Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - County Orders and Village Operations - 3/22/2020
Village of Palmetto Bay, FL - March 22, 2020

New Executive Orders are now in effect in Miami-Dade County. These include Executive Order 08-20 prohibiting boat rafting, Amended Executive Order 06-20 closing down marinas and Executive Order 09-20 closing down lodging facilities and regulating Airbnb's. Executive Order 09-20 allows municipalities to establish stricter rules regarding short-terms rentals. To that effect, Palmetto Bay will be holding a VIRTUAL SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING tomorrow, Monday, March 23 at 6 pm to impose certain rules on short-term rentals and restaurant facilities in the wake of Covid-19. An Executive Order issued by Governor DeSantis allows for such meetings to be held by local governments in an effort to limit public exposure to Covid-19.

Tune in online or on Facebook to watch the meeting live and submit your public comments to villageclerk@palmettobay-fl.gov preferably before the meeting but also during the meeting at the time established by the Council. If you do not have access to join the meeting online, please contact the Village Clerk at 305-259-1234 no later than noon on Monday, March 23rd and an attempt will be made to make an accommodation.

Please remember that staying home is the best course of action at this point to prevent your own exposure to the virus. We urge our residents to continue to practice the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health concerning social distancing and personal protection . Some of the highlights are included below:

What to do to prevent the spread?
  • Practice social distancing
  • Clean your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer
  • Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes
  • Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw the tissue away and wash your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks and other frequently touched surfaces daily. To disinfect, use a diluted household bleach solution or alcohol solution with at least 70% alcohol.

Why social distancing?
  • Covid-19 mainly spreads through coughing and sneezing
  • Distancing slows the spread of Covid-19
  • Distancing protects those that are most vulnerable to the virus

What to do if you are sick?
  • Stay home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to recover at home. Do not leave, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.
  • Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you feel worse or you think it is an emergency.
  • Avoid public transportation: Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
  • Limit contact with pets and animals
  • Wear a facemask

Palmetto Bay extended its Emergency Declaration this past Friday and Village Hall continues to operate on a reduced schedule for certain emergency services only. Please see below for details.

VILLAGE OPERATING SCHEDULE

  • Village Hall is only open Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 2 pm. Only emergency repair building permits and criminal registering services will be available during those hours. Please see below for a list of emergency building permits. All non-essential employees will be on-call from home.
  • All Village Parks are presently closed

UPDATES ON PUBLIC MEETINGS AND VILLAGE SERVICES 

Public Meetings
  • A Special Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 23 at 6 pm. This meeting is being held virtually and will be streamed live online and on Facebook. See meeting agenda.
  • All task force and committee meetings for the month of March are canceled.
 
Building & Permitting Department
  • Only emergency permit applications will be accepted, which specifically include the following: 
  • Building Permits:
  1.  Re-roofs
  2. Slab repair as part of cast-iron plumbing replacements
  3. Pool barriers
  • Electrical Permits;
  1. Emergency service panel repair/ replacements
  • Plumbing Permits;
  1.  Septic drain field replacements 
  2.  Cast-iron repair/ replacements
  • Mechanical Permits;
  1.  A/C change out
  • Permit applications previously submitted for which a permit has not been issued will continue to be processed. To the extent that comments or revisions are required, such information will be provided to the applicant via email only. Revisions will not be accepted and permits will not be issued until Village Hall is fully operational. This does not apply to the emergency permits identified above.
  • New sub-permits to previously-issued master permits will also be accepted.
  • Inspections may only be requested via telephone by calling 305-259-1253 (leave a voice mail message please) or via email to https://inspections@palmettobay-fl.gov.
  • Walk-through permits are suspended until further notice
  • Expired Miami-Dade permits that are part of a real estate sale and required for closing may be closed by emailing the permit and contact information to Gladys Bilbraut and to Wes Maltby. Please make sure to allow extra time for processing.
  • Garage sale permits will cease until April 1st.
  • Occupational license permits will cease until April 1st.
  • No Special Event permits will be issued until April 1st

Code Compliance Division
  • Code Compliance complaints are to be reported via telephone by calling 305-259-1272 or via email to codecomp@palmettobay-fl.gov
  • Complaints will be prioritized based on safety-to-life concerns. The Village will continue to respond to complaints requiring immediate attention.

Human Resources Division
  • Employment applications are to be mailed to: Village Hall, ATTN: Human Resources, 9705 East Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157. Applications are not to be delivered in person.
  • No interviews will be scheduled until after April 1st.
  • No employment screenings will be scheduled until after April 1st.
  • No on-boarding meetings will be scheduled until after April 1st.
 
Planning and Zoning Division
  • New Planning & Zoning applications will not be accepted until after April 1st.
 
Parks and Recreation Department
  • All Village parks are closed until further notice. Accordingly, restroom facilities and parking lots will be locked.
  • Miami-Dade County parks and beaches are also closed to the public. Consequently, the Deering Estate and Bill Sadowski parks are closed.
  • The Coral Reef Park Farmer's Market is closed.
  • All marinas and boat launches, docking, fueling, marine supplies, and all marina services within county limits are closed.

Police
  • Criminal registering services will be available only during the reduced Village Hall operating hours.
  • Fingerprinting services are canceled until further notice
  • Background check services are canceled until further notice
  • Police reports are to be requested by phone by calling 305-278-4000 or online
 
Public Services Department
  • FreeBee van services to and from the South Dadeland Metrorail Station from the Park and Ride facility at Palmetto Bay Park is suspended until further notice.
  • I-Bus services to and from the South Dadeland Metrorail Station from the Park and Ride facility at St. Richard’s Church is suspended until further notice.
  • Both Park and Ride facilities are closed.
  • FreeBee on-demand services are available and expanded hours from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday through Saturday are currently in effect. 
 
Village Clerk
  • Passport services are canceled through April 1st.
  • Golf cart registration services are canceled through April 1st 
  • Public Request services are canceled through April 1st
County Mayor Issues Countywide Executive Orders

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has issued countywide Executive Orders, which are applicable to all municipalities;

  1. Executive Order 05-20: suspends the operation of motorized mopeds or scooters and bicycles on any public street or sidewalk within the county limits; does NOT apply to individually owned or used devices.
  2. Executive Order 06-20: directs the closing of all beaches and parks;
  3. Amended Executive Order 06-20: closes down marinas and boat launch facilities
  4. Executive Order 08-20: prohibits boat rafting
  5. Executive Order 09-20: shuts down lodging facilities and regulates Airbnb's.
  6. Executive Order 07-20: mandates the closure of certain business establishments, with certain specific services that may remain open. Below is a shortened list of the services that may remain open at this time. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. Please read Executive Order 07-20 for a complete list of the businesses that may remain open.

  • Some essential services that may remain open include:
  • Healthcare providers- hospitals, doctors' and dentists' offices, urgent care centers, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, physical therapists, mental health professionals, psychiatrists, therapists, and pharmacies.
  • Grocery Stores- includes stores that sell groceries and also sell other non-grocery products, and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operations of residences.
  • Food cultivation, including farming, livestock and fishing.
  • Businesses that provide food, shelter, social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals
  • Gas stations and auto-supply, auto repair, and related facilities
  • Banks and related financial institutions
  • Hardware stores
  • Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes
  • Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry services providers
  • Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, but subject to the limitations and requirements of Emergency Order 3-20.
  • Businesses that supply office products needed for people to work from home
  • Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods, or services directly to residences
  • Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers providing transportation services via automobile, truck, bus, or train
  • Home-based care for seniors, adults, or children
  • Assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and adult day care centers, and senior residential facilities
  • Landscape and pool care businesses, including residential landscape and pool care services
  • Childcare facilities
  • Pet supply stores
  • Waste management services
Palmetto Bay Extends State of Emergency

On Friday, March 13, Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham and Interim Village Manger Greg Truitt declared a State of Emergency for the Village of Palmetto Bay Friday, March 13, 2020. The declaration, which is in effect for 7 days, was extended this past Friday for another 7 days. The order is a means to ensure all necessary resources will be available if needed. 
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Closed Until April 15; Spring Break Starts Monday

Following the announcement by the Florida Department of Education, Miami-Dade County Public Schools issued a press release advising parents that K-12 schools and career/ technical centers will remain closed until April 15, 2020. However, distance learning is available to all children. Please call the Distance Learning Help Desk at 305-995-HELP for inquiries or additional information. For more details, read the MDCPS press release

Please remember that all Miami-Dade County Public Schools are on Spring Break this coming week. For additional information concerning Miami-Dade County Public Schools, please visit their website .
State Orders 30-Day Shut-Down of All Bars, Nightclubs; Governor asks all State Universities to Finish Spring Semester Online - University of Florida Agrees

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Tuesday, March 17th that he is asking all of Florida’s universities to finish out their spring semesters online. He noted that four University of Florida students have tested positive for the virus. The University of Florida subsequently agreed to the request. Additionally, all bars and nightclubs in Florida will be closed for the next 30 days. The state will also require all restaurants to screen their employees and operate at 50% capacity.
What to Do If You Suspect You Have the Virus

Individuals in Miami-Dade County who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider by phone and tell them your symptoms. They should give you further instructions. Otherwise, call the Florida Health Department at 305-324-2400 for assistance.  For questions about COVID-19 in Florida, please call the Florida Department of Health Hotline at 1-866-779-6121.
Helpful Resources

Please monitor the latest updates concerning the virus at the national, state and local levels by visiting the websites listed below:


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