(The following is a message from the Redwood City eNews)
Today, seven public health officers representing six counties uniformly issued a legal Order asking residents to stay home, a unified step to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and preserve critical health care capacity across the region, effective March 17 through April 7. To read the full press release, click here. For more information from San Mateo County Health, visit their website here. To view the full Order, click here.
(The following is a message from the Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department)
To our Community,
The entire Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Team would like to express how our hearts and thoughts are with each of you as the situation with coronavirus (COVID-19) escalates. We are diligently working to slow the spread of the virus in our community by following the continued guidance of all county and state officials as this fast-moving pandemic unfolds worldwide. We are doing our best to make the necessary changes to our operations, while being conscious of our community needs as it affects our most vulnerable.
While we have already cancelled and postponed a number of classes, programs, events, rentals, services, and more, we are expanding by closing a number of our facilities beginning Monday, March 16 through March 31. We will continually reassess the extension of closures and provide updated information. Our primary focus will be supporting essential services through senior food distributions, safety net services, homeless support services, and human service information and referral services.
We understand that these closures and cancellations create a hardship, and we thank you for your understanding through this unprecedented time.
Classes & Programs
All After School Programs, Child Care, Youth/Teen Centers, and Preschool Programs are cancelled through Sunday, April 12, 2020. We are following the guidelines in the School Operations Modification Order put forth by San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow that will take effect on Monday, March 16, 2020, and remain in force through Friday, April 3, 2020. Read the press release here.
All After School Youth Sports Programs as well as Leagues (AYSO, Juventus, Little League, Girls Softball, and others) have either cancelled or postponed their seasons until further notice.
All classes with the exception of some of our offsite providers have been cancelled. Please check with businesses individually to find out if your class has been cancelled.
All participants will be refunded in full or partially, depending on the cancellation date. Please be patient with our team as we identify these transactions, but rest assured, you will be compensated for the loss.
Online registration is open 24/7 for Summer Camps as well as classes that begin after April 12. Classes from April 12 to May 31 will be assessed as information changes.
For an up-to-date list of all open and closed facilities, programs, and more,
click here.
Facilities
Effective Monday, March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020 several City facilities will be closed.
Newly added closures include:
Community Activities Building
Red Morton Community Center
Sandpiper Community Center
The Armory
Modified:
The Veterans Memorial Senior Center will be open only for senior lunch pick-up, Monday through Friday from 11:00am to 1:00pm
Open:
The Fair Oaks Community Center will remain open for providing essential human services, including food distribution, homeless support services, safety net information and referral services, etc. All non-essential classes and programs are cancelled/postponed.
Facility Rentals & Reservations: All Facility Reservations from March 16-March 31 will now be cancelled and refunds will be issued for any paid reservations. No new meeting room, community center rooms, or picnic reservations will be taken for dates between now and May 31. You may continue to make reservations beyond June 1. Our Facility Team will work with renters on rescheduling or refunding fees.
For an up-to-date list of all open and closed facilities, programs, and more,
click here.
Parks & Playgrounds
All City parks and playgrounds will remain open at this time. City’s Parks staff will be implementing enhanced cleaning at playgrounds and in park restrooms. Please do not enter or play on playgrounds if you have a cough, are sneezing, or have a fever. Wash hands before and after touching surfaces. Avoid touching your face until you have properly washed your hands. Practice social distancing from other park visitors. Please check back to the City’s website for any up-to-date information.
Reliable Resources
The County of San Mateo opened a call center for residents with non-medical questions about coronavirus. The number is 2-1-1 and is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Use of a three-way language line to help non-English speakers is available.
Questions? Email us: . Please allow us extra time to respond as our email volume is unusually high.
Thank you for helping us to promote good health and hygiene. We serve people of all ages and levels of vulnerability. We hope that with your help, we can continue to foster a positive and safe environment for our community to live, work, and play, even during this stressful time of uncertainty.
In good health,
Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services
(The following is a message from the Library Director of Redwood City)
Dear Library Community,
The staff of the Library greatly appreciates your thoughtful comments about the importance of libraries during the current health emergency in San Mateo County. While in many ways we would love to be open for business to meet your needs, we will be joining all of the school districts and all of the public libraries in San Mateo County in closing our facilities to the public beginning Monday, March 16. Redwood City Public Library will remain closed through March 31 for the time being, and we will evaluate the best time to reopen based on additional information we learn between now and then.
I wanted to take this opportunity to provide you a brief update on what Library services will and will not be available over the upcoming weeks.
Redwood City Public Library locations will remain open for their normal business hours on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15
All four Redwood City Public Library locations will be closed from Monday, March 16 through Tuesday, March 31
The book drops at all four libraries and the outside input for the automated library return system at Redwood Shores will remain open 24 hours a day for the return of library materials
All of our 24/7 online resources on our website, including eBooks and eAudiobooks; streaming TV, movie, and music services; and digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines will remain available at https://www.redwoodcity.org/departments/library/downloadables
Library assistance will be available by telephone from 10 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday at 650-780-7018, extension 4. You can also reach us by email at
Due dates for library materials, including Wifi hotspots, will be extended automatically, so you do not need to worry about your materials being returned late at this time
Customers will not be able to place new holds through the online catalog during the closure, but all materials already on hold shelves will remain there until we are able to reopen
All Library meeting room reservations from March 16 – March 31 will be cancelled, and refunds will be issued for any paid reservations. No new meeting room reservations will be taken for dates between now and May 31, but you may continue to make reservations for dates from June 1 forward
All library programs, storytimes, and events through Sunday, April 12 are cancelled or postponed
We are working closely with our local educational community to identify ways the Library can assist students with their home education programs while the schools are closed.
We continue to encourage everyone in our community to continue safe health practices to avoid exposure, including handwashing, social distancing, avoiding handshakes, and other recommendations of the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
We wish you and your families good health, and we hope we have the opportunity to serve you at the Library once we can do so in a safe manner.
(The following is a message from the Redwood City eNews)
The City continues to follow the guidance of the San Mateo County Health Department and public health officials in response to coronavirus (COVID-19).
San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow issued an updated statement March 10, 2020 indicating there is now evidence of widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in San Mateo County. Please review his statement for the latest updates.
Based on the latest recommendations, we’ve modified the following programs, events and service deliveries. Please note that this is a fluid situation, and as new information arises, the City may make further adjustments.
Postponed Events/Programs and Service Modifications
Parks, Recreation and Community Services and the Library will be cancelling/postponing all non-essential programs and services effective today, March 12 through April 12.
Essential Programs and Service Delivery
Parks, Recreation and Community Services and the Library essential services will continue at this time, including:
Park Maintenance
After School Programs (so long as the schools stay open)
Childcare Programs – Lil’ Learners at the Red Morton Community Center and RCCDP at the Fair Oaks Community Center (so long as schools are open)
Food programs – emergency food, SVDP homeless help desk, Fair Oaks Adult Activity Center breakfast and lunch program, food distributions (Brown Bag, Family Harvest, Sandwiches on Sunday)
Senior lunch program (only pick-up/to-go) at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center
Core Services/Information and Referral Program – homeless services, homeless prevention services (financial assistance), utility assistance, food, crisis intervention/support, other safety net services including benefits assistance
Immigration and Citizenship Services – including consultations, classes
Dignity on Wheels – mobile shower and laundry unit
Hoover Showers – for the homeless
SMCounty Mobile Health Van
One-on-one tax assistance – currently Thursday afternoons through April 16, one more Saturday – Saturday, March 21
Project READ
Library Teen Center
Library After School Homework Help (so long as the schools stay open)
Library public computers (with selected computers taken out of service to maintain social distance)
Census Questionnaire Assistance Centers at all four Library locations
Job Lab employment coaching
Library Social Service Office Hours
Reservation of City Facilities
Community rooms and meeting room reservations at Library and Community Center facilities are being honored, but groups will be encouraged to cancel reservations if the events are non-essential.The City will reimburse any reservation fees. The City will not be accepting new reservations of City facilities for rentals through the end of May. Renters should consider alternative plans if a notice of immediate cancellation or facility closures should take place.
City Council Special Meeting
A City Council Special Meeting will be held this evening, March 12 at
7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers so that the Council can consider declaring a local state of emergency. This action is being taken because it allows the City more flexibility to operate under the heightened demands of this event.
As an alternative to attending in person, the Council meeting will be televised live to Redwood City residents on Astound Broadband cable Channel 26 and Comcast cable Channel 27, AT&T U-verse Channel 99, and will be streamed live on the City’s website at www.redwoodcity.org/councilmeetings . As always, public comments may be emailed to .
(The following is a message from Belmont-Redwood Shores School District Superintendent Michael Milliken)
Hello Belmont-Redwood Shores Community,
Within the last hour, the San Mateo County Health Officer has ordered all schools (grades TK-12) within the County to dismiss students from regular attendance and has encouraged at-home learning alternatives. BRSSD will comply with this order, which is effective for the next three weeks, March 16 to April 3, 2020 (the next two weeks of school plus our scheduled spring break). All school-related activities, clubs, sports, performances, and extracurriculars are subject to this order and are suspended for this period.
The press release summarizing the order can be found here.
We will follow up with additional information as we generate, collect, and organize it. I will do my best to keep communications regular, orderly, and as comprehensive as possible. Finalizing and sharing a plan that outlines educational activities, expectations, and general resources is our administration’s top priority. We will be in touch with BRSSD families by Sunday noon at the latest. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
At 7:30PM, March 12, 2020, A City Council Special Meeting will be held in the City Hall Council Chambers so that the Council may declare a local state of emergency. This action is being taken to allow the City to become eligible for federal and or state funding. Furthermore, it allows the City more flexibility to operate under the heightened demands of this event. As an alternative to attending in person, the Council meetings are televised live to Redwood City residents on Astound Broadband cable Channel 26 and Comcast cable Channel 27, AT&T U-verse Channel 99, and are streamed live on the City’s website at www.redwoodcity.org/councilmeetings. As always, public comments may be emailed to .
(The following is a message sent to Resident City & Redwood Shores residents from Redwood City Mayor Diane Howard.)
Dear Redwood City Community,
I want to start off this message by thanking the community for your patience and support as new information about coronavirus (COVID-19) is continuously being shared by San Mateo County Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health. The health and well-being of our community remains of paramount importance to the City. As Mayor of Redwood City, I have been impressed with the calm, swift actions of City staff to ensure that we are taking all precautionary actions to address this situation. I want to reassure you that the City has developed an interdepartmental Critical Action Team, who are actively and extensively developing and updating the City’s Continuity of Operations Plans. As new information is available, we will continue to adjust our programs and services as necessary. We are all in this together and we must strive to keep open communication so that we can continue to support one another.
City staff have been closely monitoring directives and guidance from public health officials so that we can be intentional and methodical in our response in modifying and or postponing service delivery for programs and events. We also want to take all necessary precautions to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the most vulnerable members of our community (e.g., seniors and people with pre-existing health conditions). Please visit www.redwoodcity.org/coronavirus for the most up-to-date information and resources, including a listing of postponed events, programs and service modifications during this heightened public health risk.
As individuals, I encourage everyone to follow steps to prevent the spreading of infectious disease, including:
Be vigilant with washing your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing, for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands.
Avoid shaking hands and touching your face with unwashed hands
Avoid large public gatherings
Stay home if you aren’t feeling well
The City is taking extra precautionary measures and is regularly cleaning and disinfecting public City facilities. We will continue to inform and educate the community though all City communication platforms.
For reference, the County of San Mateo opened a call center for residents with non-medical questions about coronavirus. The number is 2-1-1 and will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Use of a three-way language line to help non-English speakers is available.
Lastly, Redwood City is a city that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, and is welcoming to all. A person’s risk for COVID-19 is not related to race, ethnicity or culture. Your continued respect and kindness to each other is appreciated.
The following notice of a planned construction project that will affect Redwood Shores residents has been provided by the City of Redwood City, Community Development Department, Engineering and Transportation Division.
**Update for 8/21-8/22/19:
Thank you for your patience and cooperation with the road resurfacing project.
This just a heads up for a limited night work on Wednesday 8/21/19 and Thursday 8/22/19 on Marine Parkway.
As you noticed, the resurfacing/Microsurfacing seal is completed, and the striping work is in progress. In order to help expedite restoration of the striping, street marking and legend; we have accepted the contractor’s call to work tomorrow night on Marine Parkway non-residential area (between east Oracle Pkwy and west Oracle Pkwy/project limit/101). You will see the work trucks and crew between the hours of 7:00 pm to midnight.
Please pass on the information to the others as necessary, and contact the project inspector Suhail Ansari (650) 400-9854 if you have any question.**
NOTICE OF PROJECT
Dear Resident, Business Owner, and/or Property Owner:
The City of Redwood City will begin a roadway resurfacing project in your area soon. The project is part of the City’s ongoing roadway management program. Roadways will be resurfaced with a material known as “microsurfacing”. Microsurfacing is a cost-effective preventative maintenance measure that provides a durable, smooth, and safe roadway surface.
The project consists of the following activities, to be done by two main contractors:
American Asphalt:
• Repair damaged pavement on Marine Parkway
• Remove traffic striping, pavement legends & raised pavement markers
• Apply a thin layer of microsurfacing seal
• Install temporary markings
Construction is expected to start in July and end in September.
The contractor will distribute notices with more detailed information about 1-2 weeks before the microsurfacing activity starts. Striping will follow 1-2 weeks after the microsurfacing application.
Residents and motorists in the project area may experience some delays and inconveniences during construction including periodic lane closures, street closures, detours, temporary parking displacement, dust, and loose gravel. “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 48 hours in advance. Please be particularly cautious during construction and if possible, use alternate routes to avoid delays.
General work hours will be between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. For some locations, work hours will be more limited to reduce the impact on commute traffic. Some night and weekend work may be approved to reduce traffic impacts. Streets will normally be reopened to traffic by 5 pm. However, they may be closed later if needed to allow the new surface to fully cure. Appropriate construction signage will be posted as needed. Access to properties will be maintained at all times for residents, patrons, owners, and emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, etc.).
The following is provided by Michael Milliken, Superintendent of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District, in regards to an important and time-sensitive development at the local school board.
Last month, Trustees Robert Tashjian and Huan Phan resigned from the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District Board of Trustees effective June 19, 2019. The Board has decided to fill their vacant board seats via appointment for the remainder of their terms through November 2020.
All residents are welcome to submit an application for Board appointment through June 3, 2019. Applications can be found on the District website, brssd.org. Applications will be reviewed at the June 6 board meeting, public interviews will take place at a special board meeting on June 17, and the finalists are expected to be voted onto the Board on June 20. Eligibility for serving on the Board is being at least 18 years of age, a registered voter, and a resident within the school district boundaries.
Additionally, you are invited to email your input to the Board regarding criteria for the selection process anytime throughout the process at .
