HomeMy WebLinkAbout20-014 Suspending Late Fees and Penalties until June 30, 2020 Resolution 20-014
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RESOLUTION NO. 20-014
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND,
WASHINGTON, SUSPENDING LATE FEES AND PENALTIES UNTIL JUNE 30, 2020
AND CONFIRMING THE PROCLAMATION MADE BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
MANAGER ON MARCH 23, 2020
WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend (City) is a non-charter code city organized under
Title 35A RCW; and
WHEREAS, RCW 38.52.070 has authorized the creation of local organizations for
emergency management within the City and authorized additional authority to combat
emergencies; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Public Health and
Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public emergency for the novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) beginning on January 27, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed a Proclamation declaring
a State of Emergency exists in all counties in the State of Washington due to the number of
confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state and directed that the plans and procedures of the
Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan be implemented; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Port Townsend Municipal Code 9.40.030, the Port
Townsend Police Chief(or Emergency Manager as designee) is designated to administer the
Emergency Management Organization; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager and City Emergency Manager have reported to the
Mayor of the City of Port Townsend that a state of emergency exists within the City of Port
Townsend based upon the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Washington State;
and
WHEREAS, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies the
potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 as high and has advised that person-to-person
spread of COVID-19 will continue to occur; and
WHEREAS, the President of the United States declared a national emergency regarding
the novel coronavirus on March 13, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Health has confirmed localized
person-to-person spread of COVID-19 in Washington State, significantly increasing the risk of
exposure and infection to the general public and creating an extreme public health risk that may
spread quickly; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager and Mayor jointly signed a statement declaring a public
health emergency on March 13, 2020 which was ratified by the Port Townsend City Council on
March 16, 2020; and
Resolution 20-014
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WHEREAS, local businesses have recently reported laying off employees, experiencing
severe revenue losses, dealing with lost business due to misplaced fear and stigma, and seeing
major declines in foot traffic as many employees are being asked to work from home; and
WHEREAS, these impacts are being felt across all industry sectors, including retail,
restaurant, hospitality, transportation, logistics, arts and culture, and many more; and
WHEREAS, the economic impact may have long-term, dynamic and unpredictable local
and regional consequences, necessitating the City to act and plan accordingly; and
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation by the
Governor 20-25 "Stay Home— Stay Healthy"that ordered residents to remain home unless
engaging in essential services or working in essential businesses or services; and
WHEREAS, a number of City departments have strategized immediate interventions for
affected local small businesses and displaced workers; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Manager jointly issued a proclamation waiving late
fees and penalties on March 23, 2020;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port
Townsend:
1. The City of Port Townsend will waive all late fees and penalties, as listed in Port Townsend
Municipal Code ("PTMC") 13.05.090, for utility accounts from March 1 through June 30,
2020
2. The City of Port Townsend will not shut-off water nor require full payment of unpaid utility
accounts prior to restoring service as described in PTMC 13.05.100 from March 1, 2020
through June 30, 2020.
3. The City of Port Townsend will not impose penalties or interest for late or underpaid
business and occupational taxes as described in PTMC 5.0413.090, from March 1, 2020
through June 20, 2020.
4. The Proclamation by the Mayor and City Manager dated March 23, 2020 on this topic is
confirmed and ratified.
Resolution 20-014
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ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regular meeting
thereof, held this 6th day of April 2020.
-------------------------------------------------------
Michelle Sandoval
Mayor
Attest: Approved as to form:
............................................--....----------------- ........... .... ..........
Joanna Sanders, MMC I leidi (J're iwood
City Clerk City Attorney
Attachment 2
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Proclamation of the City of Port Townsend, Washington
Declaring the Suspension of Late Fees and Penalties Until June 30, 2020
WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend (City) is a non -charter code city organized under
Title 35A RCW; and
WHEREAS, RCW 38.52.070 has authorized the creation of local organizations for
emergency management within the City; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Public Health and
Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public emergency for the novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) beginning on January 27, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed a Proclamation declaring
a State of Emergency exists in all counties in the State of Washington due to the number of
confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state and directed that the plans and procedures of the
Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan be implemented; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Port Townsend Municipal Code 9.40.030, the Port
Townsend Police Chief (or Emergency Manager as designee) is designated to administer the
Emergency Management Organization; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager and City Emergency Manager have reported to the
Mayor of the City of Port Townsend that a state of emergency exists within the City of Port
Townsend based upon the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Washington State;
and
WHEREAS, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies the
potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 as high and has advised that person-to-person
spread of COVID-19 will continue to occur; and
WHEREAS, the President of the United States declared a national emergency regarding
the novel coronavirus on March 13, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Health has confirmed localized
person-to-person spread of COVID-19 in Washington State, significantly increasing the risk of
exposure and infection to the general public and creating an extreme public health risk that may
spread quickly; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager and Mayor jointly signed a statement declaring a public
health emergency on March 13, 2020 which was ratified by the Port Townsend City Council on
March 16, 2020; and
WHEREAS, local businesses have recently reported laying off employees, experiencing
severe revenue losses, dealing with lost business due to misplaced fear and stigma, and seeing
Attachment 2
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major declines in foot traffic as tens of thousands of employees are being asked to work from
home; and
WHEREAS, these impacts are being felt across all industry sectors, including retail,
restaurant, hospitality, transportation, logistics, arts and culture, and many more; and
WHEREAS, S, the economic impact may have long-term, dynamic, and Lill pred i etable local
and regional consequences, necessitating the City to act and plan accordingly; and
W1iEREAS, a number oi`City departments have strat gived immediate interventions for
affected local small businesses and displaced workers; and
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby proclaimed as follows:.
The City of Port Townsend will waive all late fees and penalties, as listed in Port Townsend
Municipal Code ("PTMC") 13.05.090, for utility accounts from March 1 through June 30,
2020
2. The City of Port Townsend will not shut-off water nor require full payment of unpaid utility
accounts prior to restoring service as described in PTMC 13.05.100 from March 1, 2020
through June 30, 2020.
3. The City of Port Townsend will not impose penalties or interest for late or underpaid
business and occupational taxes as described in PTMC 5.0413.090, from March 1, 2020
through June 20, 2020.
Dated this 23 day of March 2020,
'w'tabaa auro
City Manager
Michelle Sandoval
Mayor