COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA

Board Chambers & Community Room
Governmental Center, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA
May 29, 2020 – 9:00 AM

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a
special meeting on Friday, May 29, 2020, beginning at 9:00 a.m. or thereafter, in the Board
Chambers, 701 Ocean Street, Room 525, Santa Cruz, California, 95060. The purpose of this
meeting is for the Board of Supervisors to consider approval of attestation documents
supporting a variance from Stage 2 COVID-19 restrictions associated with the Governor's
Resilience Roadmap for California, and authorize the Chair of the Board to sign an approval
letter. This meeting is open to the public.
_____________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTORY ITEMS

1. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL

2. MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. CONSIDERATION OF REVISIONS, LATE ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA

4. Consider approval of attestation supporting a variance from Stage 2 COVID-19

restrictions associated with the Governor's Resilience Roadmap for California, and
authorize the Chairperson of the Board to sign approval letter, as outlined in the
memorandum of the Director of Health Services
a. Draft Letter of Support from Chairperson of the Board
b. Letter of Support - Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center
c. Letter of Support - Dominican Hospital
d. Letter of Support - Watsonville Community Hospital
 SPECIAL MEETING Agenda - May 29, 2020

TRANSLATION SERVICES/SERVICIOS DE TRADUCCION

Spanish language translation is available on an as needed basis. Please make advance arrangements
with the Clerk of the Board, by telephone at (831) 454-2323.
Las sesiones de la Mesa Directiva de los Supervisores del Condado pueden ser traducidas del inglés al español y del español al
inglés. Por favor haga arreglos anticipadamente con la Secretaria de la Mesa Directiva de los Supervisores en el cuarto número
500, o por teléfono al número (831) 454-2323.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

The County of Santa Cruz does not discriminate on the basis of disability, and no person shall, by reason of a disability, be denied
the benefits of its services, programs, or activities. The Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, located at 701 Ocean Street, Room 525,
Santa Cruz, California, is an accessible facility. If you are a person with a disability and wish to attend the meeting and you
require special assistance in order to participate, please contact the Clerk of the Board
(831) 454-2323 [TDD: call 711] in advance of the meeting in order to make arrangements.

Persons with disabilities may request a copy of the agenda in an alternative format.

As a courtesy to those affected, please attend the meeting smoke and scent free.

________________________________________________________________________

NOTE: Board of Supervisors meeting agendas, minutes and additional materials are published for
viewing on the County's website, Board of Supervisors Meeting Portal, at:
https://santacruzcountyca.iqm2.com (Click on the meeting date to access specific item materials)

To add comments on agenda items, visit the Board of Supervisors Meeting Portal web page at:
http://santacruzcountyca.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx

Board of Supervisors meetings are televised live by Community Television of Santa Cruz County CTV:
http://www.communitytv.org/watch/

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 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
has scheduled a special meeting on Friday, May 29, 2020, beginning at 9:00
a.m. or thereafter, in the Board Chambers, 701 Ocean Street, Room 525, Santa
Cruz, California, 95060. The purpose of this meeting is for the Board of
Supervisors to consider approval of attestation documents supporting a
variance from Stage 2 COVID-19 restrictions associated with the
Governor's Resilience Roadmap for California, and authorize the Chair of
the Board to sign an approval letter. The meeting is open to the public.

Note: The public may attend the special meeting and/or comment on this matter.
Testimony may be presented in person or submitted in written form prior to the
hearing and made a part of the meeting record.

If you attend the Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting in person, you will be

Communication: Notice of Special Meeting ()

required to wear a face covering and maintain appropriate social distancing, i.e.,
at least a 6-foot distance between yourself and other individuals. In addition to
the Board Chambers location, the Community Room will accommodate
attendees with live audio/video stream of the meeting and the opportunity to
address the Board during public comment.

The agenda and supporting documents are published on the Internet, Santa Cruz
County Meeting Portal, at the following URL:
https://santacruzcountyca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1840

For more information on this subject contact Clerk of the Board at (831) 454-
2335, or the Board of Supervisors at 454-2200.

The County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Questions
regarding accommodation under the ADA for this meeting may be directed to the
County ADA Coordinator at 454-3137.

By: Susan Galloway

Chief Deputy Clerk

Date: 5/27/2020

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Public Participation Guidelines 
June 2020 

Based on guidance from the California Department of Public Health, the California Governor’s 
Office, and the Santa Cruz County Health Officer, in order to minimize the spread of the COVID‐
19 virus, please do the following:  

 You are strongly encouraged to listen to the live audio/video stream of the Board of
Supervisors meetings at: www.santacruzcountyca.iqm2.com

 If you attend the Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting in person, you will be required to wear
a face covering and maintain appropriate social distancing, i.e., at least a 6‐foot distance
between yourself and other individuals.  In addition to the Board Chambers location, the

Communication: Public Participation Guidelines ()

Community Room will accommodate attendees with live stream of the meeting and the
opportunity to address the Board during public comment.

 If you choose not to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting but wish to comment on a
specific agenda item, please use the online “Add Comment” feature for specific agenda items
on the Meeting Portal website <https://santacruzcountyca.iqm2.com>  Click on the meeting
date, then scroll down and click the bubble icon found at the end of each agenda item.  Web
comments are limited to 4,000 characters each.

 Web comments received “live” (during the meeting and prior to the close of public testimony
on that item) may be read into the record. Every effort will be made to read these comments
into the record, but some comments may not be read due to time limitations. Comments
received after the end of public comment and prior to adjournment will be included in the
minutes record.

 RELATED CORRESPONDENCE
Written comments may also be sent to the Board in care of Jillian Ritter, BOS Analyst, either
by Email or U.S. Mail.  Please include the agenda item number.  Agenda comments received
by  5:00  p.m.  the  day  before  the  meeting  will  be  included  with  agenda  materials;  such
comments received after 5:00 p.m. and prior to meeting adjournment will be included with
the minutes record.
*Email to:  Jillian.Ritter@santacruzcounty.us

*U.S. Mail: For the latest COVID-19 updates,

County of Santa Cruz please visit the County Health
Board of Supervisors Services Agency website at:
701 Ocean Street, Room 500
http://santacruzhealth.org
Santa Cruz, CA 95050

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County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors

Agenda Item Submittal
From: Health Services Agency: Public Health Division
(831) 454-4000
Subject: Consider Attestation for Variance from Stage 2 Restrictions
Associated with CA Resilience Roadmap
Meeting Date: May 29, 2020

Recommended Actions:
1. Consider and approve the attestation documents supporting a variance from the
Stage 2 restrictions associated with the Governor’s Resilience Roadmap for
California; and

2. Authorize the Chairperson of the Board to sign a letter on behalf of the Board of
Supervisors approving the attestation documents and request for a variance.

Executive Summary
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued criteria for counties to
advance through Stage 2 of the State’s COVID-19 Resilience Roadmap, which allows
for reopening of lower-risk workplaces at a faster pace than the State. The County of
Santa Cruz meets these criteria and requests that the Board consider and approve the
attestation documents and provide a letter of support for the County Health Officer to
submit the attestation for a County Variance.

Background
Santa Cruz County residents have been staying home and saving lives since early
March in accordance with local and State stay-at-home orders to mitigate the effects of
the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts have allowed the entire State to move forward
with the Resilience Roadmap - a four-staged approach for measured modifications of
the statewide order to reopen industries and eventually end the stay-at-home order.
The State is now in early Stage 2 of this four-staged approach, where lower risk
workplaces such as retail, office workplaces, limited personal services, outdoor
museums, child care, and essential businesses can open with modifications. Stage 2
expansion will be phased in gradually. More details can be found at
<https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap>.

Some counties may move through Stage 2 faster if they are able to show progress with
readiness criteria in the following areas: case metrics, preparedness, and response. In
order to meet these criteria and open more sectors of the local community, the County
must demonstrate resiliency to COVID-19. Each of these indicators must be met in
order for the County to receive a variance allowing local businesses to move into later
Stage 2 of the Governor’s Resilience Roadmap. More details about the County
Variance can be found at https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap-counties/.

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Analysis
At this time, the County of Santa Cruz is able to meet the readiness criteria and is
therefore eligible to submit an attestation to CDPH for a County Variance.

The County’s progress with the readiness criteria is listed in the table below, which is
publicly posted on the County’s website, http://www.santacruzhealth.org/SAVElives.

Although the County meets these criteria for a County Variance, there is still a critical
need to ensure that the Health Services Agency’s Public Health Division can quickly
contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Over the last week, the number of Santa
Cruz County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 increased over 20
percent, a development which coincides with a lowering of restrictions on State and
local stay-at-home orders.

Under direction of the County Health Officer, the Public Health Division has
incorporated a detailed plan for meeting this need in its Containment Plan, which is
included in the attestation document. This will ensure that individuals who are at
heightened risk, including, for example, the elderly and those with specific co-
morbidities, and those residing in long-term care and locally controlled custody facilities
and other congregate settings, continue to be protected as the county progresses
through California’s roadmap to modify the stay-at-home order, and that risk is
minimized for the population at large.

Attachment A is the County of Santa Cruz’s attestation for the County Variance, which
requires a letter of support from the County Board of Supervisors. A letter from the
Chairperson of the Board is included as Attachment B.

Strategic Plan Elements

1.A Comprehensive Health & Safety: Health Equity
1.B Comprehensive Health & Safety: Community Support
1.C Comprehensive Health & Safety: Local Justice
5.B Dynamic Economy: Community Vitality
5.C Dynamic Economy: Local Businesses

Submitted by:
Mimi Hall, Director of Health Services Agency

Recommended by:

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Carlos J. Palacios, County Administrative Officer

Attachments:
a Draft Letter of Support from Chairperson of the Board
b Letter of Support - Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center
c Letter of Support - Dominican Hospital
d Letter of Support - Watsonville Community Hospital

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June 2, 2020

Attachment: Draft Letter of Support from Chairperson of the Board (9034 : Consider Attestation for Variance from Stage 2 Restrictions
Honorable Governor Gavin Newsom
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dr. Sonia Y. Angell, Director

California Department of Public Health
P.O. Box 997377, MS 0500
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377

Re: Attestation Documents Supporting Local Health Jurisdiction Variance From Stage 2 Restrictions
Associated With The California Resilience Roadmap (COVID-19 Recovery Process)

Dear Governor Newsom and Director Angell,

The County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors is pleased to provide you with our support for the
attestation that the County Health Officer, Dr. Gail Newel, is making with respect to meeting the
readiness criteria set forth in the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) “Variance to Stage 2 of
California’s Roadmap to Modify the Stay-at-Home Order COVID-19 County Variance Attestation Form.”
We appreciate that the goal of this attestation is to locally-tailor the gradual re-opening of industries in a
way that minimizes the risk for COVID-19 to the extent possible, which includes:

1) Limiting non-essential movement and mixing of populations, especially within jurisdictions

with higher confirmed cases, and

2) Delaying the opening of environments in which there is prolonged and close contact as part
of the way business must operate. CDPH made some changes most notably in the
Epidemiologic Stability of COVID-19 section.

During the COVID-19 pandemic the Board and cities have been apprised of the local data and progress
towards the State’s variance criteria through our County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Deputy Health
Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci and Health Services Agency Director Mimi Hall.

We have read through the County Variance Attestation document and its attachments, prepared by Dr.
Newel and her staff. We strongly agree with Dr. Newel’s assessment that the County of Santa Cruz is
actively monitoring infection through epidemiology and developing public health interventions that are
driven by available data. Our County continues to make strides with increasing local access to testing
and contact tracing capacity, especially in light of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases.

The County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors support the need to protect vulnerable populations,
continue social distancing and monitor indicators that may trigger the need to reinstate more restrictive
measures. At the same time, it is important to find a balance that allows for some businesses to reopen
while ensuring the community’s health. To that end, our Public Health Division has developed a
Containment Plan to ensure our community’s readiness to respond to the fluctuating surge of COVID-19
cases.

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We agree and fully support Dr. Newel’s attestation of readiness to achieve the County Variance for

Attachment: Draft Letter of Support from Chairperson of the Board (9034 : Consider Attestation for Variance from Stage 2 Restrictions
Stage 2 of California’s Resilience Roadmap to modify the Governor’s Stay-At-Home Order. Our Board of
Supervisors is proud of our community’s response to COVID-19 and we are pleased to provide this
additional letter of support.

Sincerely,

Greg Caput
Chair, County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors

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Attachment: Letter of Support - Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center (9034 : Consider Attestation for Variance from Stage 2 Restrictions
May 26, 2020

Gail Newel, MD, MPH

Public Health Officer, Santa Cruz County

1070 Emeline Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Dr. Newel,

In response to your request, Sutter Health’s integrated health delivery system:

 Is prepared to accommodate a surge of 35% due to COVID-19 cases in addition to

providing care to non COVID-19 patients, as outlined in the surge plan submitted to the
State of California, and

 Has adequate PPE to protect our employees and clinicians.

We understand that Santa Cruz County will use this letter to support their application for a
variance to move through the stages to re-open.

Sincerely,

Stephen H. Lockhart, MD, PhD

Chief Medical Officer, Sutter Health

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Attachment: Letter of Support - Dominican Hospital (9034 : Consider Attestation for Variance from Stage 2 Restrictions Associated with CA
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Attachment: Letter of Support - Watsonville Community Hospital (9034 : Consider Attestation for Variance from Stage 2 Restrictions