ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager with a Request to APPROVE a RESOLUTION in Support of the RESTORE HEART of ILLINOIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
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BACKGROUND: In late 2019, a new and significant outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) occurred. COVID-19 is a novel virus that can cause severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among people and present symptoms similar to influenza. Despite efforts to contain the disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicate it will continue to spread. On March 13, 2020, the President issued a declaration of national emergency in response to COVID-19. On March 20, 2020 the Governor of Illinois issued Executive Order 2020-10 issuing a Stay-at-Home Order for the State for the preservation of public health and safety and to ensure that the State’s healthcare delivery system is capable of serving those who are sick. On May 1, 2020, Governor Pritzker issued Executive Order 2020-32, extending the stay at home order until May 30, 2020. On May 5, 2020, Governor Pritzker released Restore Illinois, a five-phased plan to reopen the state, guided by health metrics and with distinct business, education and recreation activities characterizing each phase. The Restore Illinois plan, however, does not contain direction on compliance or timelines for reopening certain sectors.
On May 13, 2020, the Restore Heart of Illinois Implementation Plan (Restore HOI) was released to the public as a localized plan that utilized public health and safety metrics while reopening the Central Illinois region. Local community and government leaders drafted the Restore HOI Plan provides guidance to several business sectors. Restore HOI provides guidance where the state plan is silent or provides additional guidance where the state plan provides minimal direction.
Two weeks later, on May 24, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity publicly released the first set of guidelines for Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois plan. Included in the State’s plan were more than 80% of the same guidelines that were first developed by Restore HOI. This is a strong indication that our plan contained quality information and influenced the State’s plan.
On May 28, www.restorehoi.com was unveiled, providing local businesses the ability to self-certify as COVID-19 compliant based on guidelines set by public health officials. This website is the only platform in the Central Illinois region where businesses can voluntarily self-certify that they will comply with safe reopening guidelines to protect the health and safety of their customers.
Restore HOI provides four key components: Metrics, Industry Guidelines, Voluntary Compliance, and Timelines for Reopening.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Safely reopening the economy is the goal of the Restore HOI Plan. The plan was developed with City, County and Public Health staff input. The Restore HOI website (www.restorehoi.com) was implemented at no cost to local governments by AdCo, a local advertising firm.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Local business owners have expressed concern the state plan does not provide enough direction to allow them to open confidently.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The City will make a statement in support of the Restore HOI Plan.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The City will not make a statement in support of the Restore HOI Plan.
ALTERNATIVES: The City adhere to the Restore IL Plan.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Support sustainability.
2. Grow employers and jobs.
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office