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

Green Hills Memorial Park Cancels Memorial Day Observance

Today, Green Hills Memorial Park issued the following statement announcing the cancellation of its 35th annual Memorial Day Observance due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are saddened to say we will not be hosting our beloved Memorial Day observance this year. We will truly miss the opportunity to honor, alongside our community, those brave men and women who have given so much to our country. However, we look forward to sharing a few ways in the coming days, how we can all show our respect from home.

RPVtv’s “City Talk” with Lomita Sheriff’s Station Capt. James Powers

In the latest virtual edition of RPVtv's "City Talk" host Liz Brown Swanson interviews Lomita Sheriff’s Station Capt. James Powers about the Safer at Home Order, public safety and the latest crime statistics in Rancho Palos Verdes and on the Peninsula.

The interview will air daily on Cox 33/Frontier FiOS 38 and can be viewed on RPVtv's YouTube channel at youtu.be/J29aUHz09rM

PVPUSD Revises Grading Policy during COVID-19 School Closure

Last week, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Board of Education adopted an emergency resolution to amend the district’s grading policy to guide the issuance of report card grades for students during the final grading term of the 2019-2020 school year.

The intent of the policy is to recognize the challenges that our teachers and families have endured and allows for some flexibility and choice for students. PVPUSD recognizes that the school closure has impacted everyone differently.

For a breakdown of the amended grading policy and to read the emergency resolution, visit https://www.pvpusd.net/apps/news/article/1231136

Palos Verdes Library District Update

Due to the spread of COVID-19, Palos Verdes Library District locations remain closed until further notice. PVLD has taken a number of steps to ensure your library account is not negatively affected by this. PVLD has:

Updated all items currently checked out to be due June 30, 2020. All book drops are currently closed, including Malaga Cove and Miraleste.
Stay Safe. Stay Home. Don't worry about returning your library materials right now.
Holds on library materials are not being accepted at this time
All current holds will remain in the queue and will be available once the library reopens. If you had an item on hold, it is still on hold for you.
We are waiving all overdue fines and fees during the closure
At this time the Friends of the Library are not accepting donations of any kind. They will happily accept them again once the library is open and their volunteers are back in action!

PVLD appreciates your patience as we work through this challenging time.

For more information and resources, visit pvld.org/yourlibraryathome

City Hall Open to the Public

This week, City Hall reopened to the public during regular business hours (7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday). City Hall is located at 30940 Hawthorne Boulevard in Rancho Palos Verdes, and the main phone line is 310-544-5200.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, visitors are required to wear face coverings and adhere to physical distancing guidelines. Some employees are working on rotation and may be working remotely.

If you need to visit City Hall, please schedule an appointment in advance by calling the appropriate department and follow all posted instructions during your visit (virtual appointments are encouraged as an alternative, if possible). No more than one visitor and one employee are allowed at each public counter. For a list of department phone numbers, visit the Staff Directory on the City website.

The following safeguards have been implemented at City Hall to protect the health of the public and employees:

Plexiglass partitions have been installed at public counters.
Hand sanitizing stations have been installed at building entrances.
Paper towels are available at building entrances for opening doors, and trash cans are available for paper towel disposal.
Deep cleaning is performed throughout the day and public counters are sanitized between visits.
Markings have been placed on the ground noting physical distancing requirements.

When you visit City Hall:

Wear a face covering.
Check the monitor outside of the Community Development building for instructions and real-time availability.
Waiting in the lobby will not be permitted. If another visitor is ahead of you, do not form a line outside, but return to your car and call the department to add your name to the wait list. Remain in your car (or park grounds) until a staff member can assist you.
If you do not have an appointment, please sign in by phone and wait in your car (or park grounds).
Use hand sanitizing stations prior to entering buildings.
Minimize surface contact.
Maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet.

Hybrid City Council Meetings

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Council will begin to conduct hybrid in-person/virtual format meetings, with a limited number of in-person attendees and physical distancing required. Virtual participation is encouraged.

The first hybrid City Council meeting will be held tonight, May 19 at 7 p.m. with no more than three members of the City Council, invited staff, and limited members of the public in McTaggart Hall at Fred Hesse Jr. Community Park and via teleconference using the Zoom video conference platform. The meeting will be live-streamed on the City website at rpvca.gov/agendas and televised on RPVtv Cox 33/Frontier FiOS 38. Visit rpvca.gov/participate for information on how to participate in public comment virtually.

Members of the public who attend the meeting in person must observe physical distancing and wear a face covering of the nose and mouth at all times during the course of the meeting unless and until invited to speak. However, the City Council may limit the number of individuals in the meeting room at any one time pursuant to guidance from public health officials.

If you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk's office at 310-544-5217 or at CityClerk@rpvca.gov. If you require a disability-related modification or accommodation to participate in a meeting, please contact the City at least 48 hours prior to the meeting via email at adarequests@rpvca.gov

Face Coverings: How To Wear Them

Have you wondered whether or not you've mastered the art of wearing a face covering correctly?

Today, we highlight the very things your face covering should do when you're wearing it correctly. Before we *cover* these, please note: you always want to wash your hands before handling your face covering.

Ok, here we go! You know you're wearing your face covering like a pro, if your mask:

Fits snugly but comfortably against the side of your face.
Is secured with ties or ear loops.
Includes multiple layers of fabric.
Allows for breathing without restriction.
Is able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.
Covers mouth and nose with no gaps between your face and the mask.

Also, while wearing your face covering, be careful not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth when removing your face covering. And you should wash your hands immediately after removing it.

If you're more of a visual learner - you're in luck! L.A. County prepared the following video for you: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fY1rlEoQKuMFhJUw4bjkoglAY3RREaKJ/view?utm_name=

And because many have run into the challenge of foggy glasses, while wearing face coverings, we offer you...

Tips for Avoiding Foggy Glasses When Wearing Your Face Covering

Wash your glasses with soapy water. Research has shown that washing glasses with soapy water, and letting them air dry before putting on your mask, reduces fogging.
Use tissue paper. Placing tissue paper between your glasses and the bridge of your nose may help absorb the moisture that causes foggy glasses.

If you still have questions on face coverings, read L.A. County's Department of Public Health (DPH) Guidance on Face Coverings at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protection/GuidanceClothFaceCoverings.pdf

Face Coverings: When and Where To Wear Them

When

L.A. County's Health Officer Order does not require wearing face coverings while in the backyard or while on a solitary run or walk. County residents are required, however, to wear face coverings when in contact with other people who are not household members (whether you're in a public or private space). So, if you're on a solitary run or walk - and you see someone approaching - put on your face covering!

And remember: face coverings are not a substitute for always practicing physical distancing and frequent hand washing.

Where

L.A. County's Order is effective for all 10 million people who live in L.A. County. There is one circumstance, however, under which this may not be the case: when your local jurisdiction has a face covering order of its own (Rancho Palos Verdes does not have its own order on face coverings).

For more information on how to stay safe during the COVID-19 emergency health crisis, visit covid19.lacounty.gov.

Upcoming Local Blood Drive

Blood donations have decreased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthy, eligible donors are urged to come out and give to ensure there’s lifesaving blood on the shelves for those who need it.

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive this Friday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 5845 Crestridge Road in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Reserve a time online at redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: LDSRPV.
Visit redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to complete the pre-donation paperwork.

The Red Cross has implemented additional precautions to ensure the safety of its donors and staff. There is no evidence that the novel coronavirus can be transmissible by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases worldwide of transmissions for any respiratory virus, including the novel coronavirus.

For more information, visit redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

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 19, there are 39,573 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 81 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes, 42 in Palos Verdes Estates, 13 in Rolling Hills Estates and two in Rolling Hills. Countywide, 1,913 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.

Governor’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery Urges Congress to Pass Emergency Relief for State and Local Governments

Members of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery sent a letter to congressional leaders asking them pass $1 trillion in direct relief for state and local governments – funding that is critical to reopening our economies.

The letter, signed by 91 California leaders – including business leaders like Bob Iger and Marc Benioff -- outlines the budgetary challenges facing state, local and tribal governments caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the country, massive and sudden losses in revenue are making it nearly impossible for state and local governments to fund critical health infrastructure like contact tracing and testing, while still providing critical services like public education and public safety.

Read the full announcement at: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/05/19/governors-task-force-on-business-and-jobs-recovery-urges-congress-to-pass-emergency-relief-for-state-local-governments/

Lawmakers Introduce SMART Act Seeking $500 Billion in COVID-19 Funding for States and Communities

On May 18, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) formally introduced bipartisan legislation to deliver critical, federal resources to states and communities on the frontlines of the COVID-19 fight. The State and Municipal Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Act targets $500 billion in emergency funding to every state, county and community in the country, while prioritizing assistance to the areas with the greatest need.

First unveiled by Sens. Menendez and Cassidy last month, the SMART Fund answers the bipartisan call for help from our nation’s governors by providing $500 billion in flexible funding to states to help cover rising costs to combat COVID-19 and lost revenues due to the economic fallout. Without this federal assistance, governors, mayors and county leaders have warned of deep cuts to essential services and layoffs of police, firefighters, paramedics, teachers, sanitation, public health and public works employees, and other frontline workers.

These funds can be used to help state and local governments meet the current demand, expand testing capacity and contact tracing, provide further assistance to residents, local hospitals, small businesses and schools, in addition to maintaining critical services residents depend upon.

Read the full announcement at: https://www.menendez.senate.gov/news-and-events/press/menendez-cassidy-introduce-bipartisan-smart-fund-to-help-frontline-states-communities-in-covid-19-fight

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/