AgdaPkt 2020-04-06 Special - Laserfiche WebLink

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S.A. - Page 11 of 21 shelter in place greatly reduced businesses' ability to maintain regular operations, thus impacting their revenue and employees. Businesses have had to close or have stayed open with reduced staff and customer access. The cumulative effect of the loss of business revenue and staff has yet to be quantified because of the need for Redwood City businesses to make changes quickly and without planning. City staff have been working to develop solutions to support Redwood City's small businesses. The goal is to provide immediate, practical support to small businesses, create funding opportunities, and leverage partnerships with local business organizations. The federal government, state, county, city, and larger Redwood City community all play an important role in assisting small businesses with the short and long- term consequences of the COVID 19 crisis. The City's Economic Development team has been coordinating, collaborating and consulting with the San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA), the Redwood City Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business Group and various state and regional partners. Over the last few weeks, City staff has consulted with over 200 Redwood City businesses seeking guidance and/or assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses asked for support, resources and programs for small business assistance, rental assistance, utilities payment assistance and requested a commercial eviction moratorium for small businesses. The City currently has approximately 6,100 businesses. Over the last week, the City has redeployed City staff (librarians) to assist the City's economic development team to stand up a City business resources call center, which will proactively engage, communicate and call every Redwood City business over the next few weeks. City staff will provide the latest list of business resources and support programs. City staff is also evaluating having our librarians assist our business community with submitting and applying for different small business economic resource programs, such as Small Business Association (SBA) economic injury applications. In addition to fielding business calls, staff developed a letter sent on behalf of the Mayor, providing business support resources to all businesses with City business licenses that have emails on file. The economic development team created a dedicated business resource page on the City's website; sent electronic newsletter updates to the business community; and has contacted all childcare operators in the city to provide the latest updates on essential childcare services per the Public Health Officer's Order and the Governor's Order. Over the past two weeks, City staff has received feedback from the small business community asking for the commercial eviction protections for small businesses. During these calls, each business shared their personal story on how COVID-19 is impacting their business and employees. Many are sharing that their revenues began to decline in mid-February, well before the Shelter -in -Place order. As a result, many small businesses are unable to cover expenses that were due on April 1, 2020. They also shared the unwillingness of their landlords to extend additional time to come up with the rent or provide rental reductions for the duration of the order. On March 16, 2020, California's Governor issued an Executive Order (N-28-20), which removed state law restrictions (e.g., Civil Code Sec. 1940 et. seq or 1954 et. seq.) on local government's ability to impose limitations on evictions when the grounds for eviction is non- payment of rent due to a documented substantial decrease in income or increase in expenditures due to COVID-19, or government emergency orders related to COVID-19. This was significant since this Order allowed local governments throughout the State to effectively implement rules barring commercial and residential evictions that would otherwise be prohibited and preempted by California law. Page 11 of 21 City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org 14