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J. There has been a drop in the number of tenants appearing in court for their eviction hearings in <br />Snohomish County resulting in default judgments being entered and tenants losing substantial <br />rights to assert defenses or access legal and economic assistance. <br />K. Evictions result in a loss of housing and create housing instability, potentially increasing the <br />n umber of people experiencing homelessness and creating a heightened risk of disease <br />transmission. <br />L Jurisdictions across the nation are considering or have implemented eviction prevention to <br />provide housing stability to dislocated workers during this unprecedented public health <br />e mergency. <br />M. Art. XI, Sec 11 of the Washington State Constitution grants cities like the City of Everett broad <br />police powers to "make and enforce within its limits all such local police, sanitary and other <br />regulations as are not in conflict with general laws." <br />N. The Washington State Legislature has declared a state policy to help residents who are <br />e xperiencing a temporary crisis in retaining stable housing to avoid eviction from their homes, <br />as expressed in Laws of 2019 c 356 section 1 <br />O. A temporary moratorium on residential evictions during the COVID-19 outbreak will protect the <br />public health, safety, and welfare by reducing the number of individuals and families entering <br />into homelessness during this epidemic, which means lowering the number of people who may <br />develop the disease or spread the disease. <br />P. The civil emergency necessitates the utilization of emergency powers granted to the Mayor <br />pursuant to chapter 9.02 EMC and chapter 38.52 RCW. <br />Q. EMC 9.02.020.J authorizes the Mayor to proclaim "such other orders as are imminently <br />n ecessary for the protection of life and property" and take extraordinary measures to protect <br />the public peace, safety and welfare. <br />R. The COVID-19 civil emergency requires the issuance of an order that is specifically aimed at a <br />moratorium on residential evictions during the civil emergency to keep people housed and <br />protect the public safety, health and welfare as set forth in this Civil Emergency Order. <br />BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EVERETT, THAT: <br />I, CASSIE FRANKLIN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EVERETT, ACTING UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF CHAPTER <br />9.02 EMC, AND MY MAYORAL PROCLAMATION OF CIVIL EMERGENCY, DATED MARCH 4, 2020, <br />HEREBY ORDER: <br />1 Moratorium on Evictions for Certain Causes. <br />a. Effective immediately, a moratorium on residential evictions for non-payment is hereby <br />ordered until the earlier of the termination of the Civil Emergency declared in the <br />CIVIL EMERGENCY ORDER RE EVICTIONS Page 2 of 4 <br />