-19, the City recognizes the need for an all -hazards COOP that provides strategies
for ensuring the most essential functions continue when there are disruptions of any type
to normal operations. The COVID-19 COOP is expected to be incorporated into a larger
COOP intended to increase resiliency of the community and government operations
under any conditions that the City of Saratoga is likely to encounter.
SCOPE
The COVID-19 COOP facilitates restoration of the most important functions within the
City of Saratoga's departments and jurisdictional responsibilities. It does not describe how
the City will respond to the spread of COVID-19 or another emergency. The COOP
addresses critical functions and personnel in the all City departments and divisions,
including:
• City Council
• Commissions
• City Manager's Department: City Clerk, Public Information, Community Services,
Emergency Management
• City Attorney's Office
• Administrative Services Department: Finance, Administrative Services, Human
Resources, Information Technology, Risk Management
• Making decisions on appeals authorized by the
City Code to extent allowed under shelter at
home orders
Commissions Commissions serve as advisory bodies to the City Council. E
Most Commissions do not have decision making
authority with two notable exceptions; the Planning and
Heritage Preservation Commission are responsible for
making decisions on certain types of development
applications.
Essential functions include:
• Planning Commission: Development application
review to extent allowed under shelter at home
orders
• Planning Commission: Consideration of appeals
of staff decisions to extent allowed under shelter
at home orders
• Heritage Preservation Commission: Development
application review to extent allowed under
shelter at home orders
City Manager The City Manager's Department provides leadership, A
oversight, and direction for all City functions. It includes
the City Clerk's Office, Public Information Office, and
Community Services. Additionally, the City Manager's
Department serves as a liaison to other governmental
agencies and local non-profit partners and provides
support to the City Council.
Essential functions include:
• City Council support and implementation of
priorities
• Agenda development
• Emergency, recovery, and continuity related
policy research and development
• Emergency related intergovernmental relations
• Emergency related outreach and
communications
• Compliance with Brown Act, Political Reform Act,
and Public Records Act
• Public Records Act requests for records can be
accessed remotely
• Emergency operations
City of Saratoga COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan — Page 3
Essential positions include:
• Administrative Services Director
• Finance Manager
• Administrative Analyst I
• Accountant II
• Accounting Technician Lead
• Accounting Technician
• Human Resources Manager
• IT Supervisor
• IT Technician
Community The Community Development Department guides the C
Development physical growth of the City and preserves the
community's quality of life by administering zoning
regulations and providing building an inspection services,
code compliance, arborist services, and advanced
planning activities that maintain the General Plan. The
department also includes facility maintenance, which
ensures City facilities are clean, safe, and functional for
the general public and employees.
Essential functions include:
• Citywide land use planning to extent allowed
under shelter at home orders
• Planning development and building plan review
to extent allowed under shelter at home orders
• Construction inspection needed to maintain safe
conditions and allow existing residential
structures to remain habitable to extent allowed
under shelter at home orders
• Code Compliance for health and safety issues
• Arborist services for health and safety issues
• Facility maintenance needed to maintain safe
conditions for essential services
Essential positions include:
• Community Development Director
• Building Official
• Office Specialist III
• Building Inspector
• Permit Technician
• Senior Planner
City of Saratoga COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan — Page 5
the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department. Furthermore, many staff performing
non -essential work may be able to continue doing so from home to ensure their safety
and slow the spread of COVID-19.
City of Saratoga COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan — Page 7