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New Port Richey Online
Special City CouncilMon, Aug 28, 2023

Council adopted Resolution 2023-25 declaring a local state of emergency for Hurricane Idalia, with non-essential staff sent home Tuesday at 2 p.m.

6 items on the agenda · 2 decisions recorded

On the agenda

  1. 1Call to Order – Roll Call0:00
  2. 2

    Pledge of Allegiance

    Council observed the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

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    [00:00:16] I will stand for the pledge, please. [00:00:18] A moment of silence.

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  3. 3

    Moment of Silence

    The council observed a moment of silence.

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    [00:00:18] A moment of silence.

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  4. 4.a

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    Resolution No. 2023-25: Declaring a Local State of Emergency

    approved

    Council adopted Resolution 2023-25 declaring a local state of emergency in response to Hurricane Idalia, expected to pass 50-70 miles offshore as a Category 3 storm. The fire chief briefed council on storm preparations, evacuation orders for Zone A, sandbag operations, and shelter openings. The resolution invokes Florida Statute Chapter 252 provisions for a seven-day emergency period, easing contracting and expenditure formalities.

    Ord. Resolution No. 2023-25

    • motion:Move to adopt Resolution No. 2023-25 declaring a local state of emergency due to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Idalia. (passed)
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    [00:00:41] Resolution number 2023-25, Declaration [00:00:44] of a Local State of Emergency. [00:00:47] Mr. Mayor, I'd be glad to read the resolution [00:00:49] in the absence of the city attorney. [00:00:52] But before we get started, if it meets with your approval, [00:00:55] I'd like the fire chief to provide an overview of the weather situation [00:01:03] currently as we participated just recently in an EOC meeting [00:01:08] with Pasco County. [00:01:10] Sure. [00:01:12] Thank you. [00:01:14] As you know, the governor declared a state of emergency [00:01:17] on Friday for 33 counties. [00:01:19] And today has expanded that by 13 counties, so we're at a total of 46. [00:01:26] And obviously, Pasco County falls within that state of emergency. [00:01:32] Last week, we were watching this system, which [00:01:35] they were predicting it to not get stronger than a tropical storm due [00:01:39] to some wind shear. [00:01:41] But that has quickly changed. [00:01:43] So now, we're preparing for a category 3 hurricane [00:01:49] to make landfall somewhere in the Big Bend area. [00:01:52] Right now, it's currently predicted to make landfall [00:01:58] near Horseshoe Beach, which is north of Cedar Key sometime Wednesday morning. [00:02:04] If you look at the path and the speed now, [00:02:07] they're saying Wednesday morning at 8 AM. [00:02:11] That being said, the system is expected to pass our area to the west. [00:02:18] It fluctuates anywhere between 50 to 70 miles offshore overnight Tuesday, [00:02:25] early Wednesday morning, approximately 1 to 2 AM. [00:02:30] At this time, we could expect up to 10 inches of rain, 9 feet of storm surge, [00:02:37] power outages, wind damage, flooding. [00:02:42] And so we're preparing. [00:02:43] Our emergency operations is scheduled to open tomorrow. [00:02:47] The city's emergency operations center, the county, [00:02:50] is opening tomorrow morning, fully staffed at a level 1 activation. [00:02:57] We've had sandbag operations open all weekend long in the city on Pine Hill [00:03:03] Road, and they remain open at this time for city residents. [00:03:07] Currently, there's evacuation order for zone A, which is a mandatory order. [00:03:13] That also includes low-lying areas, manufactured homes, [00:03:17] and anybody with special needs. [00:03:20] Zone B and C are voluntary at this time. [00:03:24] I would tell all residents to heed the warnings. [00:03:30] Don't be complacent. [00:03:32] And so you know once sustained winds reach 45 miles an hour, [00:03:37] first responders suspend service. [00:03:39] So police and fire will not be able to get to you. [00:03:42] So now's the time to activate your personal plan. [00:03:47] And if you're energy dependent and we could lose power in these coastal areas, [00:03:54] please seek shelter with family or friends. [00:04:01] And you don't have to drive 100 miles away. [00:04:04] You can just go to a different part of the state [00:04:06] where it's out of the cone of uncertainty, [00:04:11] or seek one of the six shelters that open tomorrow morning at 8 AM. [00:04:17] The six shelters are Mike Fasano Shelter, which is the closest to the city, [00:04:22] Centennial Middle School, Sunlake High School, River Ridge High School, [00:04:26] Wiregrass Ranch High School, and 5A High School. [00:04:31] In addition to that, two of those will accommodate special needs, [00:04:35] which are the Mike Fasano Shelter and the Wiregrass Ranch. [00:04:40] So that's the update on the storm at this time. [00:04:44] Again, those conditions can change. [00:04:49] It has moved slightly north from this morning, [00:04:52] which is a little bit better for our area. [00:04:54] But again, just as quick as it moved north, it could move back south. [00:04:59] And those numbers could go up, or they could go down. [00:05:06] I may miss your mayor resolution by the city council of the city of New Port Richey, Florida, declaring a local state of emergency [00:05:14] due to the tropical storm, Idalia, and declaring an effective date. [00:05:20] As all of you will recall, the purpose of this resolution [00:05:25] is to effectuate in accordance with an executive order, [00:05:31] as declared by Governor Ron DeSantis, our local state of emergency, [00:05:39] which in concurrence with Florida statute, chapter 252, [00:05:45] provides for an emergency status in the city of New Port Richey, [00:05:50] for a seven-day period of time, which reduces some of the formalities [00:05:56] and procedures associated with entering into contracts, [00:06:01] the employment of permanent or temporary workers, [00:06:05] any appropriation or expenditure of public funds, [00:06:10] or the rental of equipment, anything necessary [00:06:14] to effectuate our plan to provide service or any other form of remedy [00:06:21] to business owners or property owners otherwise in the city [00:06:27] as necessary to provide emergency service. [00:06:30] We are asking that you pass the resolution in support of our efforts [00:06:35] to do so. [00:06:38] All right, seeing there's no one in the public, [00:06:40] and we didn't put out the stand for them to talk, [00:06:42] we'll bring it back to council. [00:06:44] I move we adopt resolution number 2023-25. [00:06:48] I second. [00:06:49] Any comments? [00:06:52] I just want to say I see the two people that are already on the job, [00:06:55] are the police chief and Robert Rivera, which [00:06:58] would be appropriate for what we're doing right now. [00:07:00] Mr. Mayor, I should have indicated that both Chief Cochin and Mr. [00:07:06] Rivera asked me in a meeting I was with them in just an hour ago [00:07:11] if they could be excused because they had many tasks yet to attend to before [00:07:15] they could leave for the day in respect to the operations of their departments [00:07:22] to prepare for what we expect will be our experience tomorrow.

    This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

  5. 5Communications7:23
  6. 6Adjournment10:41