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TO: The Mayor and City Council
FROM: Richard J. Veenstra
Corporation Counsel
DATE: March 25, 2020
SUBJECT:
The State of Emergency in the City of Aurora Related to COVID-19
PURPOSE:
To confirm the state of emergency existing in the City of Aurora due to the COVID-19 pandemic and authorizing the Mayor to exercise the powers set forth in Section 2-45 of the Code of the City of Aurora and this ordinance until May 15, 2020, or unless the Governor or the Mayor declare that state of emergency no longer exists, whichever occurs first.
BACKGROUND:
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak of novel coronavirus COVID-19 as a pandemic. Within days, Governor Pritzker issued a statewide disaster proclamation and issued a series of executive orders which dramatically impacted the way in which the City is able to conduct its business. On March 18, 2020, Mayor Irvin declared a state of emergency within the City of Aurora pursuant to his authority under the City Code as well as various provisions of State law. Upon the declaration, the Mayor became authorized to exercise 11 enumerated powers set forth in Section 2-45 of the City Code. These powers, which are similar to those afforded to the Governor in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, provide the Mayor with limited additional authority to conduct the affairs of the City in its response to the emergency.
DISCUSSION:
At present, it appears that the statewide state of emergency will persist in some form or another for the foreseeable future. Unlike a state of emergency caused by a weather event, a natural disaster, or civil unrest, the COVID-19 pandemic will have a much longer duration and will make it very difficult for the Council to meet regularly.
The powers authorized by Section 2-45 and this Ordinance are relatively limited and designed to balance the need for flexibility during emergencies against the importance of the public discourse and the ordinarily legisla...
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