Dear Residents,

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes continues to monitor the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Los Angeles County and would like to share the following updates with the community:

The Latest

We’re Here

Although City Hall is closed for the weekend (and closed to the public in person through at least May 15), the City Council and City staff are monitoring communications from various government agencies and the public and will continue to share information with residents. A webpage with coronavirus updates, resources and information on local closures is continuously being updated at rpvca.gov/coronavirus

Stay connected and get daily updates from the City by subscribing to the Breaking News listserv at rpvca.gov/notify

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

'Unite With Light' April 19

A Palos Verdes High School staff member has organized a creative way for the Peninsula to display our gratitude for frontline first responders and all those working in essential businesses. Tonight, April 19, at 7 p.m., turn on your porch or outside lights, put a luminary in your window, or flip on your holiday lights as an illuminating demonstration of our community’s gratitude.

Please join together and “Unite With Light!”

Cases

As of April 19, there are 12,341 known cases of novel coronavirus 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 47 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes, 36 in Palos Verdes Estates and 12 in Rolling Hills Estates. Countywide, 600 people have died.

To date, the City is aware of the deaths of two residents who reportedly contracted the novel coronavirus. We extend our deepest condolences to the residents’ families and ask for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time.

In Rancho Palos Verdes, Belmont Village and a Pacific Sunrise Home are included on the county’s list of long-term care facilities with at least one resident who developed symptoms while in the facility and tested positive for COVID-19.

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

It’s important to note that the total number of confirmed cases that the Department of Public Health shares every day reflects a moment in time and may not include cases confirmed by commercial labs that have not yet been shared with the Department of Public Health. A commercial lab may share a positive result with a physician before the health department.

PVPUSD Board of Education to Discuss Grading Policies

This Wednesday, April 22, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Board of Education will discuss grading policies during the COVID-19-related campus school closure, as teachers have shifted instruction to a distance learning model.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be live-streamed. For more information, including how to participate in public comment virtually, visit http://www.pvpusd.net/feedback/

Senior Resource Guide

The Palos Verdes Peninsula cities and other community partners have compiled a helpful list of local resources supporting seniors and individuals with disabilities during the COVID-19 crisis. The guide is available to anyone who may be interested, whether for yourself or to pass along to a loved one or neighbor.

Download the Palos Verdes Peninsula Senior Resource Guide at: bit.ly/2wQtuLi

Same-Day COVID-19 Tests Now Available For All L.A. County Residents Showing COVID-19 Symptoms

Free, same-day tests are now available for all L.A. County residents who have symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.

The following factors do not affect eligibility for a COVID-19 test:

Immigration status
Insurance status
Age
Underlying health issues

Health equity is central to Los Angeles County’s mission to build a network of free COVID-19 testing sites. There are currently 29 operational sites throughout the County. There are both drive-up and walk-up sites. To ensure the sites prioritize people who need it most, only people who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 are eligible for these testing services at this time.

Locally, there is a drive-up testing site at the South Bay Galleria (1815 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278)

Appointments are necessary. Here are the steps for getting a test appointment:

Visit the website lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs
Answer a series of questions. The answers determine if you are eligible for an appointment.
If you are eligible, you will receive an appointment confirmation number by email.
Bring the confirmation number and photo ID to your appointment.
People with no access to the Internet can dial 2-1-1 for help making an appointment.
People without a car can be tested as long as they have an appointment. The sites can accommodate pedestrians.
There are NO walk-up appointments available for people who do not register.
For a full list of locations and answers to questions about testing, go to covid19.lacounty.gov.

Watch a helpful instructional video to prepare you to take the test at https://youtu.be/LikLtN8wuXI. Test results may take up to 3-4 days. Positive test results will be notified with a phone call. Negative test results will be notified by email.
For more information, visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing. To schedule a test, visit https://lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs.

Business License Tax Refund

As part of the Small Business Financial Assistance Plan approved by the City Council, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is offering a one-time refund of business license tax to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brick-and-mortar businesses in Rancho Palos Verdes that generated less than $1.5 million in gross receipts in 2019 can apply for a refund of their 2020 business license tax by submitting a form online, by mail, or by email. The average refund is estimated to be $332.

Please click on the links below to view the refund form and frequently asked questions:

2020 Business License Tax Refund Request Form (Online Form)
2020 Business License Tax Refund Request Form (PDF)
2020 Business License Tax Refund Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

If you have questions, please contact the Business License Coordinator at 310-544-5301 or businesslicense@rpvca.gov; or the Finance Department at 310-544-5304.

Expecting an Economic Impact Payment? Check Your Mail Often to Avoid Mail Theft

The IRS is committed to helping you get your Economic Impact Payment as soon as possible. The payments, also referred to by some as stimulus payments, are automatic for most taxpayers. No further action is needed by taxpayers who filed tax returns in 2018 and 2019 and most seniors and retirees.

See if you are eligible for an Economic Impact Payment at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center

If you are eligible, use an IRS guide to figure out which IRS tool you should use to get your payment at https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-use-the-tools-on-irsgov-to-get-your-economic-impact-payment

Beware of Stimulus Payment Scams

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has shared the following tips to avoid stimulus payment scams.

1. The government will not ask you to pay any fees or up front charges to receive these benefits.

2. The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer.

3. Remember, government agencies do not communicate through social media. Be wary of unsolicited messages.

4. Use ONLY the official IRS website to check on your payment https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments

For more information and updates related to LA County Sheriff’s Department and our services please visit https://lasd.org/covid19updates/

Late Payment Penalties for Property Tax Bills May be Canceled

Property owners affected by COVID-19 may have late penalties canceled if they were unable to pay their property taxes by April 10.

The Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector’s Office is accepting requests for penalty cancellation related to COVID-19 at ttc.lacounty.gov.

If you have specific questions regarding requests for penalty cancellations, please review frequently asked questions at https://ttc.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COVID-19%20Penalty%20Cancellation%20FAQs.pdf

Property owners unable to submit their request online must contact the TTC office at 213-974-2111 to complete their request.

Reminder: Parks, Beaches and Nature Preserve CLOSED

The City would like to remind residents that all City parks, beaches and open space areas, including the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, remain closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

City staff, Park Rangers and law enforcement are monitoring these areas.

These closures follow county and state guidance, along with similar closures by other cities, and were put in place March 23 after a weekend that saw a high volume of visitors despite the “Safer at Home” Order and physical distancing guidelines.

Please know that these closures are temporary. The more we all stay home except for essential needs and stick to walking in our neighborhoods, the sooner we will get through this and reopen the open space areas.

We’re all in this together, RPV. We will get through this together and resume our routines, but we need everyone to do their part to get us through sooner.

For a full list of closures, visit: bit.ly/2UexWwo

Other Closures

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.

How You Can Help

Local Volunteer Match

PVPUSD School Board Member Linda Reid is coordinating a volunteer effort to match up senior citizens needing errand/grocery/meal help in PV with volunteers. PVPUSD students, parents, and alums unexpectedly home from college will assist! Any older residents may email Member Reid at reidl@pvpusd.net to be matched up with a local volunteer during this difficult isolating time.

Find out other ways to help by visiting the How You Can Help page on the City’s coronavirus webpage.

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 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 coronavirus.