8917-17 Declare Public Health Emergency

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RESOLUTIONNO. 8917 -17 BY; Anderson, Bullock, Litten, Marx, Nowlin, O'Leary, O'Malley. A RESOLUTION to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least five members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force at the earliest period allowed by law, joining the Cuyahoga County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services and the City of Cleveland in declaring the hun- dreds of opioid overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County a public health emergency, and re- questing additional funding from the state and federal governments to address the issue. WHEREAS, a study performed by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation com- piled from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information identifies Ohio as leading the nation in opioid overdose deaths; and WHEREAS, the number of heroin and fentaryl related deaths in Cuyahoga Coun- ty has continued to increase each year, from 198 deaths in 2013 to 224 deaths in 2014, 228 deaths in 2015, and 517 deaths in 2016; and WHEREAS, Lakewood has been significantly impacted by opioid overdoses and overdose related deaths; in 2016 Lakewood police and fire personnel responded to 251 overdose calls and the community experienced 28 heroin deaths; and WHEREAS, while Lakewood has dedicated more resources toward combating the opioid epidemic than other suburbs, in the form of interdiction, emergency response, hu- man services case work, judicial diversion and prosecution, the City's efforts have not abated the crisis in Lakewood; and WHEREAS, Council and the Mayor's administration recommend that the state and federal government commit to an aggressive and comprehensive approach to combat this deadly disease; and WHEREAS, this Council by a vote of at least five members thereof determines that this resolution is an emergency measure, that this resolution shall take effect at the earliest date possible as set forth in Article III, Sections 10 and 13 of the Second Amend- ed Charter of the City of Lakewood and that it is necessary for the immediate preserva- tion of the public property health and safety and to provide for the usual daily operation of municipal departments in that the opiate crisis is at hand and immediate additional funding will protect lives; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO: Section 1. Council and the Mayor's administration join the Cuyahoga County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services and the City of Cleveland