The city of Kenmore has extended four COVID-19 related proclamations and emergency rules to Aug. 1 in order to provide support resources and help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the Kenmore community.

Two of the emergency rules pertain to eviction moratoriums and are being extended to remain consistent with Gov. Jay Inslee’s statewide eviction moratorium.

The proclamation and issuance of an emergency rule establishing a temporary moratorium on residential tenant evictions in Kenmore has been extended to Aug 1. The purpose of this moratorium is to protect the health and safety of persons, provide emergency assistance to the victims of the COVID-19 emergency and establish procedures to support the mitigation of the pandemic illness and public health emergency currently taking place.

The proclamation and issuance of an emergency rule establishing a temporary moratorium on commercial and non-profit tenant evictions has also been extended to Aug. 1. The purpose of this moratorium is to protect public health, safety and welfare by providing small businesses stable locations to operate from during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic.

By establishing this moratorium, small businesses and non-profits in Kenmore will receive stabilization support that will help reduce the number of businesses declaring bankruptcy and closing during the economic downtown caused by the public health emergency.

In addition to the eviction moratoriums, the city has extended the proclamation and issuance of an emergency rule temporarily suspending Kenmore’s Plastic Bag Policy. Suspending this policy allows grocery and retail stores to provide paper or plastic bags to customers and waives the required $.05 charge for the bags.

The rule also prohibits customers from bringing their own reusable bags from home. This rule will provide additional protection to workers in retail and food industries, who continue to provide essential services to the public, while reducing the risk of transmission in the community.

The fourth extension is a proclamation and issuance of an emergency rule which waives and suspends certain portions of the Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act that require in-person settings or activities. In order to provide greater protection to the public and city staff, and slow the spread of COVID-19, this emergency rule temporarily suspends city rules, regulations and policies that require “in-person” attendance.

These four temporary emergency rules are now in effect until Aug. 1, with the discretion to extend for additional periods of time based on public health necessity.

Find out more about the City of Kenmore’s response to COVID-19 at kenmorewa.gov.