TITLE
Recommendation to review a report on the Coronavirus Economic Relief Package for Long Beach families and small businesses and provide input and policy direction to staff on economic relief strategies for working families and small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 emergency, as more specifically detailed in such report. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On March 17, 2020, the City Council directed the City Manager to work with the City Attorney, and all relevant departments, to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an Economic Relief Package (Relief Package) for working families and small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. As part of the Relief Package, the City Council requested specific feedback, best practice options, and strategies from staff in the following nine areas:
1. Review of sick and disability leave processes and enhancements for City employees, who must miss work due to COVID-19.
2. Explore Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), or other revenue sharing opportunities, to support hotels that experience a significant economic impact due to COVID-19.
3. Partner with financial institutions and lenders to prohibit foreclosures or halt mortgage payments for individuals who have suffered loss of wages as a result of COVID-19.
4. Streamline processes or resources through partnerships with the Economic Development Department to support workers laid off or impacted by COVID-19 and explore support for impacted workers not covered by unemployment benefits.
5. Explore emergency loan assistance programs to small businesses who have suffered significant loss, as a result of COVID-19.
6. Identify potential resources and partnerships to safely assist people under self-quarantine, due to COVID-19, with a priority on seniors.
7. Extend training opportunities in partnership with the Long Beach Health and Human Services Department on COVID-19 prevention to businesses in the tourism and restaurant industry.
8. Provide relief for laid-off or furloughed workers in affected industries such as hospitality, including, but not limited to, a "right of return" and "layoff and recall" policy, that protects workers from being laid off and subsequently not given preference when re-hiring commences.
9. Develop a worker retention or just cause for termination policy, in the hospitality industry, to protect workers through potential bankruptcy or subcontracting that could occur during an active emergency proclamation related to COVID-19.
• Leased Premises: Approximately 7,318 rentable square feet of industrial space at 5571 Orange Avenue.
Since March 17, 2020, staff conducted outreach to City departments, private sector partners, lending institutions, property owners, and community-based organizations impacted by the COVID-19 emergency, to review the nine issue areas and recommend strategies for consideration by the City Council. The attached Relief Package report, a memorandum issued on April 10, 2020, provides a summary of these strategies for City Council consideration.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Richard F. Anthony on April 10, 2020 and by Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on April 10, 2020.
STATEMENT OF URGENCY
City Council action is requested on April 14, 2020, to provide staff with further input and policy direction about next steps to provide immediate economic relief to working families and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on April 14, 2020.
FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation is to review a report on the Coronavirus Economic Relief Package for Long Beach families and small businesses and to receive direction from the City Council on economic relief strategies. The actual fiscal impacts of the specific options in the Relief Package are unknown at this time. Depending on City Council’s input and policy direction on potential economic relief strategies, staff will return with the fiscal impact and cost estimates of any proposed strategy, along with the staffing impact, which could range from low to significant depending on the item. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
JOHN KEISLER
DIRECTOR OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
ACTING CITY MANAGER