Lynda Hopkins Supervisor 5th District - Daily Briefing 5-22-2020
May 22nd, 2020
Dear Friends,
Memorial Day weekend. The official start of summer. Beautiful sunny weather expected. And yet what will this year's summer look like without open coastal beaches, throngs of tourists, open doors on retailers and restaurants? We all feel the grief of our struggling businesses, our out-of-work colleagues, and as well a community that is pulling together to weather this latest disaster. Once again, we are proud to see the strength and resilience of our West County communities as there are so many acts of kindness and creative steps forward taking place. Yesterday, as I was in Guerneville, I saw the Russian River Alliance going to laid off worker homes to deliver food cards purchased from local donations as well as a grant from our TIF Funds. West County Community Services has housed more unsheltered community members at the alternative care site in SSU, we've heard from a nationally renowned artist looking at donating a piece of art to the town, and one of our local youths is working on organizing a drive-in movie night. I am so grateful for these and many other positive lights in our community that uplift us all.
Getting outside is still a great option to supporting your (and your family's) mental health. Know Before You Go by checking this Recreational Parks page on open parks, hours, and limitations to observe. Inevitably, we will have more outside visitors (still not allowed by our State Health Order) in our parks. Our enforcement teams will be out - from CHP watching traffic, Parks Deputies in the Parks, and Sheriff deputies patrolling as well. If you are anxious about getting caught up in crowds, we encourage you to find another way to enjoy the outdoors. Hold a family BBQ, stay close to home, order food in from a local restaurant. And if you are feeling anxious, remember you can always call the Sonoma County Warm Line for emotional and mental health support.
Today the 3rd Amended Shelter-In-Place order was released, opening up outside dining, summer day camps, and drive in services among others. The overview is below and the full text of the order is available at www.socoemergency.org. As anticipated, this is another step in gradual re-opening that will give us all more options for this holiday weekend and into the summer.
Enjoy a safe and happy long weekend!
Modified Health Order #3
The Sonoma County Health Officer today amended the Public Shelter-in-Place Health Order to expand the list of businesses able to operate in the County as allowed by the State’s approval of the County’s Variance request to accelerate into Stage 2 of the Governor’s reopening plan. The amended Shelter in Place Health Order will become effective 12:01 a.m. on May 22, 2020.
Under the Order restaurants may now open for outdoor dining only. Facilities such as wineries, breweries and bars may also open for outdoor dining if meals are served. The outdoor activities are allowed as they pose less of a risk of virus transmission than indoor activities and patrons are limited at a table to members of the same household or living unit. This Amendment also expands childcare to include summer day-camp programs and allows the conduct of drive-in ceremonies and operation of drive-in movies. The modified Health Order also now permits libraries to offer curbside pickup and clarifies that faith-based counseling may be delivered face-to-face when a virtual session via video or audio conference is not possible. Among the significant changes are:
● Restaurants and food facilities may offer onsite sit-down outdoor meals
● Wineries, tasting rooms, bars, pubs, breweries and craft distilleries may offer:
a) curbside pick-up, delivery, shipping; and
b) sit-down outdoor meals in accordance with their land use permit and if the business has a food-facility permit (if applicable)
○ Questions pertaining to food-facility or host-facility permits? Contact Environmental Health at 707-565-6565 oreh@sonoma-county.org
○ Questions pertaining to land-use permits? Contact Permit Sonoma by email at planner@sonoma-county.org.
● Summer day camps and other educational or recreational institutions or programs may provide childcare/supervision for children of all ages
● Ceremonies (including graduations and religious activities) may be conducted with household members attending in closed motorized vehicles.
All businesses and other entities covered under this Order must comply with local and State orders and guidance, including preparing, posting and implementing, social distancing, face covering and worker/consumer safety protocols at all operational sites. Details pertaining to these protocols are in Appendix A of the May 1, 2020 Health Order C19-09