AgdaPkt 2020-04-06 Special - Laserfiche WebLink

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S.A. - Page 7 of 21 Expenditures The City has incurred $83,196 in expenditures related to the COVID-19 response. Most of the expenditures are comprised of salary and benefit costs. Staff will provide an update on expenditures once payroll and accounts payable transactions post to the City's general ledger in the coming weeks. Additional employee costs, such as overtime, may be eligible for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The City's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has distributed FEMA approved forms for employees to track time and specific tasks related to the COVID-19 response. It is anticipated that any overtime incurred by City employees will be requested for reimbursement from FEMA; up to 75 percent reimbursement is normally allowed. Service and supply costs may also be eligible for reimbursement from FEMA. FEMA approved forms to track these types of purchases have been distributed by the EOC and will be used to request reimbursement. Due to the nature of the pandemic, including its widespread effect, it is impossible to determine how many resources, if any, will be available to the City for reimbursement of COVID-19 related costs. Additionally, recently -enacted Federal relief funds do not appear to be likely to flow to the City, however, staff will continue to monitor whether those funds or future legislation will fund current activities or provide funding for infrastructure or services. Continuing to provide public services is a top priority. In order to preserve the City's high quality workforce to the greatest extent possible, during the current Shelter in Place Order, City management is striving to enable all employees (regular and temporary) to continue to work in some capacity. Human Resources staff is working with all City departments to identify positions which do not directly support pandemic response and are assessing if employees in these positions are able to safely perform their regularly assigned duties remotely, participate in approved professional development opportunities (i.e. on-line training), work on assigned projects, or to work as a disaster service worker. Working as a disaster service worker could mean that an employee is asked to take on tasks outside their normal responsibilities to work in support of emergency operations, assist with support functions at a disaster site, coordinate information about the disaster or available public services, and other activities needed to effectively respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. For example, given that public libraries are not open at this time, some Library staff are providing bilingual call center support to inform community members of social services, and other are helping to call Redwood City businesses to inform them of resources available to the business community. Library and Parks, Recreation and Community Services staff are supporting the City Manager's Office Communications Team with the significantly increased demands for public communications. Human Resources staff are also informing employees of enhanced paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19 provided under new Federal programs which became effective April 1, 2020. Additionally, the City Manager authorized paid administrative leave for employees unable to work as the initial State Shelter in Place Order was established. The cost for providing this leave to temporary employees is approximately $200,000 per pay period. As the initial Shelter in Place order has been extended indefinitely, such leave is being granted on a more limited basis and management is striving to find opportunities for work and professional development whenever appropriate, and use of leave time when necessary. In light of anticipated financial impacts described above, staff are seeking to contain expenditures. At this time, the City Manager has implemented a soft hiring freeze, limiting recruitment activities to essential Page 7 of 21 M& City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org 10