Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOW 2020-04-13 Item 4C - Report - Weekly COVID-19 ReportCoronavirus Response Update April 13, 2020 Essential Services and Citv Operations There have been no changes to essential services and City operations since the last report. Financial Stabil There have been no changes since the last report. On Monday, April 13, 2020 Finance Department staff will begin working with the Council's Finance Committee to determine next steps as the City identifies how it will fully close the financial gap associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Police Staffing and Calls for Service There have been no changes to Police staffing since the last report. Calls for service are analyzed on a monthly basis and staff will report April statistics at the end of the month. Fire Staffing and Calls for Service One operational change has been implemented in order to save an estimated $250,000 in overtime over the course of a year. On days when there is an unscheduled absence in the fire department that results in 12 firefighters being on shift, as opposed to the usual 13 to 18, the aid unit will be put in service at Fire Station 52 in place of the engine. Engines require a minimum of three firefighters, while an aid car is two. Calls for emergency medical services are the highest call volume at Fire Station 52, with more than 72% of the calls to this station being medic in nature. For reference, approximately 8% of calls are fire related, with the remainder being a mix of false alarms and other calls. In addition, Fire Station 54's response time to the neighborhood around Fire Station 52 is very quick and within the City's adopted goals for response times for the Tukwila community. Fire Station 54 responds to the Old Hill neighborhood often, particularly when Fire Station 52 personnel are at trainings or covering a different area of the City for a variety of reasons. Calls for service are analyzed on a monthly basis and staff will report April statistics at the end of the month. Human Services Human Services staff continue to receive calls on a regular basis and work with various partners to identify and refer people to additional resources in the area. Additional regional efforts for rental and utility assistance are beginning to slowly come online. Staff is currently working on a plan to distribute HB 1406 funds per the Council's action on Monday, April 6, 2020. Business Recovery The Great Tukwila Carryout Campaign is currently running, with ad buys with Sound Media and South King County media. Visit TukwilaWa.gov/Restaurants. Our digital impressions and click through rates exceed national averages. Technology and Innovation Services Department improved the campaign by adding an interactive map to the webpage with direct links to the restaurants. The campaign was 51 intended to end in conjunction with the original Stay Home order, but now that the order has been extended staff is considering additional ad buys. 2. Economic Development and Parks and Recreation staff continue windshield surveys of businesses to check for compliance with the Governor's closure of non -essential businesses. Staff contacts businesses if needed to understand their business operations and inform them about the Governor's order. 3. Economic Development staff continues to stay abreast of new resources available to businesses though internet research and participation in online meetings. 4. Economic Development staff sent an email to all businesses in the City with information on new resources. 5. Economic Development staff has begun drafting a business recovery plan. An initial draft for review should be available next week. 6. Economic Development staff has begun preparing a telephone survey intended to reach the majority of Tukwila's businesses. The survey should accomplish a number of goals. The City's effort to make a personal contact will send a positive message to the businesses. The information should help the City understand the extent to which businesses are open, the state of their recovery plan, their prediction for reopening and awareness of resources, needs, and interest in participating in collaborative marketing programs. Calling should start next week. Parks and Recreation staff have offered to help conduct the surveys. 7. Economic Development staff started work on a collaborative marketing program to encourage consumers to purchase gift cards for future use at our local businesses. The City has identified a marketing/PR firm to assist us with the campaign. Our target area for consumers is all of Western Washington. Any consumer facing Tukwila businesses can participate free of charge, provided they offer something tangible to purchase now. Several Tukwila businesses have expressed an interest in participating and are appreciative of the City's efforts. This will move forward depending on interest from businesses and our ability to use lodging tax funds. Meeting our Community's Basic Needs Food Security City staff are in communication with a variety of partners that serve our community. The Tukwila Pantry, which usually serves 60 — 80 households a day is reporting they are now serving approximately 500 households per day. This is an increase from 350 included in the April 6 Coronavirus Response Report to Council. In addition, City staff are now supporting the Pantry. Three Parks and Recreation Staff and one Community Services and Engagement Staff are assisting the Pantry in packaging food for families as well as food distribution. The Pantry has also requested additional staffing support from the National Guard. Seniors City staff again supported our senior community through direct food distribution to homebound residents. Staff calls residents on Monday and Tuesday, to set up a Wednesday meal delivery. This week staff delivered 550 meals to seniors (multiple meals to each individual), a significant increase from last weekwhere approximately 250 meals were delivered. In addition, through a partnership with the Food Innovation Network, Halal meals were delivered this week for the first time. 42 Students Technology and Innovation Services (TIS) staff report that approximately 150 of the 300 MIFI hot spots have been distributed to Tukwila School District and Impact Public Schools 121" through 71" graders. The MIFI hot spots have the ability to connect multiple devices. Since many of these students live in multifamily housing, it is expected that more than 150 students are able to connect through the MIFIs. Public Safetv Plan Construction Pro There have been no changes to the Public Safety Plan projects since the last report. Compliance with the Governor's Order There have been no changes to compliance issues since the last report. 43