Modesto leaders urge residents to stay at home during coronavirus pandemic
Modesto on Thursday advised residents to stay home during the next couple of weeks to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The announcement came hours before Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all Californians to do the same in a televised early evening press conference from Sacramento.
Earlier in the day, the Modesto City Council voted 7-0 during a special meeting to adopt a resolution that includes advising residents to stay home until April 6 or until further notice. But the stay-at-home advice is not mandatory, and the city cannot enforce it.
“... Individuals should stay at home to the maximum extent feasible, and practice social distancing when not at home,” the resolution states. It also urges residents to practice other measures to combat the virus, including frequent hand washing and not shaking hands.
The resolution ratifies City Manager Joe Lopez’s declaration of a local emergency in response to the coronavirus that he signed Friday.
The resolution approved by council members is different from Mayor Ted Brandvold’s statement posted on the city website Wednesday, in which he proposed the council pass a resolution that included wording that the city recommend residents shelter in place and to direct staff to develop an emergency ordinance to stop evictions and foreclosures for renters and homeowners affected by the coronavirus for 90 days.
The resolution approved by the council swapped “shelter in place” with “stay at home,” though Brandvold noted that both are recommendations and not mandatory. Council members said the city does not have the authority to enforce a shelter in place order, adding that comes under the authority of county public health. They also said it aligns with Stanislaus County’s current position.
Stanislaus County Counsel Thomas Boze said in an interview that a city can adopt a shelter in place order and use its curfew authority and general police powers to enforce it. If the county were to adopt a shelter-in-place order, the county order would apply to the unincorporated areas and cities. It would supersede what the cities have done.
Boze said attorneys are talking about the legal issues surrounding contagious disease control measures.
“To be honest, we are still talking about this and how it’s going to work,” Boze said. “We don’t run across this every year. It’s new territory for us.”
Brandvold said the resolution approved by the council has broad language that lets city staff look at ways to protect renters and homeowners and others harmed by the virus. But Councilman Tony Madrigal urged his colleagues to provide specific protections for renters and homeowners.
“I don’t want our inaction to lead to more people being added to the homeless population,” Madrigal said. “I’d encourage our council to reconsider,” adding he’d like to extend the protection to renters of commercial properties.
Two members of the public also spoke about the need to provide temporary protection for renters and homeowners who could lose their jobs and suffer other hardships because of the coronavirus.
Council members praised Lopez and Brandvold for their leadership during the crisis and said Modesto’s actions are consistent with the steps taken by Stanislaus County and the county’s other cities.
Council members said that during a time of conflicting messages and information, it’s important that local governments provide residents with clear and consistent information. County CEO Jody Hayes reiterated that in his remarks to council members.
The resolution also authorizes the city to return fees collected for events at city parks and other facilities that have been canceled because of the virus, identify potential locations that could be used by healthcare providers dealing with the outbreak, and look for potential funding that might offset the economic harm to residents and businesses from the virus.
Modesto also will prepare policies and procedures to hold council meetings by telephone or other electronic means in compliance with Newsom’s executive orders.
The City Council on Thursday practiced social distancing. Three council members attended the meeting by telephone and the four who sat at the council dais kept their distance from one another.
Modesto inadvertently practiced social distancing with the several members of the public who attended the meeting. Tenth Street Place — the city-county administration center — is now closed to the public. The security guards initially would not let the public in to attend the meeting. The city resolved that and the public was let in.
The meeting was open to the public, though the city was urging residents not to attend and to submit their comments to the council by email. The meeting also was televised.
Modesto closed its public access at Tenth Street Place on Tuesday, and Stanislaus County followed that on Thursday. City residents needing help with utility bills and other matters can call 209-577-5200 or visit www.modestogov.com. The county’s website is stancounty.com.
Most other cities around the county issued statements Thursday with the same recommendations.
All of the Stanislaus County’s five confirmed COVID-19 cases are in Modesto, according to a press release put out by the City of Turlock on Wednesday.
Turlock announced Wednesday it would open an Emergency Operations Center at its Public Safety Center and has drafted a Turlock Specific Incident Plan.
Maryn Pitt, assistant to the city manager, said Turlock will still operate under the umbrella of the county Office Of Emergency Services but its center will cater specifically to the needs of Turlock’s employees and residents.
A Turlock Specific Incident Plan addresses how city workers would meet the needs of its “at risk” residents for the delivery of emergency medical care, public safety calls as well as food and medication if necessary. Pitt said they are also discussing how to care for the children of city workers and could set up daycare in their center.
“We also need it in case the governor signs a proclamation relative to sheltering homeless folks,” Pitt said.
Oakdale opened its EOC on Monday. City Manager Bryan Whitemyer said their EOC is currently working with the population served by its senior center, providing a lunch pickup service and collecting donations on their behalf. It also establishes a command structure within the city with respect to addressing the health crisis.
Bee Staff Writer Ken Carlson contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 2:29 PM.
