[BoulderCouncilHotline] COVID Level Yellow Operational Update

[Davis, Pamela]

Dear Council and Hotline Followers,

As requested at the conclusion of the May 17 council meeting due to time constraints, I am providing a written version of my presentation on agenda item 6B regarding the impact of the CDC's designation of Boulder County at medium level COVID risk.
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As a result of our current COVID case counts and CDC recommendations, the city organization has made the following operational adjustments based on our COVID response framework:

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The chart you see above was developed based on a combination of general CDC guidance, discussions with the city leadership team, and a balancing of our priorities to maintain critical operations within the city, protect employees against workplace exposure, and continuing our transition toward stabilizing city services knowing that we must continue to learn to live with COVID in our world. As a result, you will see a commitment to remaining open to the public at all levels in the absence of restrictions from other layers of government, with enhanced mitigation strategies for higher levels of community risk. We shifted operations following 7 days of data within the Medium threshold, and if cases decline, will shift operations back to green after 21 days of sustained data within the Low threshold.

In March 2022, council provided feedback that they would like to be consulted on whether meetings should be virtual or hybrid during Medium Community Level status. As such, email outreach to council during the week of May 9 led the city to make the decision to hold council meetings virtually beginning May 17. At an upcoming meeting (pending CAC scheduling), staff will seek council input about whether it is council's desire to maintain virtual council and public meeting participation throughout the duration of level yellow now and during potential periods in the future, or if they would like to consider adjusting council and/or community member options for hybrid participation. Based on the city's current practice of observing a 21-day sustained decrease to level green case levels before making an operational shift, we would anticipate that our current virtual state would continue through the last month of meetings before summer recess, unless council directs us otherwise in upcoming discussions.

At level medium, we have lifted the requirements of our hybrid work policy for employees, allowing office-based workers the option of increasing their time working from home to protect themselves as well as city employees whose work must be performed in person. Public facing city facilities and customer service offerings remain open. As true for the entire pandemic, our essential field-based employees remain business as usual. Public engagement opportunities other than council and board meetings will be held outdoors weather permitting, or virtually to limit large indoor gatherings sponsored by the city. Finally, at level yellow masking is required indoors for employees with exemptions from our vaccine mandate, and strongly encouraged for all others.

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As a reminder, there are several free opportunities in Boulder County to be tested for COVID if you are exposed or experience symptoms of the virus.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, or request another update through the Council Agenda Committee process.

Sincerely,

Pam Davis
Assistant City Manager
(pronouns: She/Her/Hers) What's This?<https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why>

[CMO_lockup_COBlogo]

O: 303-441-1965
C: 303-912-8016
davisp at bouldercolorado.gov<mailto:davisp at bouldercolorado.gov%0d>

City Manager's Office
1777 Broadway | Boulder, CO 80302
Bouldercolorado.gov<http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/>

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