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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2020-06-01 Item 4D - COVID-19 - Weekly Coronavirus ReportCoronavirus Response Update June 1, 2020 Essential Services and City Operations There have been no changes to essential services. The City is continuing to refine a reopening plan corresponding with the State's "Safe Start" phased approach to reopening the state. It should be noted that only in Phase 3 do they recommend re -opening customer -facing government services, and even at that time telework is still strongly encouraged for non -customer facing positions. Financial Stabi At the May 18 City Council meeting the Council approved various measures for the mayor to implement to address the revenue shortfalls associated with the coronavirus pandemic. As a part of this effort, the Council will receive regular updates on the progress of implementation. Police StaffinLy and Calls for Service There have been no changes to Police staffing since the last report. Fire StaffinLy and Calls for Service There have been no changes to Fire staffing since the last report. Human Services HS staff continues to finalize May's rental assistance details and is gearing up for June. Residents are being referred by the property managers, TSD partners, non-profit partners, friends and neighbors in the same complex. To date for the month of May, we have served 19 households (64 individuals) for rental assistance, totaling $17,947.40 from both the normal Human Services rental assistance funding (general fund) and HB 1406 funds. In addition, Human Services staff partnered with the Tukwila Children's Foundation to do intake and processing that allowed an additional $9,000 in rental assistance from TCF to help Tukwila Families, which resulted in an additional 12 individuals being served. Business Recovery Business Reopening King County is currently in Phase 1 of Washington's "Safe Start" four phase business reopening plan. During this phase, in addition to essential businesses and activities, other businesses are allowed to open such as restarting construction, vehicle sales, spiritual drive-in services, car washes, landscaping, pet walking, and curbside retail. Westfield Southcenter and other retailers have already started curbside retail. As of May 271", twenty-four counties in Washington have been approved to move into Phase 2 and three more have been approved to apply for the variance to move into Phase 2. 145 Although King County is not yet in Phase 2, the Governor has issued guidance for various business sectors that may start in other counties. This is helpful because it gives our businesses an opportunity to prepare to reopen. The new guidance pertains to dine -in restaurants and taverns, in-store retail, manufacturing, professional services, and personal services. In addition to physical distancing and other requirements, key limitations for restaurants include: customers are limited to 50% of maximum building occupancy and additional table spacing. Retail stores are limited to 30% of maximum occupancy. Employees are required to wear face covering. As the Governor explained, Phase 2 will start depending on a number of metrics such as disease activity, health care capacity, testing and tracing capacity, and protections for high risk individuals. City Economic Development staff is hopeful that King County will enter Phase 2 in early June. A more complete description of Washington's Safe Start business reopening plan can be found in the agenda packet for the Council's Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting on June 1. SavingLocalKC. com In mid -May the City of Tukwila, in partnership with the City of Kent and local chambers of commerce, launched the SavingLocalKC.com. SavingLocalKC is a free resource to all consumer facing businesses in King County. Businesses can place a deal on the websites for consumer to purchase now, for future use. The goal is to help support businesses that are closed or whose operations have been severely limited by the Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order. SavingLocalKC has dedicated marketing to promote the deals, including social media. Everyone can help support the campaign by following it on social media: twitter.com/savinglocalkc, instagram.com/savinglocalkc, facebook.com/SavingLocalKC. The program is funded by Tukwila's lodging tax. New Social Media Launched The City has launched new social media channels to promote the City to visitors and businesses. Follow us and tag as at twitter.com/ExpTukwila, instagram.com/experiencetukwila/, facebook.com/ExperienceTukwila. Business Survey Economic Development staff will continue calling businesses to survey their impact and needs related to COVID- 19. We very much appreciated the survey phone calls that Parks and Recreation staff completed in May. During the first week of June we will send a link to the remaining businesses to complete the survey online. We will report results on June 15. Meeting our Community's Basic Needs Food Security Approximately 1,000 households are served at the Tuesday and Thursday food distribution of the Tukwila Food Pantry, this number has been consistent on a weekly basis. Two City staff members continue to help support the Pantry. 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. Staff delivered to 66 clients, consisting of 500 meals. 146 Students Technology and Innovation Services (TIS) staff report that the City and the District were able to work out terms with AT&T for an additional 250 devices that have been delivered and are currently being deployed to grades K- 5. All initial devices procured at the start of the stay home, stay healthy order have been deployed for grades 6 — 12. Public Safety Plan Construction Projects 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. 147