HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2020-06-15 Item 4A - COVID-19 - Weekly Coronavirus ReportCOUNCIL AGENDA SYNOPSIS
ITEMNO.
Meeting Date
Prepared by
Mayor's review
Council review
6/15/20
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ITEM INFORMATION
STAFF SPONSOR: RACHEL BIANCHI
ORIGINAL AGENDA DATE: 6/15/20
AGENDA ITEM TITLE A weekly update on the City's planning and response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
CATEGORY ® Discussion
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❑ Motion
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❑ Resolution
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❑ Ordinance
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❑ MAavard
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❑ Pubbc Heating
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❑ Other
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SPONSOR ❑ Council ® Mayor ❑ HR ❑ DCD ❑ Finance ❑ Fire ❑ TS ❑ P&R ❑ Pobce ❑ PlV
SPONSOR'S The City is actively engaged in regional efforts to address the coronavirus (COVID-19).
SUMMARY Staff are providing the Council with updated information regarding the City's response to
COVID-19.
REVIEWED BY ❑ Trans&Infrastructure ❑ CommunitySvs/Safety ❑ Finance Com ❑ Planning/Economic Dev.
❑ LTAC ❑ Arts Comm. ❑ Parks Comm. ❑ Planning Comm.
DATE: N /A COMMITTEE CHAIR:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SPONSOR/ADMIN. N/A
COMMITTEE N/A
COST IMPACT / FUND SOURCE
EXPENDITURE REQUIRED AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED
Fund Source:
Comments:
MTG. DATE
RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION
06/15/20
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ATTACHMENTS
06/15/20
Coronavirus Report
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Coronavirus Response Update
June 15, 2020
Essential Services and City Operations
There are no changes to essential services or City operations since the last report.
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 Stability
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 discussed above, the staff -related
measures have been implemented since the last report. In addition, Council will continue to refine the direction
to staff on capital projects at the June 8 meeting, specifically regarding overlay, siding on the TCC and the new
facilities/seismic study. The Council will continue to receive regular updates on the progress of implementation.
Police Staffing and Calls for Service
There have been no changes to Police staffing since the last report.
Fire Staff ine and Calls for Service
There have been no changes to Fire staffing since the last report.
Human Services
HS staff has served an additional three households this week, consisting of four residents. All are impacted by
COVID wage loss. Staff has spent $19,488 this month on rental assistance and has a current balance remaining
of $2,039 for rent/utility assistance for the remainder of June. Staff has assisted 17 households so far this
month. Funding sources include the 1406 emergency rental assistance in conjunction with typical human
services general fund emergency assistance dollars. We have been able to access an additional $3000 in
'patchwork funds' that one of our funded agencies set aside specifically for Tukwila residents. This week staff
worked with three families that owed between $4400 and $6600 in back rent (3-4 months). HS staff continues
to get referrals from our multi-lingual partners at TSD. Using our multi-lingual partners, the Language Line and
translating via Google text, we continue to remove barriers to accessing critical services for some of our most
vulnerable residents. As a reminder, the City has a lifetime cap of $1,200 for each Tukwila household for
rental/utility assistance.
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Business Recove
Business Re -Openings
On June 5 King County entered into in a Modified Phase 1 of Washington's "Safe Start" four phase business
reopening plan. During this phase, in addition to essential business activities, most business activities from
Phase 2 are allowed to open but under additional limitations such as reduced seating and time serving
customers. Business activities that may restart include: dine -in restaurants and taverns (up to 25% of indoor
occupancy and 50% of outdoor capacity), in-store retail (up to 15% of maximum occupancy and indoor services
to 30 minutes), manufacturing, professional services, and personal services. It includes requirements for
physical distancing, employees to wear cloth face coverings (there are exceptions) and other procedures.
Westfield Southcenter plans to reopen (following the restrictions) on June 15.
Business Resources
During the week of 6/8 staff sent emails to all businesses with updates announcing that King County is now in a
Modified Phase 1, suggested other resources provided by the local Chamber of Commerce, and encouraged
them to consider applying for the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
If you know a small business who has not applied for PPP, or who considered it a few weeks ago and decided to
not apply, please encourage them to consider it again. Recently Congress approved important changes to the
program. These changes include extending the timelines for loan forgiveness, rehiring, repayment, and the
covered period for the loan, and lowering the amount of the loan that must be spent on payroll. The program
still has $130 billion to lend but the application deadline is June 30.
The Planning and Economic Development Committee is scheduled to discuss business recovery grant
opportunities during their meeting on 6/15.
Business Survey
Economic Development staff will continue calling businesses to survey their impact and needs related to COVID-
19. We recently sent a link to the remaining businesses to complete the survey online. We will report results
within the next two weeks.
Savin gLocal KC. com
Staff is requesting additional lodging tax funds to help build and maintain Saving Local, King County through the
year. LTAC is scheduled to consider the request on June 12 and the City Council on June 15.
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Meetine our Communitv's Basic Needs
Food Security
There was a slight decrease in the amount of people served by the Pantry this week, potentially due to the
difficult weather on Tuesday. The other distribution days saw the same number of people, roughly between 400
and 500 per distribution day.
The City is a part of a larger group — including the school district, Tukwila Pantry, Stillwaters, Impact Schools and
Tukwila Children's Foundation — working on how to address the gap in food service for students between when
the school year ends and summer school food service begins. Additionally, the summer meal program does not
start up until July 1. City staff are involved in this effort. In addition, four AmeriCorp/HungerCorp will be
assigned to Tukwila for food distribution and are available to help City staff with senior and summer meals, as
well as assist Stillwaters and 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 69 households,
consisting of 512 meals.
Students
To date, we have deployed over 500 MyFi devices to families that need the service. The hotspots are free for
families that have need, and the service plan lasts for 6 months with unlimited data. Families can connect up to
10 devices on one mobile hotspot.
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.
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