After Curry County and coastal communities saw an influx of visitors from California, Washington and other outside areas during Governor Brown’s “Stay Home Stay Safe” Executive Order, Curry County Commissioners determined on Monday March 23rd, that a public health, life and safety Emergency exists in Curry County due to individuals that are not following the protocols set forth in Governor Brown’s Executive Orders and continue to visit Curry County and coastal communities during this time of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Curry County put restrictions on all transient lodging facilities until May 1st, 2020, with limited exceptions to individuals in the trucking industry, victims of domestic violence, health care workers, contract workers and others that may be deemed as essential personnel services.
On Thursday March 26th, 2020, the City of Brookings, during a special meeting followed Governor Kate Brown and Curry County an adopted a resolution temporarily restricting the rental of Transient Lodging Facilities until May 1, 2020. A Transient Lodging Facility is any business required to collect transient occupancy taxes, including, but not limited to motels, vacation rentals, bed & breakfasts, and RV parks.
During this time, only persons in the trucking industry, victims of domestic violence, health care workers, government workers, first responders and other persons deemed by the City, County or the State to be essential or necessary during the pandemic, persons seeking to use the transient lodging facilities to responsibly quarantine themselves (if allowed by the Transient Lodging Facility owner), and residents within the 97415 zip code will be permitted to rent lodging facilities. Lodging facilities will be required turn away anyone who does not meet the listed qualifications.
The Council understands this crisis is having a profound impact on our local economy and our local businesses. They did not take the adoption of this resolution lightly and felt that adoption was imperative to helping ensure the health and safety of our citizens.
This Resolution is in agreement with Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Orders directing individuals to minimize travel, other than essential travel to or from a home, residence, or workplace, for obtaining or providing food, shelter, essential consumer needs, education, health care, or emergency services; for essential business and government services; for the care of family members, household members, elderly persons, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities or vulnerable persons, and pets or livestock.
