Olympia City Council declares public health emergency to fast-track coronavirus response

The Olympia City Council adopted an ordinance Tuesday night declaring a public health emergency in response to the coronavirus outbreak, as city officials continue to work with those at higher levels of government to get their hands around the short- and long-term implications of COVID-19.

Similar to emergency declarations taken up by other cities and states in recent weeks, the ordinance allows city staff to fast-track efforts to combat the outbreak while continuing to operate essential city services such as utilities, homeless services and police and fire response.

The emergency declaration will be in effect until June 18, when it will be reconsidered.

City Council members will have the opportunity to take action next week that will prevent the shutoff of utility services, including garbage pickup, for people who suffer financial or health setbacks due to COVID-19.

Interim City Manager Jay Burney said Tuesday that such a freeze has preemptively been put into place ahead of next week’s council meeting. Burney will retain his role for the foreseeable future, as the search for a permanent hire has been suspended because of the outbreak.

“There will be an online certification form to submit with a box to check,” Burney said of the utility safeguard. “At the end of it, we’ll work with folks on a payment plan.”

The city also will waive the fee retailers are required to charge customers for use of paper bags. Offering free paper bags will help reduce the level of contact store workers have with reusable bags brought in from customers’ homes.

Burney also noted that temporary lodging is being provided for some homeless people at severe risk from COVID-19. He specified after the meeting that the city has partnered with the county to secure 10 rooms for people who have been living at the mitigation site downtown. He declined to specify the location of those rooms.

While Olympia will continue to provide essential services during the emergency period, all city buildings will be closed through at least March 31. City parks and bathrooms remain open, but playgrounds will be cordoned off.

Homeless services and building inspections also will continue as planned.

Olympia police officers will continue responding to the most significant calls for help, such as ones where the suspect is present or there is an immediate threat to person or property, but will begin handling less severe situations via telephone. Online crime reporting portals are available. The Olympia Police Department business offices will be closed to the public until at least March 31.

The city will look for guidance from the state when it comes to additional measures, such as potential relief for mortgages or rent and a freeze on evictions. Mayor Cheryl Selby said those actions aren’t as easily under the purview of the city.

Mayor Pro-tem Jessica Bateman, who is running for state legislator, said Tuesday that she’s heard Gov. Jay Inslee has asked Attorney General Bob Ferguson to review a potential statewide mortgage freeze.

“There’s a ripple effect,” Shelby said. “You can’t just pull one lever and not affect another level.”

Members of the city finance committee were to meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to discuss how the city will handle the economic implications of providing those services during a period of decreased revenues, as well as how to help small businesses and their employees while many businesses are shuttered due to the outbreak.

That meeting was to be held without an audience in the council chambers and streamed online.

Burney said the city wants to ensure actions it takes are consistent with those taken in neighboring cities while putting itself in position to assist other agencies such as The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound and the United Way.

Selby said the way Olympia responds to the escalating crisis will be akin to “building the airplane as we’re flying it,” and that efforts to respond to the economic aftermath can take shape while the crisis itself is addressed. The city plans to convene an ad-hoc committee to work on recovery efforts.

“My mind goes downtown and the already fragile economy down there,” Shelby said. “The people who opened businesses down there deserve to be supported through this. Downtown businesses are nimble, agile and creative in finding ways for them to survive, and we need to pull together to keep what is one of the most unique downtowns alive.”

This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 1:51 PM.