Oldsmar City Manager's
Weekly Update
May 15, 2020
Official City Seal
Oldsmar City Manager
Al Braithwaite



Citizens -
 
Weekly greetings from City Hall, where we are plugging away on multiple projects, that can wait for no emergency…suffice it to say that we are still doing all of the things we can to continue forward, under what has been very trying circumstances.
Well, the City is moving to the next phase of our internal organizational plan, which is to make limited access to some City buildings available, through appointment only.  That would be City Hall, Council Chambers, State Street Center, and in an emergency, the Municipal Services Complex.   Without appointment, the buildings will still be considered closed to the public, until the Governor goes to full implementation of what he refers to as Stage 3.  At that point, we will open ALL city facilities, however, there will likely be some restrictions on how people can personally interact with employees for a long time to come.

All Recreation Facilities (indoor) are still closed.  We are formulating a plan to find the right way to allow people to interact with each other, once the go ahead from the State and County has been received.  Most outdoor recreation facilities are closed, with limited access starting next week to some.  The City is planning to have our Summer Camps, as scheduled, starting on June 1 st , however numbers will be limited, and all CDC guidelines will be followed. The Library is not open to public entry yet, but limited services are available.  For more information on how you can interact with our facilities, please contact each department directly.  You will find information below that should be helpful, and you can always call City hall to find a direct number for any one of our manned facilities.

Not to be overlooked, but the Public Works Department continues to do everything they normally do, and that hasn’t changed throughout the emergency. If you have a need to meet with anyone in Public Works, the procedure is the same as it is for City Hall. Please contact the department directly, and make an appointment.  The Fire Department is in the same situation. These brave men and women have been responding to emergency calls, even when knowing that the caller has symptoms, and as it turned out, the actual virus in a couple of cases.  You can contact them directly, but their station will not be open to the public yet.

With the slow return to business as usual on the horizon, remember that we will absolutely follow all CDC guidelines for the future. If you are to enter a city building, we ask that you wear a mask.  We have posted signs to remind people (employees too) about social distancing.  We are still disinfecting our buildings and structures around the city at least twice a day, which will continue.  Wash your hands thoroughly and often. That’s the best we can do.

Hopefully, we will be back in business soon.  No matter what you hear, the City is still doing business, and has been all along.  We appreciate your patience and commitment towards staying safe, and we hope you appreciate the commitment made by these employees in getting the job done, under any and all emergency circumstances.  Based on the few complaints that I’ve seen, I would say my staff has been doing a superior job of keeping us moving forward, almost seamlessly with things we can control.  

Let’s hope that we can get back to some kind of normal, and enjoy each other’s company as residents, neighbors and friends like we used to.  Stay safe, stay confident and stay healthy.  Please use the information below as it suits you best. Have a great weekend.

Al b
CONTACT THE CITY
FACILITIES
City Hall (813) 749-1100
Public Library (813) 749-1181
State Street Center (813) 749-1155
Cypress Forest Rec Center (813) 749-1152

DEPARTMENTS
Administrative Services (813) 749-1106
City Clerk's Office (813) 749-1115
Fire Rescue (813) 749-1200
Leisure Services (813) 749-1260
Public Library (813) 749-1181
Public Works (813) 749-1136
Planning & Redevelopment (813) 749-1122
Utility Biling (813) 855-5257
ALERT PINELLAS
Receive alerts about emergencies and other essential City news by signing up for ALERT Pinellas - a free service to residents and businesses. You choose how to receive alerts and can enter up to five different Pinellas County locations for notifications. An excellent resource for the upcoming Hurricane Season.

DOWNLOAD THE APP
To provide a more Connected City experience, the City of Oldsmar offers a mobile app to enjoy convenient access to calendars, view job opportunities, or watch a City Council meeting online. Available for both Android and Apple devices.


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Be sure to LIKE or FOLLOW the City on Facebook. We're posting unique activities to help you practice social distancing and news from City Hall.

NEW!
INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Registration is NOW OPEN for Pinellas residents to apply for one-time financial assistance for those who have lost jobs or significant income due to COVID-19 to help pay for overdue rent/mortgage and utility bills.

NEW!
SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS
$5,000 grants NOW AVAILABLE to assist Pinellas County small businesses that had to close or significantly reduce operations due to COVID-19 to cover wages, vendor bills, and mortgage/rent costs.

LIBRARY DUE DATE & RESOURCES
The due date for materials checked out from the Oldsmar Public Library has been extended to Monday, June 1. No fines are accruing during their closure. Take a moment and check out their online resources, and learn how to obtain a virtual library card.

NEW! FREE COVID-19 TESTING
Community Health Centers of PInellas offers COVID-19 testing at NO COST. CHCP requires a condensed electronic registration before testing. Make a drive-thru or office appointment by calling (727) 824-8181, option 0. Testing sites open M-F, 10 am - 3 pm.

CITY COUNCIL VIRTUAL MEETING
The Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Oldsmar City Council meeting will be held in a virtual setting as we practice social distancing. To reduce exposure, please attend the physical meeting ONLY if you need to speak in person. You can reach Council by calling (813) 749-1115 or email [email protected] .

CENSUS 2020
Did you know you can now be counted in the 2020 Census via your phone or online? Oldsmar is 2nd in Pinellas County with a 69.4% self-response rate, compared to statewide 56.6%. Responding is a chance to shape your future and make Pinellas Count!

HONOR OUR HEROES VIRTUAL RUN
The 2020 Honor Our Heroes 5k Race has gone virtual! Register to participate in this unique outdoor experience and begin participating now thru Saturday, May 23. The $20 race fee includes a shirt & benefits Oldsmar Cares.

FLY YOUR FLAG
Show Tampa Bay that Oldsmar is the most patriotic community by proudly flying the American Flag on Memorial Day - Monday, May 25. With the cancellation of our annual ceremony, this is a wonderful opportunity to pay respect for the soldiers whose bravery came with the ultimate sacrifice.

100 State Street West, Oldsmar 34677
MyOldsmar.com (813) 749-1100