HomeMy Public PortalAbout1-CM Department Report - October 2021Monthly Department Report – City Manager
Memo
To: City Council
From: Anette Spickard, City Manager
Date: October 27, 2021
Re: Monthly Department Report – October 2021
1. Novel Corona Virus Response:
The City Council continues to receive an update from our Incident Commander, Police Chief Justin
Williams, at each council meeting. The State Health and Welfare department continued the Crisis
Standards of Care statewide due to lack of bed capacity and staffing resources at hospitals across the state
while the incidence of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospitals and ICU’s has significantly increased. As of
October 27, Valley County has had 1,465 positive cases, 820 in McCall, and 10 deaths.
The City Council previously adopted four metrics to determine the need for a mask mandate. If 3 of the 4
metrics are not being met, Council would consider re-imposing a mask mandate in consultation with
Central District Health. Since Central District Health is no longer reporting some of this data as of the end
of July, staff has only been able to update Metrics 2, 3 and 4.
Metric 1: Valley County 14-day case rates remain less than/equal to 5 per 100,000 for four weeks. This
metric is no longer published by Central District Health, but the State Health and Welfare department
reports the Valley County 7-day average case rate. As of October 27, the rate is at 23.8 and we are the ninth
lowest rate in the state.
Metric 2: Valley County vaccine uptake reaches at least 65%. (Met, as of Oct 27 @ 68.32%)
Metric 3: Valley County Percent Positive Rate remains below 5% (Not met)
Sept 25 – 16.8%; Oct 2 – 13%; Oct 9 – 10.2%; Oct 16 – 10.8%
Metric 4: At least one dose of vaccine for 65+ in Central District Health reaches 75% (Met, @ 86%)
2. International City Manager Conference in Portland Oregon 10/2-10/6:
I attended this conference and was honored to be a co-presenter along with Michelle Groenevelt for one of
the sessions entitled “Workforce Housing Strategies in a Small City”. The session was designed for small
cities who do not receive direct federal funding from HUD for affordable housing and therefore have to
come up with creative local strategies to incentivize the private sector to partner with the city on
construction of workforce housing. We shared the Council’s adopted Housing Strategies, the
Monthly Department Report – City Manager
implementation of those strategies, the challenges we face in the current market, the challenges of short-
term rentals and lack of long-term rental inventory, and the policy environment of Idaho that creates special
challenges and a need to work with the legislature. It was well attended by communities across the country
who face similar challenges but have not embarked yet on the development of policies and codes. In
addition to presenting that session, I attended sessions on topics ranging from employee recruitment and
personnel policies, use of federal ARPA funds, communication strategies with the public during divisive
times, organizational resilience, strategic planning, and keynote sessions on operating within the post-covid
new world.
3. Communications Manager Update:
In October, Communications spent time working on a new officer recruitment package for the police
department that included online, print, and new photography. Staff also has been working closely with our
web designers to finish up the new homepage for better public engagement.
4. Human Resources Update:
We are actively recruiting for Streets Operators, Water Operators, Police Officer, and winter seasonal
help. We held the employee wellness clinic at the end of October. Staff developed the new COVID -
19 Vaccine Incentive Program and rolled it out to all employees and the council as part of our benefits
program. Staff is planning a leadership/communication skills workshop for department heads,
managers, and supervisors in early December.