At tonight’s meeting, the City Council will consider an emergency declaration to help expedite certain City functions.

In light of the several orders issued by Governor Hogan responding to the COVID-19 State of Emergency, the City’s Emergency Operations Plan, and the Mayor and Council powers under the City Charter and Code and the Maryland Code, that the City Manager be and he is hereby authorized to take the following actions:

(a) To extend permits already issued by the City, to include without limitation building, parking, and occupancy permits, to a date certain determined by the City Manager that is after termination of the state of emergency and the proclamation of the catastrophic health emergency has been rescinded

(b) To suspend the requirement to obtain a City parking permit to a date certain determined by the City Manager that is after termination of the state of emergency and the proclamation of the catastrophic health emergency has been rescinded

(c) To extend licenses already issued by the City, to include without limitation vendor and liquor licenses, to a date certain determined by the City Manager that is after termination of the state of emergency and the proclamation of the catastrophic health emergency has been rescinded;

(d) To suspend the issuance of City permits and licenses to a date certain as determined by the City Manager that is after termination of the state of emergency and the proclamation of the catastrophic health emergency has been rescinded; and

(e) To take those additional actions necessitated by the State of Emergency that are consistent with the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and the Governor’s Orders.

Additionally, by this resolution, the City will waive the competitive contract bidding requirements of the City Code, Chapter 69, for those immediate expenditures necessitated by the State of Emergency. Furthermore, the following actions are adopted and ratified:
(a) All City offices are closed to the public; however, service delivery will continue to be conducted online or by telephone.
(b) All in-person City Boards, Commissions, and Committee meetings are suspended until further notice. When necessary, meetings and hearings will be conducted by teleconferences. (c) Access to all City buildings and indoor recreational facilities will be restricted to City employees only.