Proclamation - 12.8.2020 - Rise ClermontPR,OCLAJ�LA?IOX
-Whereas, on March 13, 2020 the White House issued a proclamation declaring a
national emergency concerning the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak; and
-Whereas, on March 16, 2020, President Donald Trump and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention issued the "15 Days to Slow the Spread" guidance advising
individuals to adopt social distancing measures such as working from home and avoiding
gatherings of more than ten (10) people; and
-whereas, on April 1, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order
directing individuals to stay home unless performing essential activities and placing
restrictions on non -essential businesses for 30 days; and
Whereas, on May 4, 2020, with the expiration of the stay-at-home order, Florida
began its Phase I reopening with restaurant and retail businesses operating at 25 percent
capacity; and
Whereas, on May 18, 2020, Florida implemented its Full Phase I plan allowing for
gyms to reopen with social distancing guidelines and restaurants to operate at fifty percent
(50%) capacity; and
—Whereas, on June 5, 2020, Florida entered Phase II of reopening with social
gatherings of no more than 50 people, bars at 50 percent capacity, restaurants at 75 percent
capacity, and gyms at 100 percent capacity; and
VhereaS, on September 25, 2020, Florida moved into its third and final phase of its
reopening plan, allowing restaurants to operate at full capacity; and
Whereas, while the local economy is open, many Clermont businesses including
restaurants and retail continue to struggle to attract customers, and despite federal
assistance, remain highly vulnerable; and
Whereas, the South Lake community is reliant upon Clermont businesses and
organizations for employment, shopping, dining and entertainment, and in turn, those
businesses and organizations are reliant upon South Lake residents and businesses for sales
revenue, supply chain, and professional services; and
Whereas, significant numbers of Clermont residents have been employed in the
tourism industry, a sector that has experienced more than 30,000 layoffs in central Florida
since March; and
Whereas, hundreds of Clermont's 2,087 businesses have been adversely affected by
closures associated with slowing the spread of COVID-19 and have laid off, furloughed or
reduced employees' hours; and
Whereas, social concerns including food insecurity, homelessness, and increased
depression are on the rise nationally as well as in the Clermont community; and
Whereas, the COVID-19 pandemic is now entering into its ninth month with cases
on the rise again throughout the United States, threatening both public health and the
economic recovery; and
WkereaS, the state of Florida recently dispersed federal CARES Act funding to Lake
County which then appropriated funds to municipalities to be used for expenses associated
with local COVID-19 responses; and
Whereas, the City of Clermont has designated a portion of its CARES Act allocation
to promote an economic recovery strategy and community support initiative called Rise
Clermont; and
-Whereas, Rise Clermont can be described as a City -led, grassroots network of
working groups that partner with local businesses to create operational, marketing and
promotional synergies that connect customers to businesses in low -risk, safety conscious
ways that enable them to sustain their businesses through this period of transition; and
Whereas, connections to Rise Clermont are made through a citizen engagement
software platform found at RiseClermont.com; and
Whereas, as part of the Rise Clermont initiative, a pop-up business support venue
called "Uptown" is proposed and will promote socially distanced marketing events to
encourage shopping and dining at local businesses; and
Whereas, Clermont, the Choice of Champions, voted Best City to Live In by the
Orlando Business Journal's Reader's Choice Awards, has shown itself to be an
exceptionally positive, caring and engaged community where neighbors help neighbors;
and
Whereas, the reach and cumulative impact of Rise Clermont will extend beyond
businesses to include nonprofits, schools, civic organizations, and churches as partners in
the local economic recovery; and
Whereas, the City is pleased to announce the upcoming kickoff of the Rise Clermont
initiative as a rich source of information, connection and support to the Clermont
community;
Naw, gherefore, I, Tim Murry, Mayor of the City of Clermont in the State of Florida,
do hereby proclaim the 1 Ith of December, Two Thousand and Twenty as:
PJsE cLEpmoNT D-Ay
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the
City of Clermont to be affixed this 8th Day of December in the year Two Thousand and
Twenty.
ATTES
Tracy Ackroyd Howe, City Clerk
Tim Murry, Mayor
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