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File Number: 21-439 <br />WHEREAS, as a result of decreasing case rates and increasing vaccination rates, the State <br />and Alameda County have lifted many restrictions regarding activities and business operations, <br />and the Governor has terminated the Blueprint for a Safer Economy; and <br /> WHEREAS, COVID-19 vaccinations are now widely available to any adult in Alameda <br />County. Over 80% of Alameda County residents 12 years of age or older have received at least <br />one dose, and over 67% are fully vaccinated; and <br /> WHEREAS, the City Council desires to amend the ordinances requiring the payment of <br />hazard pay to grocery workers to reflect the fact that vaccines are now widely available and that <br />the Blueprint for a Safer Economy is no longer relevant; and <br />WHEREAS, while it is generally understood that vaccination is the best means to protect <br />against COVID-19 and its variants, COVID-19 is still present in the community presenting a clear <br />and present danger to public health, safety, and welfare. The City Council takes notice that the <br />State of California is still in a state of emergency, and San Leandro is still in a local emergency <br />without, at this time, a foreseeable end. As such, the City Council urges all covered employees to <br />get vaccinated as quickly as possible to help the City, Alameda County, and the State lower rates <br />of transmission of COVID-19 and any of its variants. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of San Leandro ORDAINS as follows: <br />SEC. 1 RECITALS. <br />The City Council finds the foregoing recitals to be true and correct and hereby <br />incorporates those recitals into this Ordinance. <br />SEC. 2 TITLE AND PURPOSE. <br />The retail food workers of San Leandro have continued to report to work and to serve their <br />communities in the face of an unprecedented global pandemic. Under the Retail Food Worker <br />Hazard Pay Ordinance adopted as an urgency ordinance on February 16, 2021 (the “Urgency <br />Hazard Pay Ordinance”) and the Retail Food Worker Hazard Pay Ordinance adopted as a <br />regular ordinance on March 1, 2021 (the “Regular Hazard Pay Ordinance”), these workers have <br />been entitled to hazard pay to justly compensate retail food workers for the clear and present <br />dangers of doing their jobs as essential workers during the pandemic. <br />The City has an interest in ensuring the welfare of its workers and the continued operation <br />of its food supply chain. The City also has an interest in encouraging workers to get vaccinations <br />to protect against COVID-19, and to encourage businesses to make vaccines available to their <br />employees. As vaccines are now readily available, the specific provisions in the Hazard Pay <br />Urgency Ordinance and the Regular Hazard Pay Ordinance that tied the duration of those <br />ordinances to vaccinations are no longer necessary. Additionally, because the Governor has <br />terminated the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, references to the Blueprint tiers in those <br />ordinances are no longer relevant. <br />SEC. 3 AUTHORITY. <br />This Chapter is adopted pursuant to the powers vested in the City of San Leandro City <br />Council under the laws of the State of California, including, but not limited to, the police powers <br />vested in the City pursuant to Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution, California Labor <br />Code section 1205(b), and the Charter of the City of San Leandro. <br />SEC. 4 EMERGENCY NEED. <br />Page 3 City of San Leandro Printed on 7/1/2021 <br />1375