[Manager, City of Placerville]
Last week the Placerville City Council authorized the City Manager to send a letter to the Governor of California and State Legislators regarding the effect the Coronavirus closure is having on our businesses, residents and overall community. The purpose of such a letter would be to demonstrate the unique set of circumstances of our geography and point out the very low numbers of COVID-19 cases. Ultimately, the letter could serve to provide a path to reopening our City in accordance with the order issued by the Governor of California and the Directive issued by El Dorado County Public Health Officer.
Rest assured that our local leaders have prioritized the community needs and look to find a balance of safety and economic recovery. The City of Placerville and El Dorado County are very different from densely populated areas which have been much more deeply impacted by the virus such as Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Therefore standards for a transition to reopen our State should provide flexibility that recognizes the inherent differences among California counties and cities.
The City of Placerville desires a transitional opening of our community as it looks to develop a phased plan within the state's orders. Local leaders have been actively monitoring and working with County, State and National officials on appropriate responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and are considering various options to open and save the city through a fact-based, transitional approach.
We are committed to working with the County, Public Health, Office of Emergency Services, First Responders, and hospitals to develop a plan that will meet our goals to protect our citizens, our businesses and our community as a whole. We will continue to work through correspondence with the State on a plan to reach these goals.
Cmdr. Kim Nida, City of Placerville Media Relations Office of the City Manager.
