RESOLUTION
NO. 200223
Directing the City Manager to
implement a telecommuting policy for City employees.
WHEREAS, in
December 2019, a novel coronavirus, now called COVID-19, was detected in Wuhan,
China; and
WHEREAS, on
January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General declared
the outbreak of COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern,
advising countries to prepare for the containment, detection, isolation, case
management, contact tracing, and prevention of onward spread of the disease;
and
WHEREAS, on
March 11, 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on
March 12, 2020, Mayor Quinton Lucas issued a State of Emergency, allowing 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; and
WHEREAS, on
March 16, 2020, Mayor Lucas updated the emergency proclamation to limit
gatherings to fewer than 10 people and, with the support of school
superintendents, to temporarily cease school operations; and
WHEREAS, the
City has strongly encouraged businesses to allow employees to work from home to
allow for social distancing; and
WHEREAS, the
City employs over 4,500 people; and
WHEREAS, the
City has often modeled top employment practices such as offering 12 weeks of
paid parental leave, setting a $15-dollar minimum wage, and other employee benefits;
and
WHEREAS, the
health and wellness of City employees is of utmost importance at all times, and
that during this public health emergency, unprecedented measures must be taken;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
That the City
Manager is hereby directed to:
·
Ensure that all City employees whose typical job functions or
special projects can be completed remotely, work from home until the Mayor’s
State of Emergency has expired, regardless of whether those job functions are
deemed essential or non-essential; and
·
As available, provide appropriate City hardware and software to
these essential and non-essential employees lacking necessary technology to
allow those employees to perform all, or a majority of, their job functions
from their homes; and
·
Ensure that all City employees performing non-essential duties
whose typical job functions (including meaningful special projects) cannot be
completed remotely be sent home on paid leave, regardless of accrued leave or
probationary status until the Mayor’s State of Emergency has expired; and
·
Ensure that all City employees performing essential duties whose
typical job functions cannot be completed remotely follow all best practices
for social distancing and workplace hygiene.
·
Ensure that Department Directors determine which job duties shall
be deemed essential or non-essential for purposes of this resolution.
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