Coronavirus: Update On City Operations

CITY MEETINGS & BUSINESS OPERATIONS

At this time, all Advisory Board and Committee meetings have been canceled through early May, at which time we will reevaluate scheduling. The City Council meeting schedule for April 2, 2020 will still be conducted. This meeting will be available via Livestream on the City’s website. For the April 2 meeting, if you wish to submit a public comment in advance of the meeting, please send your statement to City Clerk Patty Snider at psnider@pbgfl.com. The Council Chambers will be set up with a 6-foot distance in mind. Only essential staff will be in attendance.

Due to a change in business operations as a result of COVID-19, plan review and application submittal will take longer to process. Please be patient.

Building Division hours are from 9am- 1pm Monday thru Friday please contact us at 799-4210. Be prepared for longer than normal wait times on the phones. Schedule or check inspections online through our website here.

HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATES

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued several Executive Orders regarding the operation of bars, beaches and restaurants for the next 30 days. All City of Palm Beach Gardens establishments are required to comply.

Coronavirus Cases in Palm Beach Gardens

The City of Palm Beach Gardens is currently under a State of Local Emergency due to the Coronavirus Pandemic Health Emergency. This emergency declaration allows the City Council authority to request State assistance or invoke emergency-related mutual aid assistance should the need arise. It also allows the City to take any/all emergency actions needed to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of our citizens.

Emergency Order: Effective immediately, April 11, 2020, the City of Palm Beach Gardens is strongly urging residents and visitors to comply with the CDC recommendations regarding the use of cloth face coverings while in public. Governor DeSantis is also supporting this recommendation and is asking for all Floridians to comply.

Cloth face coverings, in addition to maintaining a social distance of 6 feet apart, can significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19. This is particularly important as many people have no symptoms even though they are infected and can spread the virus as easily as those people who are experiencing symptoms.

The Latest News from the Florida Governor’s Office

On Wednesday, April 1st, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-91, requiring all persons in Florida to limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities. 

The Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) also released guidance on the essential infrastructure workforce, which is another helpful resource related to the Safer At Home order issued by the Governor.

DHS Essential Services List

In a bulletin disseminated on March 28, 2020, Brett Pollock of the Florida Fire Chief’s Association advised fire officers around the state that the State of Florida is preparing for a significant patient surge. Models anticipate COVID-19 cases in Florida will peak in late April to early May. The modeling is updated on a continuous basis.

Currently, there are 3,763 COVID-19 cases in the state (672 new cases since March 27th). There have been 646 hospitalizations, 395 patients in ICU, 174 patients on ventilators and 2,192 PUI- People Under Investigation. Currently Florida has tested 40,250 people for COVID-19.

Current Department of Health Case Dashboard
Note: dashboard may not match most current reported cases due to lag time updating data.

RECREATIONAL FACILITY OPENINGS 

UPDATED: APRIL 29, 2020

On Monday, April 27, 2020, Palm Beach County issued Emergency Order 2020-005, which allows for the re-opening of certain recreational activities and public golf courses. 

The following City recreational facilities are open to the public as of Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at sunrise for individual use: 

- Burns Road Walking Trail
- The Gardens North County District Park
- Joe Russo Athletic Complex
- Gardens Park
- PGA Park
- Mirasol Park
- Lilac Park
- Plant Drive
- Lake Catherine Sports Complex & Lake Catherine Park
- Oaks Park
- Twins Park
- Thompson River Linear Park
- Sandhill Crane Access Park
- Riverside Linear Park

Sandhill Crane Golf Course will be open to the public on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 7:00am. 

The Aquatic Center will only be open to pass-holder lap swimmers. 

Single play at the Tennis & Pickleball Center will begin on Monday, May 4, 2020.

Ironwood Park and the indoor facilities at Burns Road Community Center remain closed.

On Sunday, May 3, 2020 from 9:00am to noon, the Gardens 2 Go Drive-thru Produce & Product Market is set to begin. 

All playgrounds and exercise equipment will remain closed. Restroom facilities will be available and will be disinfected a minimum of two (2) times per day.

The City Hall lobby and Building Department lobby remains locked and closed to the general public. There will be no outside appointments; any appointment or meeting must be done via teleconference.

The Riverside Youth Enrichment Center is closed until further notice. 

The City’s Efforts Related to COVID-19

As national health news related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to be updated, the City of Palm Beach Gardens is working to prepare its staff and residents to mitigate any outbreak within the City. Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue has ordered extra supplies for use by both fire rescue and police personnel. Public safety leadership is also planning protocols and scheduling training on the proper donning and doffing of personnel protective equipment for officers. 

In addition, fire rescue dispatchers have been given a series of screening questions to ask patients in order to determine if they are potentially infected with Coronavirus, COVID-19, allowing personnel to prepare in advance. Fire Rescue leadership is conducting meetings remotely with Assisted Living Facilities throughout the City to discuss and review their readiness for a possible outbreak within their facilities. 

The Division Chief of Emergency Medical Services has met with Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and Jupiter Medical Centers to review procedures for transporting patients suspected of having COVID-19. Currently, all hospitals in Palm Beach County will be receiving patients infected with COVID-19.

Better Together by Staying Apart: Video

During the coronavirus Safer at Home order in the State of Florida, City of Palm Beach Gardens staff members share their thoughts and encouragement with the community. 

Click here to view the video.

The Florida Department of Health has established a dedicated coronavirus call center at 1-866-779-6121 that is available 24 hours a day seven days a week, as well as a dedicated email address at COVID-19@flhealth.gov which the public can use for questions or clarifications on issues related to the coronavirus. 

If you feel you are experiencing signs and symptoms of COVID-19, contact the Palm Beach County Department of Health at 561-840-4500