Dear Residents,

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes continues to monitor the spread of the novel coronavirus in Los Angeles County and would like to share the following updates with the community:

The Latest

Reminder: RPV Trails and Beaches Remain Temporarily Closed

Although some county trails will reopen on Saturday, May 9, please note that all trails in Rancho Palos Verdes, including the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, are not managed by Los Angeles County and will not be ready for reopening on this date.

The City is finalizing a comprehensive reopening plan addressing public safety and maintenance actions for our trails and beaches, and our goal is to open as soon as possible in the days to come. Please check trails.rpvca.gov for updates on the opening date.

The following six City parks are open in a limited capacity (turf and walking paths only, with physical distancing required): Hesse Park, Ryan Park, Vanderlip Park, Ladera Linda Park, Upper Point Vicente Park/Civic Center, and Eastview Park.

Thank you for your patience, RPV.

Recovery Begins: Some Non-Essential Businesses to Re-Open May 8

L.A. County residents are doing their part to follow the County’s “Safer at Home” Health Officer Order, which has slowed the spread of COVID-19. L.A. County is now taking its first steps towards reopening businesses and getting people back to work.

Starting Friday, May 8, the following businesses, facilities or locations will re-open across L.A. County:

Non-essential businesses: only for curbside pick-up with adherence to distancing and infection control protocols. This includes:

Bookstores
Clothing stores
Florists
Music stores
Sporting goods stores
Toy stores

Car dealership showrooms (open for sales with adherence to distancing and infection control protocols)

On Saturday, May 9, the following outdoor parks and recreational facilities will open provided all activities adhere to distancing and infection control protocols:

Golf courses, not including pro-shops or dine-in restaurants
Some trails (Check by jurisdiction. Does NOT include RPV trails.)
Some trailheads (Check by jurisdiction. Does NOT include RPV trailheads.)
Some parks (Check by jurisdiction. Six RPV parks are partially reopened).

Please note that trails in Rancho Palos Verdes, including the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, are not managed by Los Angeles County and will not be ready to reopen on Saturday.

The reopening process for certain business sectors will occur in stages and require physical distancing and infection control practices. Health Officer Orders and directives will still continue to ensure that we slow the spread of COVID-19 to prevent an overwhelming surge of COVID-19 cases at healthcare facilities. Physical distancing, wearing cloth face coverings, frequent hand washing, self-isolation and self-quarantine will continue to be very important throughout the foreseeable future. We remind all LA County residents to continue to do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19.

View an infographic of the Roadmap to Recovery at: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/HOO/RoadmapToRecovery.pdf

View a PowerPoint presentation of the Roadmap to Recovery at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/HOO/RoadmapToRecovery-powerpoint.pdf

For up-to-date information on the various stages of re-opening LA County, visit covid19.lacounty.gov/recovery.

Upper Point Vicente Park Added to the Partially Reopened Parks

To provide residents with access to park space during the “Safer at Home” Order, at this time, the City has partially reopened six neighborhood parks. Only turf areas and walking paths are open in the following parks:

Eastview Park (excluding the dog park)
Frank A. Vanderlip Park
Fred Hesse, Jr. Community Park
Ladera Linda Park
Robert E. Ryan Community Park
Upper Point Vicente Park (excluding the Rancho Caninos Dog Park)

The City encourages residents to participate in recreational outdoor activity in their neighborhoods. If you visit these parks, please do so responsibly, be mindful of your interactions and wear a face covering. All visitors MUST practice physical distancing, staying 6 feet away from others not in their household. City Staff, Park Rangers and law enforcement are monitoring these areas to ensure compliance with public health directives. Pursuant to the City Council’s March 17 local emergency proclamation, the City may close these areas if rules are not observed by the public and conditions become unsafe.

STILL CLOSED

Parking lots, restrooms, playgrounds, dog parks, basketball and tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields.
Beaches, open space areas, the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, and trails

STILL NOT ALLOWED

Active sports or organized activities
Group gatherings or activities

The City is considering a comprehensive reopening plan of more of its parks and open space area, including the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, over the coming days that is managed and responsible. To that point, the City recognizes the health and well-being of our residents and employees as a top priority, and is committed to keeping them safe. We urge all residents to follow the “Safer at Home” Order and only leave their homes for essential activities. We also urge the public to diligently practice physical distancing, as it is the most effective tool we have to fight this pandemic. We all must do our part to “flatten the curve.”

Last Chance: PVPUSD “Return to School” Parent Survey

PVPUSD has convened a committee of teachers, classified staff, administrators, medical professionals and board members to develop a "Return to School" Plan in order to prepare for its campuses to reopen at the appropriate time. Parents and guardians are invited to fill out a survey by 12 p.m. on May 8 in order to provide the district with important information as to their level of comfort in returning to school campuses.

Take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/return_to_school

PVLD Senior Resources

The Palos Verdes Library District has created a webpage with resources for seniors, including getting started with tech, frequently asked reference questions, eBooklists and more! Check it out at pvld.org/seniors

Be Part of RPVtv’s #RPVTogether PSA

The City invites residents to join us in thanking all of our frontline workers, as well as community members who have stepped up to help our neighbors in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Share your photo, video or message of gratitude on social media with the hashtag #RPVTogether to be included in a special community public service announcement that will air on RPVtv. Submissions may also be emailed to mbarnes@rpvca.gov.

We are all in this together, RPV.

Cases

As of May 7, there are 29,427 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Los Angeles County, including the South Bay, so the public should not think one location is safer than another and everyone should be aware and practice physical distancing. The total includes 74 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes, 40 in Palos Verdes Estates, 13 in Rolling Hills Estates and two in Rolling Hills. Countywide, 1,418 people have died.

According to the Department of Public Health, 10 deaths have been reported in Rancho Palos Verdes. The City extends its deepest condolences to the families of these residents.

For a list of cases broken down by city, demographic characteristics, and settings, visit: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/locations.htm

For an interactive dashboard with maps and graphs showing testing, cases and death data by community, poverty level, age, sex and race/ethnicity visit: http://dashboard.publichealth.lacounty.gov/covid19_surveillance_dashboard/

An interactive dashboard of COVID-19 cases in the South Bay maintained by the City of Torrance is available at bit.ly/2XB1fv1. The dashboard reflects information sourced by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

L.A. County Adds Drive-Up COVID-19 Testing Site in Hawthorne

L.A. County has added another drive-up mobile COVID-19 testing location in the South Bay at Hawthorne Memorial Center - Betty Ainsworth Sports Center (3851 W El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250)

Testing is by appointment only and registration is now open. While anyone can sign up for a test, prioritization will align with all L.A. County testing sites, including those who are symptomatic as well as those who are asymptomatic and in institutional settings, over the age of 65, have a chronic medical condition, or are an essential worker. Anyone can sign up for an appointment, regardless of insurance or immigration status. Individuals will not be charged at any test sites.

For more information, visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing. To schedule a test, visit https://lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs

Governor Newsom Releases Updated Industry Guidance

Following up on the state’s announcement that it will begin modifying the stay at home order on Friday, May 8, Governor Gavin Newsom today released updated industry guidance – including for retail, manufacturing and logistics – to begin reopening with modifications that reduce risk and establish a safer environment for workers and customers.

Read the new guidance at: https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap/

Resilience Roadmap

Californians are flattening the curve as part of the stay at home order issued on March 19, 2020. These efforts have allowed the state to move forward on the roadmap for modifying the statewide order. The Resilience Roadmap stages that California is using to guide its gradual reopening process are:

Stage 1: Safety and Preparedness
Stage 2: Lower-Risk Workplaces
Stage 3: Higher-Risk Workplaces
Stage 4: End of Stay at Home Order

When modifications are advanced and the state’s six indicators show we’ve made enough progress, we can move to the next stage of the roadmap. We are now moving into Stage 2, where some lower-risk workplaces can gradually open with adaptations. Stage 2 expansion will be phased in gradually. Some communities may move through Stage 2 faster if they are able to show greater progress, and counties that have met the readiness criteria and worked with the California Department of Public Health can open more workplaces as outlined in the County Variance Guidance.

Industry Guidance to Reduce the Risk

California will move into Stage 2 of modifying the state’s stay at home order on May 8, 2020. The state’s progress in achieving key public health metrics will allow a gradual reopening of California’s economy.

The state recognizes the impact of economic hardship, but the risk of COVID-19 infection is still real for all Californians and continues to be fatal.
That is why every business should take every step possible to reduce the risk of infection:

Plan and prepare for reopening
Make radical changes within the workplace
Adjust practices by employees and help educate customers

The state has outlined guidance for each early Stage 2 business to follow. The goal is a safer environment for workers and customers. Businesses may use effective alternative or innovative methods to build upon the guidance.

Each business should review the guidance that is relevant to their workplace, prepare a plan based on the guidance for their industry, and put it into action.

When complete, businesses can post the industry-specific checklist (below) in their workplace to show customers and employees that they’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

Before reopening, all facilities should:

Perform a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan
Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, including how to screen themselves for symptoms and stay home if they have them
Implement individual control measures and screenings
Implement disinfecting protocols
Implement physical distancing guidance

The state has also set up a mechanism to gather input on future industry guidance through the California Recovery Roadmap survey.

While many elements of the guidance are the same across industries – such as cleaning and physical distancing – consideration was given to industry-specific methods. For example:

Retailers should increase pickup and delivery service options and encourage physical distancing during pickup – like loading items directly into a customer’s trunk or leaving items at their door.
Retailers should install hands-free devices, if possible, including motion sensor lights, contactless payment systems, automatic soap and paper towel dispensers, and timecard systems.
Manufacturing companies should close breakrooms, use barriers, or increase distance between tables/chairs to separate workers and discourage congregating during breaks. Where possible, create outdoor break areas with shade covers and seating that ensures physical distancing.
Warehouses should minimize transaction time between warehouse employees and transportation personnel. Perform gate check-ins and paperwork digitally if feasible.

Warehouse workers should clean delivery vehicles and equipment before and after delivery, carry additional sanitation materials during deliveries, and use clean personal protective equipment for each delivery stop.

Local Volunteer Match

Join PVPUSD School Board Member Linda Reid’s local volunteer match effort during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 40 volunteers have been linked with 100 isolated seniors needing help with grocery shopping and other errands.

If you're a parent, student or graduate of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District interested in participating in the volunteer match program, or an older resident needing support, contact Member Reid at reidl@pvpusd.net.

Find out more ways to help your community during the COVID-19 crisis by visiting the How You Can Help page on the City’s coronavirus webpage.

Closure Information

For a list of school, library, transit and other local closures, visit the Closure Information page on the City’s coronavirus webpage.

Open for Business

Need a list of Peninsula restaurants that are serving takeout and delivery? Or updated grocery store hours? Check out the Open for Business tab on the City’s coronavirus webpage. If you would like to add your business to this page or provide updated information, please email slee@rpvca.gov.

City Hall Closed

As a reminder, to reduce the risk of community spread of COVID-19, through at least May 15, City Hall and park buildings are closed to the public, and all recreational activities, classes and events at City facilities have been canceled. The City will primarily be providing essential city services that are necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our community and City employees. To facilitate these measures, all non-essential staff will be working remotely. Inquiries will be reviewed daily and will be responded to on a case-by-case basis. Please note that our response to your inquiry could be delayed.

Community Development Department applications and permit requests may be submitted to planning@rpvca.gov.

Non-emergency service requests may be submitted at http://www.rpvca.gov/FormCenter/NonEmergency-Customer-Service-Requests-3/NonEmergency-Customer-Service-Requests-43.

Public Works service requests may be submitted at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/6d13530e7ca84edbb5c4e022bdc54da8.

Please visit the appropriate department page on the City website for a list of phone numbers and email addresses to accommodate your needs:

City Manager
City Clerk
Community Development
Finance
Human Resources
Public Works
Recreation, Parks & Open Space
RPVtv

Overall Staff Directory

Resources

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about the novel coronavirus.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus
California Department of Public Health: cdph.ca.gov/covid19
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): cdc.gov/COVID19
World Health Organization: who.int/coronavirus
California Governor’s Office: covid19.ca.gov
County of Los Angeles: lacounty.gov/covid19
L.A. County residents can also call 2-1-1
FEMA Coronavirus Rumor Control: https://www.fema.gov/Coronavirus-Rumor-Control

Sign up for “Notify Me” city listervs at rpvca.gov/notify

Be sure to also follow the City on Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sign up for emergency alerts from Alert SouthBay by:

Texting “alertsb” to 888-777, which returns a link to register for Everbridge (for COVID-19-related alerts, text the keyword "cv19rpv")
Registering online at alertsouthbay.com
Downloading the free Everbridge app on an iOS or Android device from the App Store or Google Play. Select “Find an organization or subscription” and search “alertsb”

Sign up for emergency alerts from Alert LA County at https://lacounty.gov/emergency/alert-la/

The City Council is committed to keeping you informed on this ever-changing situation, and thanks you for your cooperation and support. The City reminds all residents that closures and cancellations announced by the City and other agencies and institutions are being implemented because public health officials advise that physical distancing is the best and most effective tool to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.