Snohomish County 5/6/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

SNOHOMISH COUNTY COUNCIL Snohomish County, Washington MOTION NO. 20-103 AUTHORIZING THE USE AND ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTRONIC AND DIGITAL SIGNATURES WHEREAS, On January 21, 2020, the Washington State Department of Health confirmed the first case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States in Snohomish County, Washington. COVID-19, a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death, is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is a new strain of coronavirus that had not been previously identified in humans and can easily spread from person to person; and WHEREAS, The Washington State Department of Health has since confirmed localized person-to-person spread of COVID-19 in Washington State, significantly increasing the risk of exposure and infection to Washington State's general public and creating an extreme public health risk that COVID-19 may spread quickly. The number of COVID-19 cases in Snohomish County grow exponentially on a daily level, and COVID-19 has already caused the deaths of Snohomish County residents; and WHEREAS, On January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency for COVID-19, beginning January 27, 2020. On February 29, 2020, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee proclaimed a public health emergency for COVID-19. On March 4, 2020, the Snohomish County Health Officer proclaimed a countywide public health emergency for COVID-19. On March 4, 2020, Executive Dave Somers issued a "Local Proclamation of Emergency Snohomish County" for COVID-19 (the "Emergency"); and WHEREAS, On March 9, 2020, the Snohomish County Council suspended portions of Snohomish County Code in order to facilitate virtual council meetings; and WHEREAS, On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States of America declared COVID-19 a National Emergency; and WHEREAS, On March 23, 2020, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee issued "Proclamation by the Governor Amending Proclamation No. 20-05 Stay Home-Stay Healthy," wherein Gov. Inslee (1) immediately directed all people in Washington State to shelter-in-place except to conduct or participate in essential activities or perform essential business services, and (2) directed all non-essential businesses to cease operations effective midnight March 25, 2020 (the "Stay Home-Stay Healthy Proclamation"). The Stay Home-Stay Healthy Proclamation applies to all persons in Washington and expires midnight April 6, 2020, unless further extended; and WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee issued "Proclamation by the Governor Amending Proclamation No. 20-05 wherein Gov. Inslee waived and suspended portions of chapters 42.30 and 42.56 RCW that require in-person meetings or contacts; and MOTION NO. 20-103 AUTHORIZING THE USE AND ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTRONIC AND DIGITAL SIGNATURES PAGE 1 OF 2