Receive an Update Regarding COVID-19 and Discuss the Timeline to Re-open Public Facing City Facilities

Matt Kohner, Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director for the City of Ramsey, along with Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator, will provide an update on the current status of the COVID-19 situation.  In addition, staff would like to discuss recommendations for the next phases and timeline for reopening public facing city services.

As of this writing, the stay-at-home order is set to expire at 11.59 p.m.. on Sunday, May 3, 2020, and is not expected to continue.  Once the stay-at-home order expires, the City is expected to continue social distancing practices in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.  Over the last few weeks, staff have made several operational improvements and many remote staff have fine-tuned their off-site work stations.  On-site staff have taken the necessary precautions to ensure a safe work place.

Community and employee safety is paramount, and it is recommended that remote workers continue working remotely, and when required to work on-site, employees use staggered shifts, appropriate distancing, sanitizing, and protective precautions, at the direction of department heads. Overall, from an Emergency Management perspective, Staff recommends a phased reopening of City Hall to slowly add back staff to in-person office hours, and the eventual reopening of city hall for face-to-face customer interaction.  Staff is researching modifications (e.g., plexiglass screens) to counters to facilitate this transition.   Public meetings will remain remote while social distancing guidelines are in place.