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The action, which the city called “unprecedented,” streamlines processes and eliminates fees associated with utilizing outside space for business operations and mobile food vending.
Based on conversations with the business community, in order to get up to speed again the greatest needs are flexibility and enough space to achieve social distancing.
The May 21 order allows businesses of all types to determine, if necessary, how they might expand into the adjacent outdoor space, whether it is public or private, in order to comply with federal, state, and local directives and guidelines to ensure compliance with Social Distancing Requirements and other COVID-19 risk mitigation measures.
Knowing that each business and location is unique, city staff will process applications and evaluate on an individualized basis.
Additionally, the order replaces the requirement for a minor use permit and waives fees for mobile food vending and allows for additional business signage.
The executive order will remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2020, or until the termination of the local emergency, whichever comes first.
“We believe that our business community is dedicated to ensuring customer safety during this unprecedented time,” said Flora. “We have seen the spirit, desire and creativity of the business community reflected in identifying ways to navigate the new reality of COVID. The city wants to help in any way possible to ensure the success of our businesses. This opportunity is one small idea where we can partner with the business community to help them get back to some semblance of a new normal.”
The full text of the Emergency Order and the Temporary Use Permit Application can be found at www.clearlake.ca.us or seen below.
For more information, please contact City Manager Alan Flora at
Coronavirus 5-21-2020 State... by LakeCoNews on Scribd
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Along with the news comes the issuance of a new order by Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday and continues until further notice.
The new order, which can be seen here, requires people to wear cloth face masks when entering businesses or facilities – the rule applies to workers and patrons alike – and allows businesses, governments and other organizations to deny service and admission to those not following the masking rules.
The California Department of Public Health on Wednesday posted Lake County’s variance on its website.
By Wednesday night, Lake County was among 50 of California’s 58 counties to have had variances approved by CDPH.
Pace said approval of Lake County’s variance plan permits some business activities to resume Thursday morning, specifically, restaurants with outdoor dining; permitted retail businesses for in-store shopping; childcare for all parents, not just essential workers; and church offices and one-on-one spiritual counseling.
In order to open, Pace said there are safety precautions that need to be in place. Social distancing, cloth face coverings and proper disinfection practices are expected at all open businesses.
In addition, all open businesses – including those that were able to open previously – need to complete a business self-certification document and social distancing plan, and post these documents at their entryway, Pace said.
The forms for businesses are here and industry guidance is here.
To enhance customer confidence during reopening, Pace said the chamber of commerce and cities of Clearlake and Lakeport have signs that can be posted by businesses following safety guidelines, called the “We Care Pledge.”
Pace said cloth face coverings will be generally required inside businesses, for both workers and patrons.
Exceptions apply for people who have medical conditions leading to difficulty breathing with masks, who should get a note from their medical provider excusing them from wearing one; children under age 6, particularly children younger than age 2 who shouldn’t wear masks due to risk of suffocation; and individuals who would have difficulty removing the covering without assistance.
“Persons should refrain from purchasing medical-grade masks, such as surgical masks and N-95 respirators; those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders coming into contact with infected persons,” the order states.
As for why he is making masking mandatory now, Pace said in a Wednesday statement, “The evidence is clear: using face coverings can decrease the transmission of the virus if the user is infected but not showing symptoms. With many of the identified cases in Lake County, people’s willingness to abide by social distancing and use face coverings when out in public seems to have led to minimal community transmission.”
He added, “Since we are allowing increased community activity, making face covering mandatory is a sensible, evidence-based way to protect people at risk of severe complications and limit preventable spread of COVID-19.”
Pace said the county will be able to continue taking forward steps only if precautions are observed to keep communities safe.
Anyone that encounters business practices that are not at the expected level of safety can contact
Pace said a further stage of reopening will take place in two weeks, as long as COVID-19 activity in the county remains stable.
At that time, resumption of indoor dining at restaurants, with proper social distancing, will be allowed, as will some children’s activities, although the specifics are still being worked out, Pace said.
Businesses that Pace said are not being allowed to open in Stage 2 are hotels and lodging, except for essential workers; nightclubs; religious services and cultural ceremonies; entertainment venues, including movies and gaming; personal services, such as cosmetology and hair salons; hospitality, such as bars and lounges; indoor museums, children’s museums, gallery spaces and libraries; and community centers including public pools, playgrounds and picnic areas.
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It’s the fourth case of COVID-19 confirmed in Lake County this week, as the county prepares to move into the next stage of reopening after receiving approval to do so from the state on Wednesday.
Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said the latest case was picked up by testing in the community.
He said the test results came in on Wednesday and contact tracing is underway to make sure there is no community spread.
The individual is stable and in home isolation, Pace said.
Two of the other patients confirmed to have the virus earlier this week also are in home isolation, Pace said.
The fourth active case, who tested positive over the weekend, remains hospitalized, Pace said. So far, only two of Lake County’s cases have required hospitalization.
Lake County’s earlier eight cases have all recovered, Public Health reported.
To date, Public Health reported that just over 1,400 of Lake County’s more than 64,000 residents have been tested.
“With the removal of the restrictions on the lake, some businesses opening, and Memorial Day weekend coming, we need to be particularly alert to further new cases,” Pace said in a Wednesday statement.
As restrictions are loosened, Pace said there is expected to be some community transmission of the virus, so he emphasized the ongoing importance of social distancing.
He also urged vulnerable individuals to continue to isolate at home.
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With traffic volume down, the number of incidents on California’s roadways, including collisions and arrests for driving under the influence, continues to decline.
“People are adhering to the order, eliminating non-essential travel, and as a result, there has been a significant reduction in the number of commuters on the highways,” said California Highway Patrol Commissioner Warren Stanley.
According to preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, or SWITRS, there was a 75 percent decrease in the number of crashes in California this year from March 19 to April 30, as compared to the same period in 2019.
Additionally, the same SWITRS data indicated an 88 percent reduction in the number of people killed and a 62 percent decrease in the number of people injured in crashes.
The total number of truck-involved collisions also saw a 60 percent drop, with fatal truck-involved crashes down 88 percent.
California’s crash reduction rate is not the only positive to come from the quieter roadways. The number of DUI arrests made by CHP officers has decreased during March and April, from 7,224 in 2019 to 4,223 in 2020; nearly 42 percent.
However, not all of the state’s drivers have been on their best behavior during the pandemic. The open roads have led to a few brazen motorists testing the speed limit and eventually meeting up with a CHP officer for a citation.
Between March 19 and April 30, CHP officers issued 2,738 citations for speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour, which is an increase of 113 percent from last year.
In Lake County, Officer Joel Skeel of the Clear Lake Area CHP office offered the following statistics:
March 2019
DUI arrests: 28
DUI collision: 10
Citations: 570
Injury collision: 17
March 2020
DUI arrests: 15
DUI collision: 3
Citations: 246
Injury collision: 15
April 2019
DUI arrests: 20
DUI collision: 6
Citations: 597
Injury collision: 18
April 2020
DUI arrests: 19
DUI collision: 10
Citations: 134
Injury collision: 9
Skeen also offered totals for May, in order to show how things are adding up for the month so far.
May 2019
DUI arrests: 27
DUI collision: 10
Citations: 637
Injury collision: 24
May 2020
DUI arrests: 7
DUI collision: 4
Citations: 132
Injury collision: 10
“Resist the temptation to speed. Drivers are easier to spot when they are on a nearly empty roadway,” added Commissioner Stanley. “Remember, taking care of one another goes beyond wearing a face covering and physical distancing. As communities in California move into the next phases of reopening, continue to slow down, pay attention to the road, drive sober, and keep yourself and those around you from becoming a grim statistic.”
Editor’s note: The CHP issued a correction, noting that the number of citations issued by CHP officers statewide from March 19 through April 30 for speeding in excess of 100 MPH was 4,000 and not 2,738, resulting in a 113 percent increase and not a 46 percent increase as was originally reported.