Resolution - 2021-07RESOLUTION NO. 2021-07
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA, CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING AN AUTOMATIC EXTENSION OF
THE EXPIRATION DATE OF ALL PLANNING ENTITLEMENTS, ALL
BUILDING DIVISION PLAN CHECKS AND PERMITS, AND CERTAIN
ENGINEERING DIVISION PLAN CHECKS AND PERMITS, WHICH
WERE VALID AS OF JANUARY 1, 2021 AND ARE DUE TO EXPIRE BY
JUNE 30, 2021, FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA HEREBY FINDS,
DETERMINES, AND DECLARES AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2020, Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of
Emergency in response to the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
On the same date, the County of Los Angeles declared a local emergency and a local
health emergency; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the City Manager, acting in the capacity of the
Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency in
West Covina due to the COVID-19 outbreak. On March 17, 2020, the City Council
ratified the proclamation of local emergency. West Covina has been in a state of local
emergency since the City Manager's proclamation; and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, the Los Angeles County Health Officer issued
a "Safer at Home Order" to prohibit group events and gatherings of 10 or more people,
require social distancing measures, and require the closure of indoor malls, shopping
centers, and non -essential businesses; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to public health directives, West Covina City Hall was
closed to the public from March 23, 2020 through May 15, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on July 20, 2020, West Covina City Hall again closed to the public
due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, and has remained closed to the public since such
date; and
WHEREAS, the State of California utilizes the "Blueprint for a Safer Economy'
to determine which businesses can and cannot open, utilizing a color -coded tier
system and assigning each county in the State a tier based on its case rate and test
positivity rate. Los Angeles County has remained in the purple — widespread tier since
late August; and
WHEREAS, Southern California is currently subject to a Regional Stay at
Home Order due to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed availability, which, according to
CDPH, was zero percent (0%) as of January 8, 2021; and
WHEREAS, entitlements approved pursuant to the City of West Covina Zoning
Code generally include an expiration date of one to two years after approval, with the
potential for a 12-month extension; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the West Covina Municipal Code, a permit shall be
issued within 180 days of the application, or the plan check will expire for all building
permit and certain engineering permit applications reviewed pursuant to the Citys
adopted Building Code. Up to one 180-day extension may be granted by the Building
Official and/or City Engineer upon written request by the applicant showing that
circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have prevented action from being
taken and upon the payment of an extension fee; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the West Covina Municipal Code, a building permit
shall expire within 180 days of issuance if the building or work authorized by such
permit is not commenced or if the building or work authorized by the permit is
suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of 180
days. An extension to an unexpired permit may be granted by the Building Official
and/or City Engineer for a period of 180 days; and
WHEREAS, the State and local emergencies related to the spread of COVID-
19 have disrupted the submittal, processing, approval and inspection of the
development and construction projects within the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to automatically extend certain permit
expiration dates for entitlements approved pursuant to the Citys Zoning Code and
building/engineering plan check and permits approved pursuant to the adopted
Building Code for a period of six months.
NOW, THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA,
CALIFORNIA HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The expiration date for planning entitlements approved pursuant
to Chapter 26 (Zoning) and Chapter 20 (Subdivision Regulations) of the West Covina
Municipal Code, which were valid as of January 1, 2021 and are due to expire by June
30, 2021, shall be automatically extended for a period of six months with no associated
fee.
SECTION 2. The expiration date for Building/Engineering permits and
applications being reviewed pursuant to Chapter 7 (Buildings and Building
Regulations) and Chapter 9 (Drainage and Grading) of the West Covina Municipal
Code, which were valid as of January 1, 2021 and are due to expire by June 30, 2021,
shall be automatically extended for a period of six months with no associated fee, as
long as the applicant ensures that the construction site is properly maintained, safe,
and secure.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and
shall enter the same in the book of original resolutions and it shall become effective
immediately.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 19th day of January, 2021.
APPRS TO FORM
Thomas P. ua e
City Attorney
o 1'.KFT iad
Mayor
ATTEST
c
Lisa Sh r ck
Assist n CityClerk
I, LISA SHERRICK, Assistant City Clerk of the City of West Covina, California,
do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2021-07 was duly adopted by the
City Council of the City of West Covina, California, at a regular meeting thereof held
on the 19th day of January, 2021, by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES: Castellanos, Diaz, Lopez-Viado, Tabatabai, Wu
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Lisa Shy r*ck �'—
Assistaht/City Clerk