COMMITTEE
SUBSTITUTE FOR RESOLUTION NO. 200277
Directing
the City Manager to develop an emergency pedestrian safety plan to help reduce
the spread of COVID-19 on trails, sidewalks, and parks and directing the City
Manager to produce the plan within seven days of passage of this Resolution.
WHEREAS, in
December 2019, a novel coronavirus, now called COVID-19, was detected in Wuhan,
China; and
WHEREAS, on
March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global
pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on
March 12, 2020, a proclamation of a state of emergency (“Proclamation”) was
issued by Mayor Lucas “to allow the City of Kansas City to take measures to
reduce the possibility of exposure to COVID-19 and promote the health and
safety of Kansas City residents”; and
WHEREAS, the
COVID-19 virus spreads between people who are in close contact with one another
through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or
sneezes; and
WHEREAS, the
City wishes to employ all means available under the law to protect public life,
health safety and property to limit the development, contraction, and spread of
COVID-19 creating this emergency; and
WHEREAS, on
March 16, 2020, Mayor Lucas updated the Proclamation to limit gatherings to
fewer than 10 people and, with the support of school superintendents, to
temporarily cease school operations; and
WHEREAS, on
March 24th, Mayor Lucas announced a Stay at Home order that further updated the
emergency declaration to prohibit non-essential activities; and
WHEREAS,
walking, biking, and public transit are considered essential activities for
transportation and allowed under the Stay at Home order; and
WHEREAS, healthy
physical activity such as running, biking, walking, and other forms of outdoor
recreation are considered essential activities and therefore, with appropriate
physical distancing, allowed under the Stay at Home order; and
WHEREAS, the
COVID-19 pandemic is an emotionally traumatic experience that threatens, not
only our physical health, but also our mental health; and
WHEREAS, outdoor
recreation such as running, biking, and walking are proven ways to improve
physical and mental health; and
WHEREAS, many of
our parks, trails, and sidewalks are becoming increasingly crowded that safe
physical distancing is becoming difficult; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That
the City Manager is hereby directed to develop an emergency pedestrian safety
plan to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 on trails, sidewalks, and parks in
the City. The plan shall include the following without limitation:
·
Lane closures to allow temporary pedestrian access where crowding
is occurring along sidewalks and trails; and
·
Street closures to thru traffic to allow for pedestrian access on
the street limited to collector streets and parks roads; and
·
Temporarily reprogram pedestrian signals to automatically change
along busy sidewalks and trails to reduce the touching of hard surfaces; and
Section 2. That
consideration shall be given to ensure the availability of open space for all
geographic areas of the City.
Section 3. That
the City Manager shall present this plan to the City Council and an immediate
plan of action within seven (7) days of passage of this Resolution; and
Section 4. That
the emergency pedestrian safety plan shall remain in effect until the
conclusion of the state of emergency declaration.
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