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REDLANDS, CA— Following issuance of a new public health order from the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health on Thursday, the City of Redlands is implementing plans to reopen park and recreational facilities “on a limited scale for passive recreation,” which includes individual activities such as “wildlife observation, walking or hiking, biking … and participating in non-contact sports like golf or tennis with members of their households.”
?City facilities that will be reopened under the order include tennis and pickle ball courts and parking lots at all City parks. City parks and trails have remained open.
All facilities will adhere to mandates regarding physical distancing and the use of face coverings. The new public health orders go into effect Saturday, April 25. A copy of the county’s order can be viewed here: http://www.sbcounty.gov/Uploads/CAO/Feature/Content/Omnibus_Health_Officer_Order_Outdoor_Recreation_4.23.20_Final.pdf
The City Council and City staff continue to monitor state and county public health orders and to follow public health recommendations while providing necessary services to residents.
On Thursday, the City also issued guidance to essential businesses to help ensure worker and customer safety. The guidelines can be found on the City’s Covid-19 page here: https://www.cityofredlands.org/article/city-redlands-provides-guidance-essential-businesses-worker-and-customer-safety
City facilities, including all City offices, community and senior centers, the A.K. Smiley Public Library, Lincoln Shrine, skate park, basketball courts and playground equipment will remain closed to the public until Department of Public Health orders have been rescinded. City services are still available by phone or online. Check the City website for information on accessing City services or making payments.
Beginning Monday, April 27, the A.K. Smiley Public Library will offer a Books to Go service. Smiley Library cardholders may request books, CDs, DVDs or magazines from the library’s catalog either online at www.akspl.org, via email at circ@akspl.org, or by phone at (909) 798-7565. Library staff will pull the material, bag it and contact the cardholder to make an appointment to pick up the material in front of the library’s Vine Street entrance. Full details can be found at the library’s website at www.akspl.org. Electronic resources are also available to any cardholder. Details about those resources including e-books, e-magazines, databases and video services are also available on the library website.
All City sponsored classes and activities and park reservations have been canceled until the public health orders are lifted.
City Council and Planning Commission meetings have been closed to the public until further notice or until the current local State of Emergency has been lifted. The City Council and Planning Commission will continue to meet to conduct essential business.
Public participation in the meetings is still encouraged. The public may view the meetings live at home through Redlands TV on Channel 3 for Spectrum cable customers or Channel 35 for Frontier cable customers, or online at https://www.cityofredlands.org/meeting-agendas-minutes.
Members of the public who wish to provide general comment to the City Council or comment on specific agenda items may submit comments up until 6 p.m. the day of the City Council meeting by email at publiccomment@cityofredlands.org or through the public comment form on the City’s website at https://www.cityofredlands.org/public-speaker-form.
Written comments may also be provided by 4 p.m. the day of the City Council meeting directly to the City Clerk’s Office at 35 Cajon St.
Comments received by the deadline will be read into the public record at the meeting.
City staff will continue to monitor, review and evaluate all steps the City has taken through the end of the current pandemic and make adjustments as appropriate.
On March 16, the Emergency Services Director declared a State of Emergency in Redlands and activated the Emergency Operations Center to a Level 3. The Redlands City Council ratified that action the following day. Declaration of a local emergency provides additional tools to the City in responding to the public health emergency and allows the City to purchase supplies, materials and equipment without going through the normal bidding requirements.
For more information on the virus and local response, visit the City’s website at https://www.cityofredlands.org/coronavirus-covid-19, the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health website at http://wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/coronavirus/ the California Department of Public Health website at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.
City of Redlands press releases and other information are available on the City’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cityofredlands or on the City’s website at www.cityofredlands.org/.
