This is not a time for panic or fear. On the contrary, this is a time for preparation and precaution, and that is exactly what we are doing.”

Jerry Bien-Willner, Paradise Valley Mayor

By Josh Martinez
Twitter: @jmartinez064

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include more information from a press release about closures and restrictions within the town as well as closure of the post office. 

Paradise Valley Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner has issued a proclamation of emergency to go along with the Town Council’s authorization of the creation of a public meeting plan for remote participation as part of the town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Town Council gathered in a special meeting March 17 to unanimously approve efforts to provide means and methods to ensure remote participation in town meetings from body members and the public.

Furthermore, the town is taking several actions to curtail in-person services to better align with state, federal and local recommendations regarding COVID-19, according to a press release distributed after the meeting.

One of such is the closing of the post office at Town Hall per a March 18 decision from Town Manager Jill Keimach.  Mailboxes are still available for residents to drop off mail with postage but full service won't be available and residents should go to the Hopi Substation at 8790 E. Via de Ventura in Scottsdale.

Mr. Bien-Willner said these efforts are aimed at keeping the public involved in town matters while allowing them to undertake safe practices regarding the spread of COVID-19.

He also said his declaration of emergency is not based on any information he has heard contrary to what federal and state officials are saying publicly, but rather the need to prepare.

“This is not a time for panic or fear,” he said during the meeting. “On the contrary, this is a time for preparation and precaution, and that is exactly what we are doing.”

With the town in a state of emergency, Mr. Bien-Willner said it would be in better position to receive emergency funds and assistance from federal, state and county sources. He learned this after a conversation with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s office, he said.

Secondly, the mayor said this declaration also allows him the ability to work in consultation with Ms. Keimach to establish the changing guidelines from federal health officials without having to go through meetings and procedures, which could slow response and “jeopardize health and safety.”

“I’m not a public health expert,” Mr. Bien-Willner said. “We [the town] don’t have a large public health team but we are very blessed that the state does and certainly the federal government’s Centers for Disease Control. All the best minds in the country are focused on this situation, in fact around the world, and we have a direct pipeline into those folks.

“We’re going to be following that advice so this gives us implementation authority to do the things that need to be done. We don’t expect any measures currently that are beyond the scope of what is being discussed publicly.”

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, which led Gov. Doug Ducey to declare a state of emergency in Arizona on the same day. Since that time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encouraged a nationwide halt of gatherings.

With these parameters in place, the town decided to follow suit, which led to a call of plans to conduct all town meetings electronically. The town will continue to post agendas online along with instructions on how to participate.

“I know we are all interested in leading by example and the best example we can set is to practice social distancing,” Mr. Bien-Willner said. “We would have done this already but we also have to follow the law and keep order. That’s another example that we set, that we don’t panic and we don’t become afraid. We go through our business and this is an order of business that we get this resolution in place."

Town Attorney Andrew Miller said Ms. Keimach would take the lead on establishing the public meetings plan along with input from himself and Town Clerk Duncan Miller.

Andrew Miller said he believes the three of them can get the plan together quickly and publicize it to the public through the website and PV Alert. 

Other actions the town is taking include closing Town Hall and the Public Works Building to the public but still have staff available as they work remotely.

The town says the police department will be fully operational but foot traffic in the department's building will be limited to the lobby. Furthermore, the town says via a release police will exercise COVID-19 best practices when responding to emergency calls.

The Municipal Court will remain open but will have limited in-person appearances. There will be 30- or 45-day continuances as well as telephonic appearance options for all court matters. The community room and police auditorium will also be closed until further notice.

The town will continue to follow the CDC and state on further developments and restrictions regarding COVID-19. Ms. Keimach will also work to make remote working provisions for town staff who don’t need to work in-person, allowing for limited public emergency health leave when the town deems it necessary.

“We are just hoping the public gets used to this very quickly and that through a lot of education, we’ll be adjusted to that quickly,” Andrew Miller said.

While not much discussion happened at the special meeting, Vice Mayor Julie Pace voiced her support for the measures and expressed confidence in Mr. Bien-Willner.

“It allows us to conduct the business of the town,” she said. “It allows you [Mr. Bien-Willner] to be the lead to make sure as things evolve, the mayor can jump in and make good decisions for all of us and work with the other mayors and individuals in the state as this is a serious issue that will hopefully pass soon.”