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May 8, 2020

City Manager's Office

New Shelter-in-Place Order, Amendment, City Operations

The Sonoma County Public Health Officer issued a new Health Order, which took effect on May 4, that more closely aligns with the state’s executive order, which currently has no expiration date. In addition, Sonoma County just amended the new Health Order to re-open retail stores for curbside pickup and delivery, effective 12:01 a.m. today, May 8.

These businesses include bookstores, jewelry stores, toy stores, clothing stores, shoe stores, home and furnishing stores, sporting goods stores, antique stores, and music stores. In addition, manufacturers that produce goods for essential businesses and retail stores may resume operations. Stores and shopping malls remain closed. For more information, please go to the Amendment to the new Health Order, C19-09: https://socoemergency.org/amendment-to-health-order-no-c19-09-shelter-in-place/.

Here’s a quick overview of the new Health Order, C19-09, which took effect on May 4. The new Health Order, as well as Frequently Asked Questions, can be found here: https://socoemergency.org/order-of-the-health-officer-no-19-09-shelter-in-place-extended/

Construction: Construction activity on unoccupied buildings can resume. Construction activity on occupied buildings is limited to work necessary to ensure that a structure is safe, sanitary, or habitable as described in the Order. The City is offering services to receive and process applications and conduct inspections. For more info, please see the post directly below, “Construction Activity Allowed with Restrictions.”

Businesses: The Amendment to the new Health Order allows retail stores the ability to re-open for curbside pick-up and delivery only. These businesses include, but are not limited to, bookstores, jewelry stores, toy stores, clothing stores, shoe stores, home and furnishing stores, sporting goods stores, antique stores, and music stores. In addition, manufacturers that produce goods for essential businesses and retail stores may resume operations. Real estate and outdoor business such as nurseries, landscapers/gardeners, pool-cleaning businesses, and florists can re-open. Car dealerships and bike shops can also expand beyond maintenance work. Stores and shopping malls remain closed.

Outdoor activities: Golf courses can operate under certain restrictions. Last week, the county began allowing residents to visit city and county parks they can walk or bike to.

What restrictions continue under this new Health Order?

Large gatherings: Groups of more than 10 people are still not permitted. This includes concerts, festivals, funerals, and movie theaters.

Travel: Non-essential trips are still not allowed. You can leave your house for essential activities such as getting groceries and exercise.

Restaurants: No inside dining is allowed yet, but restaurants can continue to serve food via drive-thru, delivery or carry-out.

Religion: Churches can continue to provide food, shelter and services to the needy, but counseling and services must still be done online.

Schools: Healdsburg school campuses remain closed through the end of the school year.

Construction Activity Allowed with Restrictions

This week, the City’s Planning & Building Department transitioned its operations to respond to the new County of Sonoma Public Health Officer Order, Order No. C19-09. The new Order became effective on Monday, May 4. While the new Order keeps in place many of the stay-at-home restrictions, it does relax restrictions in some important industries, including construction services.

The new Order allows the full range of construction activities to proceed, but only in unoccupied structures. And, this new Order continues very restrictive limits for construction activities in occupied structures. Construction activities in occupied structures are limited to those needed to ensure that a structure is safe, sanitary, or habitable. Examples of construction activities that would be allowed in occupied structures includes the following: provision of a working bathroom; provision of an operable kitchen; assuring needed electrical service, and assuring needed heating, cooling and ventilations systems.

In response to this new Order, the City’s Planning & Building staff members have continued certain and re-established other services and most staff again work at the City’s Community Development Center (CDC). Staff has re-established the drop-off and pick-up bins in front of the CDC to receive, process and distribute building permit applications and related submittals and administrative and pre-application planning submittals.

The CDC continues to be closed to the public. Information is posted on the City’s website, on the doors of the CDC and has been emailed to regular customers with contact information for the various departments and staff and the services offered by the Planning & Building Department. The Building Division is offering field inspections while adhering to safety protocols. These protocols include social distancing and wearing facial masks/coverings to help assure the safety of staff and public. Moving forward, department staff members will put in place virtual meetings to re-establish its one-stop informational meetings with prospective developers and applicants and to re-establish, though “virtually,” regular Planning Commission meetings.

COVID-19 Forces Summer Event Cancellations

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many special events planned for this summer have been canceled or postponed. Canceled events include:

The Grind
Future Farmers Country Fair (Auction will occur online)
July 4 Fireworks and Plaza Festivities (Exploring options for shelter in place July 4 activities)
Tuesdays in the Plaza (Exploring options for virtual mini-series)
Sundays in the Plaza
Jazz Festival
Arts Festival
Shakespeare in the Park

In accordance with Sonoma County Health Officer’s Order, the Saturday Farmers’ Market is underway and the Tuesday Market is scheduled to begin May 26. You can find a comprehensive list of special events and their current status on the City's Special Events webpage at: www.cityofhealdsburg.org/events

City Manager to Leave City on July 3

City Manager David Mickaelian will step down from his role as City Manager to become the new General Manager of the Tahoe Donner Association in Truckee. His last day at the City will be July 3. Please read his personal letter to the Healdsburg community:
https://ci.healdsburg.ca.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=431

Update on Low-Income Electricity Discount

On May 4, the City Council raised the income qualifications for the electricity low-income discount. For example, the new income levels will allow a family of three with an annual income of $81,850 to qualify for a 25 percent discount on their electricity usage. To apply for the program, please visit the City’s webpage at https://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/172/Utility-Billing-Customer-Service.

Community Services Launches Services Advisory Team

Help Healdsburg Community Services prioritize its services and programs in this time of coronavirus and limited financial resources. This City department has started a Services Advisory Team (SAT) that will meet virtually (weekly or bi-weekly TBD) to gather info from everyone in our community -- from parents, teens, single folks, our Latino community, older adults, and others. If you'd like to volunteer or if you need more info, please contact Recreation Manager Dave Jahns at djahns@ci.healdsburg.ca.us or (707) 431-3152.

Vegetation Fire: Mill Creek Road

At 3:35 PM on Tuesday, May 6, Healdsburg Fire, along with Cal Fire and Geyserville Fire responded to a vegetation fire on the 4700 block of Mill Creek Road. The fire, which was caused by downed power lines, grew to about a quarter acre and burned in heavy timber and logging slash. Access was difficult as the fire was in a drainage not accessible by roads. Cal Fire helicopter 901 performed multiple water bucket drops while crews hiked in with a hose line. No evacuations were ordered and there were no injuries.

Volunteer Opportunity: Planning Commission

The City is seeking qualified applicants to fill two vacancies on the City's Planning Commission. Members of the Planning Commission are required to attend two meetings a month; reside within the city limits; disclose economic interest as required by the Fair Political Reform Act and the Local Conflict of Interest Code; and complete the required AB 1234 Ethics Training. Applications must be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk by 5 PM, Friday, May 22, 2020. Applications are available on the City’s website under "Boards and Commissions" at https://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/177/Boards-Commissions or by emailing rallan@ci.healdsburg.ca.us.

Afterschool Program Partnership Highlighted
by California Department of Education

Over the past few weeks, Community Services staff has worked with the Healdsburg Unified School District and the California Afterschool Network to identify how our after-school program staff (ASES) can creatively support participants and their families during shelter-in-place. Staff are reconnecting remotely with all 175 participants and their families to identify their needs, such as online tutoring, virtual recreation and enrichment activities, and school supplies. Our team is also working on ways to provide safe and comprehensive childcare options not just for ASES participants, but for the community this summer and beyond.

On May 6, representatives from the school district and Community Services were featured on the California Department of Education's weekly webinar to share information on our unique partnership for afterschool child care. The video can be viewed here.

Video Series Continues: Live from Home

“Live from Home – Connecting Our Community” is a Facebook Live series that features video conversations with community members to help us stay connected. The second episode aired on Saturday, May 2, and featured Healdsburg Running Company’s Skip Brand. Live from Home will continue this weekend with a very special Mother’s Day edition featuring Healdsburg’s long-time resident Lorraine Ham. Future episodes will be announced and livestreamed on the Community Services Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/healdsburgcommunityservices/live. If there is someone you would like to hear from, please email us at communityservices@cityofhealdsburg.org.

Utility Pole Replacement at Haydon Street

On Wednesday, the City’s Electric Crew replaced a utility pole on Haydon Street. Due to rot and deterioration, this pole had to be replaced to maintain safety and reliable electric service. During the COVID and the shelter-in-place orders the City’s Electric Department and other City departments continue to maintain the City’s essential services.

Fine Screen Repair for Wastewater System

City Staff began removing and repairing the fine screens at the Water Reclamation Facility. The fine screens help to remove hair, rags, and stringy material in the City wastewater. To maintain the essential services of water, wastewater, and electric, City staff continue to work while adhering to safety protocols such as social distancing. Staff in the picture include Dustin Huse, Eddie Uribe, and Steve Nelson.

Digital Zero Waste Guide; Recycling Continues

Due to the Shelter-in-Place Order, Zero Waste Sonoma (previously known as the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency) will not publish paper copies of its recycling guide this year. Instead, the Zero Waste Guide is available in digital format and can be found here: https://zerowastesonoma.gov/

As a reminder: Please keep recycling and composting. All compostable and recyclable material is still being processed, so continue to place your clean, dry recyclables in your blue bin and all of your food and yard waste in the green bin. Thank you.