M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Members of the Town Council
From: Honorable Mayor Tim Meerbott
Date: May 20, 2020
Re: Resolution Supporting All Unemployment Assistance Measures Recommended by the Miami-Dade County Legislative Delegation to the Florida Governor
REQUEST
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING ALL UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE MEASURES RECOMMENDED BY THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR, INCLUDING ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS RETROACTIVELY FROM THE DATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY BY THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR DUE TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
By January 30, 2020, a new significant outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) had emerged throughout the World and the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. On March 1, 2020, the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer declared a Public Health Emergency existed in the State of Florida as a result of COVID-19 and confirmed eight (8) counties in Florida, including Miami-Dade County (“County”), to have tested positive for the disease. COVID-19 poses a health risk to the Town of Cutler Bay (“Town”) residents (particularly elderly residents) and responding to the threat may require extraordinary and immediate actions by the Town in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.
On March 13, 2020, a National Emergency was declared by President Donald J. Trump of the United States via Proclamation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 9, 2020, a State of Emergency was declared by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis via Executive Order No. 20-52. On March 13, 2020, a Declaration of Local State of Emergency was issued by County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. On March 13, 2020, a State of Emergency was declared by Town Manager Casals.
During this time, all nonessential businesses have been shut down and remain closed until an Executive Order regarding Florida’s COVID-19 recovery is issued to the County by Florida Governor DeSantis. Closures of nonessential businesses has had a dramatic impact on Florida’s economy, causing many employees to either lose their jobs and health benefits or become furloughed until further notice.
According to the Department of Labor Statistics report, dated April 30, 2020, for the State of Florida, there are 432,465 advanced initial claims for the week ended April 25, 2020. As of April 31, 2020, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate is 14.7%.
On April 7, 2020, the County Legislative Delegation issued a letter to Governor DeSantis, in support of the temporary measures being expanded, and requested the unemployment benefits be applied retroactively to the date that the individual job was lost (Attachment “A”). As Town Mayor, I whole-heartedly support the relaxation of unemployment requirements to provide needed economic relief to eligible unemployment applicants who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Town Council adopt this Resolution supporting the relaxation of unemployment requirements and directing the Town Clerk to provide a copy of this Resolution to the Governor of the State of Florida and the Chairperson of the County Legislative Delegation.
ATTACHMENT(S)
Ø Attachment “A” - Miami-Dade County Legislative Delegation Letter of Support