WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Chair of the Hennepin County Board declared a Local Emergency, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 12.29, related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 20-0118, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consented to continuation of the Local Emergency until the passage of a termination resolution by the Hennepin County Board; and

WHEREAS, a declaration of local emergency invokes Hennepin County’s disaster plans, including response and recovery aspects, and authorizes aid and assistance under those plans, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 12.29; and

WHEREAS, a declaration of local emergency also invokes Hennepin County’s powers to quickly provide emergency aid, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 12.37; and

WHEREAS, Hennepin County has experienced widespread vaccination among community members, and reduced risk of hospitalization and death among those who contract COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, although the COVID-19 pandemic has not ended, it is no longer necessary for Hennepin County to exercise its emergency powers; and

WHEREAS, during the local emergency, the Hennepin County Board adopted resolutions related to COVID-19 funding and actions to protect staff and residents from COVID-19 exposure and illness; and

WHEREAS, although it is no longer necessary for Hennepin County to exercise its emergency powers, it may be necessary for Hennepin County to take additional actions to accept and administer COVID-19 funding and to protect staff and residents from COVID-19 exposure and illness, consistent with public health and workplace safety advice.

BE IT RESOLVED, that in line with the White House and President Biden’s February 10, 2023 announcement regarding the national emergency order, and pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 12, the Local Emergency regarding COVID-19, which was first declared by the Hennepin County Board Chair on March 16, 2020, and continued by consent of the full Hennepin County Board on March 17, 2020 (Resolution No. 20-0118R1), is terminated effective May 11, 2023; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Administrator is authorized to take actions necessary to continue protecting staff and residents from COVID-19 exposure and illness, consistent with public health and workplace safety advice, and including but not limited to implementing any legal and contractual requirements; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, effective 90 days after the adoption of this resolution, the authority delegated to the County Administrator in Resolution No. 20-0119R1 to allow employees with insufficient paid leave hour balances to accrue a negative vacation/sick leave/PTO balance in an amount not to exceed 240 hours will expire; the prior authority from Resolution No. 09-0380 will remain in effect, allowing employees with insufficient paid leave hour balances to accrue a negative vacation/sick leave/PTO balance in an amount not to exceed 160 hours; and employees with negative leave balances will be eligible for forgiveness as previously authorized in Resolution No. 22-0073; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Administrator is delegated authority to maintain or discontinue the award of COVID-19 paid leave previously authorized by Resolution 20-0119R1, consistent with public health and workplace safety advice; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Administrator is delegated authority to maintain or discontinue the award of COVID-19 childcare leave as previously authorized by Resolution 21-0040, consistent with public health and workplace safety advice; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, effective 90 days after the adoption of this resolution, any other Hennepin County ordinances, rules, and policies that were suspended by the Hennepin County Administrator or his designee pursuant to the delegation in the declaration of local emergency, are reinstated; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Administrator is delegated authority to accept COVID-19 related funding in any amount, to report acceptance of such funds to the Hennepin County Board, and to establish supplemental appropriations equal to those COVID-19 funding amounts and transfer as needed between departments, as previously authorized in Resolutions 20-0122, 20-0173, and 22-0136R1; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, to the extent that the County Board has previously adopted any resolution authorizing COVID-19 related funding or delegated authority for such funding, the Board’s prior funding resolutions remain in effect notwithstanding the end of the local emergency; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, to the extent that the County Board has previously adopted any resolution delegating authority to the County Administrator related to the COVID-19 pandemic, those prior resolutions and delegations remain in effect notwithstanding the end of the local emergency.