City of Signal Hill E-Newsletter | Issue 21, March 2020

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Please be assured that the City of Signal Hill is dedicated to the health and safety of our community. The situation regarding COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, has evolved significantly in the last couple of weeks. Please stay informed and avoid misinformation by visiting www.cityofsignalhill.org/coronavirus for up-to-date news and facts on COVID-19. We are constantly updating this page. Please also follow the City’s Facebook page @CityofSignalHill for real-time updates. We are using #COVID19SignalHill. You can also call 2-1-1 for information directly from the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

"Safer At Home" Orders

The City of Signal Hill is served by the L.A. County Department of Public Health and is committed to following their orders and guidance. Please follow all orders from us, County, State and Federal agencies. When followed, these orders help to slow the spread of COVID-19, protect those individuals who are at risk of becoming seriously ill, and prevent an overload of our health care system. State and County Health orders require all Californians to stay home as much as possible, and refrain from all non-essential activities. Everyone who can stay home, should stay home. All non-essential activities and all group gatherings are prohibited. You are still allowed to go out for essential activities such as grocery shopping, shopping for essentials, going to work at an essential job/business, and more, as long as you stay at least six feet apart from other individuals. See our "Safer at Home Order" Do’s and Don’t’s (PDF) for more information. Read Governor Newsom’s "Safer at Home" Order (as of March 21, 2020) Read L.A. County Department of Public Health "Safer at Home" Order (as of March 21, 2020)

What Can I Do? Go to an Essential Job Go Out for a Walk/Run or Walk My Pet Yard Work Go to the Grocery Store Take My Pet to the Vet Shop for Essential Supplies Food/Beverage Pick-Up, Delivery or Drive-Thru Go to the Laundromat *You must be able to be six feet apart from all other people while conducting these activities.*

What Can't I Do? Have Friends Over Gather in a Group/Congregate Shop at a Mall or Non-Essential Retailer Go to a Salon or Spa Use a Playground/Outdoor Exercise Equipment Use a Golf Course, Basketball Court, or Participate in Team Sports Non-Essential Travel Eat Inside a Restaurant Go to a Bar, Nightclub, or Non-Essential Entertainment Venue Any Activity that Can't Provide Six Feet of Space Between Participants

City-Specific Closures and Cancellations

City Hall, the City Yard, and the Signal Hill Public Library are closed to the public through April 19, 2020. Please be assured we are still available and ready to serve you. We have several alternate ways of doing business with us: Water payments can be made online or by phone at 562-989-7315, or can be dropped off at the drop box in front of City Hall. All water utility bill questions can be directed to the Water Customer Service line at 562-989-7315. Parking citations can be paid online or by phone at 800-300-9915. Planning and permitting questions can be answered via email or phone at 562-989-7340. Public Works questions can be answered via email or phone at 562-989-7250. General questions can be answered via email or by phone at 562-989-7300. Library staff are available for assistance via phone, Monday - Friday 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Library cardholders are encouraged to use our digital resources, found at cityofsignalhill.org/library. All due dates will be automatically extended, no late fees will be assessed, and patrons can return materials when the Library reopens. The City of Signal Hill is canceling non-essential programs and events scheduled to occur through the month of April. We've listed all affected programs, events and services on our website . City Council, Commission, and Committee meetings scheduled to take place in March will take place as planned. However, for everyone's safety, we highly recommend using alternate means to conduct business with us and participate in local meetings. Learn more on our website . The Signal Hill Police Department is committed to public safety. SHPD is fully operational and will remain open. We encourage you to conduct non-essential business with the Police Department via phone or email, in lieu of an in-person visit to the police station. Call 562-989-7200 or email watchcommander@signalhillpd.org . All basketball courts, playgrounds, outdoor exercise equipment, and community facilities are closed to the public. Our parks are open, however, if you visit a park or trail and find that there are too many people to allow you to maintain a safe physical distance of six feet, you should not visit that area. Please do not congregate in groups, even while outdoors at our parks or on the Signal Hill Trail System. We all must maintain a physical distance of six feet.

Social Distancing: What Is It and Why Should We Do It?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, and we do not have a natural immunity to the virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, between people who are in close contact (about six feet). COVID-19 can make a person very ill, which is why we are asking everyone to stay home and avoid gathering around others. Everyone must limit contact with other people to prevent rapid transmission of COVID-19. It means staying home as much as possible, avoiding non-essential public activities, avoiding situations that do not provide six feet of distance between participants, not shaking hands, and standing at least six feet from people you don't know. The virus is easily spread, therefore, these efforts can have a powerful impact on the spread of COVID-19. The more we collectively adhere to these guidelines, the slower the virus will spread. This will save lives, protect vulnerable populations, and prevent a major overload of our health care system. Everyone should be practicing good health hygiene. Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. You should wash your hands every time you come into contact with another person or a foreign object. If you need to cough or sneeze, do so into your elbow or a tissue, then wash your hands. Avoid close contact with those who are sick. Regularly disinfect frequently touched hard surfaces to kill all viruses and bacteria. We've posted additional health hygiene tips at cityofsignalhill.org/coronavirus .

Grocery Stores and Restaurants

Please do not panic shop. There is no shortage of food in Los Angeles County, and businesses are working hard to keep supplies on hand. Please do not buy more than you need - we suggest shopping once per week. Many local grocery stores are adjusting their hours to allow for restocking and sanitizing. Some are also offering special hours for seniors only. We've compiled a list of all local stores and their hours for your convenience. (PDF) While dining inside restaurants is currently prohibited, many restaurants are offering take-out and delivery services. Please consider supporting a local restaurant by utilizing a contact-free delivery or pickup option. We've listed all Signal Hill restaurants offering take-out and/or delivery at   cityofsignalhill.org/restaurants .

Additional Information

In support of the City’s continuing efforts to promote public health and safety, the Signal Hill Water Department will be suspending all water shutoffs through April 30. The Signal Hill Police Department will not be issuing street sweeping parking tickets through April 19. Please do your best to provide a clear path for the sweeper. Southern California Edison announced that it is suspending service disconnections for nonpayment and waiving late fees, effective immediately, for residential and business customers impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. If you are having difficulties paying your bill due to COVID-19, go to sce.com/billhelp or call 800-950-2356. Long Beach Gas Customers: Long Beach Energy Resources will provide restoration of gas service to customers currently shut-off for non-payment. For more information, visit:  www.longbeach.gov/energyresources . California small businesses affected by COVID-19 are eligible for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, for working capital. Learn more at https://www.sba.gov/coronavirus. L.A. County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs’ Office of Small Business can also help connect you to local, state and federal resources, including layoff aversion and emergency loans. Visit  dcba.lacounty.gov  for more information, or to speak to a small business counselor, call 800-593-8222 or e-mail  concierge@dcba.lacounty.gov .   The Signal Hill Community Foundation's COVID-19 Relief Fund will support community-based organizations at the frontlines of the coronavirus response in Signal Hill. Donations will support approved 501(C)3 nonprofit, educational, volunteer and governmental organizations working on these efforts. Your contribution receives a full tax deduction and goes directly to the Signal Hill COVID-19 Relief Fund.  Learn more.

Respond to the Census ASAP. It Takes Just a Few Minutes.

Now is a great time to complete the Census - from the comfort of home. Responding to the Census takes just a few minutes of your time. Those few minutes can help direct millions of federal dollars to needs in our community. You can respond online, by phone, or by mail. Be sure you're counted! Please note that Census workers will not be visiting residences until at least April 1. Check out this Census 101 Fact Sheet (PDF) . Your Census responses are completely private, no matter how you choose to respond. Federal law ensures that your response can only be used to produce statistics. By law, your information cannot be shared with immigration enforcement agencies, law enforcement agencies, or allow it to be used to determine your eligibility for government benefits. Completing the Census matters to all of us, as the results have a big impact in our community. Census data directs federal money to projects big and small, including highway repairs, local health care, school lunch programs, senior assistance programs, emergency preparedness and more. The more people who respond, the more resources that are allocated towards our community. Visit 2020census.gov to learn more.

Signal Hill City Hall 2175 Cherry Avenue Signal Hill, CA 90755 Hours Mon.-Thurs.: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 562-989-7300 Signal Hill City Council Mayor: Lori Y. Woods  Vice Mayor: Robert D. Copeland Council Members: Tina L. Hansen Keir Jones Edward H.J. Wilson

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