Menifee City Council approves Proclamation of Emergency

By Doug Spoon, Editor

In a move that is mostly procedural to facilitate quicker City response to the impact of the coronavirus locally, the Menifee City Council Wednesday night approved a Proclamation of Local Emergency.

Effects of the proclamation might not be visible to residents right away, but it will allow City officials to more easily prioritize and organize responses to the pandemic. It also names City Manager Armando Villa as Director of Emergency Services, a title normally held by Public Works Director Jonathan Smith.

Powers were given to Villa and other City officials in several areas:

-- Economic development: Villa has the authority to explore and implement economic incentives to local businesses, up to a maximum cumulative amount of $250,000. Priority will be given to those that provide essential services to vulnerable populations.

-- Public safety: Villa will work with all public safety authorities (police, fire, etc.) to ensure that the safety needs of the community are met.

-- Commission and committee meetings: As director of emergency services, Villa has the authority to make adjustments in City meetings to minimize personal interaction. One result of this is the announcement that the City Council meetings on the first Wednesday of the month will be cancelled until further notice. Meetings on the third Wednesday will be held, but residents will be urged to watch the proceedings online.

-- Contracting authority: Villa now has the authority to approve contracts up to $100,000 without City Council approval to address the COVID-19 emergency. Under normal conditions, the city manager cannot approve contracts greater than $25,000 without City Council approval.