In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared the virus to be a severe public health threat. As of April 1, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 827,419 confirmed cases of COVID-19 leading to 40,777 deaths in 206 countries. 1,279 of those cases and 32 of those deaths were reported in Nevada.

Between the time COVID-19 was first detected and today, various government agencies have taken a series of actions to slow the spread of COVID-19:

• WHO declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020;
• The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency on January 31, 2020;
• On March 11, 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic;
• Governor Steve Sisolak declared an emergency in the State of Nevada due to the impacts and risks of COVID-19 on March 12, 2020;
• On March 13, 2020, the President of the United Stated declared a national emergency and Governor Sisolak closed all Nevada schools until at least April 6, which date has since been extended until at least April 30;
• City Manager Neil Krutz declared a local emergency in the City of Sparks related to the outbreak of COVID-19; 
• On April 1, 2020 Governor Sisolak issued a stay at home order for Nevada; and
• In the time since April 1, 2020, local and state agencies have navigated a phased re-opening of Nevada which remains ongoing.

These actions have necessitated several agreements between and involving the City of Sparks and its regional partners including an interlocal agreement delegating certain authorities for unified regional incident command and coordinated response.

Sections 1.30.010 and 2.20.025 of the Sparks Municipal Code empower the City Manager to proclaim the existence of a local state of emergency and to request state and federal assistance when the City of Sparks is affected by, or in imminent danger of, a public calamity and the City Council is not in session. State law authorizes local governments responding to an emergency to “enter into contracts and incur obligations necessary to combat such an emergency or disaster, protect the health and safety of persons and property and provide emergency assistance to the victims of such an emergency or disaster.”  NRS 414.090(3).

On March 28, 2020, the City Manager signed an agreement (ratified by the City Council on April 13, 2020) along with the City of Reno, Washoe County, and the Washoe County Health District retaining Well Care Services Reno, LLC to provide 43 temporary housing beds  for COVID-19 suspected or confirmed positive members of the region's indigent population who require isolation or quarentine facilities. The term of that agreement expired on June 27, 2020, necessitating an extension of the agreement to assure continuity of service. The amendment and extension signed by the City Manager reduces the number of temporary housing beds provided by Well Care from 43 to 22, and extends the term of the agreement until October 31, 2020. 

The cost of providing this service will be allocated amongst the regional partners in accordance with the cost-sharing structure agreed to in the previously considered cost-sharing agreement attached to the interlocal agreement appointing the Incident Commander and establishing the Incident Management Team. Although the total regional cost of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic is not known at this time, the partners will split the costs that are unreimbursed by FEMA three ways. Washoe County will pay 50% of the cost and the City of Sparks will pay 15% and Reno will pay 35%, respectively. As with other expenses incurred as a result of the regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Washoe County will make the entire payment to Well Care Services Reno, LLC and then be reimbursed by the cities. Based on the total value of the amended agreement with Well Care Services, LLC, the City of Sparks's share of $282,600.00 could be as high as $42,390. This amount could increase if the agreement is extended for a longer period of time, but such an action will require approval by the City Council, just as this amendment and extension requires ratification.

1. Council may ratify the amendment and extension of the agreement as recommended.

2. Council may reject the amendment and extension of the agreement and provide further direction to the City Manager.

I move to ratify the amendment and extension of agreement (AC-5661) for services between Well Care Services Reno, LLC, and Washoe County, the City of Sparks, the City of Reno, and the Washoe County Health District for the provision of short-term housing services for the purpose of isolation or quarantine to individuals residing in Washoe County who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are suspected of having COVID-19, in an additional amount up to $282,600.00 with the City of Sparks's share being 15 percent of the total unreimbursed cost.