MAY 2021
Greetings from City Hall!
Another month in the books, and we are getting back to normal (kind of)!
We still need to respect the vaccination process and the effect that CDC rules and recommendations have on us all. In City buildings, we are encouraging the use of masks, although we are not requiring them, as we used to. We still encourage social distancing, have maintained all of our physical barriers and are continuing to remind our employees to frequently wash their hands. You can never do enough to protect yourselves, and in the process, others. One of the few positives I can point to from this seemingly endless pandemic is a real improvement in people treating each other more kindly. I hope that I am not dreaming, but I have really seen it, and hope it lasts. It should be part of our permanent character, to be kind to others…..always.
Don’t forget that Hurricane season starts on June 1st, officially, and, as usual, it is projected to be another busy one. PLEASE take preparations seriously, and know what supplies you need, where you would go if required to evacuate, and make sure that traffic is part of your planning. We’ve oftentimes seen how difficult it is to get out of town, when you wait until the last minute and leave at the same time everyone else is leaving.
I promise you that your City employees stand ready to respond, if called upon. We train on Emergency Operations consistently throughout the year, and are always studying our response, tweaking the plan wherever required and trying to improve the process every single day. Some of the older employees (ME, being the oldest) have many, many years of experience in dealing with Pinellas County Emergencies, especially those that are weather related. You can be confident that we will do everything possible to make sure that everyone is safe, should an emergency arise.
If you get a chance, make sure to check out our next issue of Experience Oldsmar, which will be mailed to all City homes in the next week or so. It is incredibly well produced by our Communications and Marketing Staff, and contains great pictures, articles and activity schedules for all residents……don’t miss it!
Welcome back to the new normal! We are excited to be at full tilt once again. Have a great summer and don’t forget to check out the helpful information below.
Al b
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As part of the adoption of the new FEMA Flood Maps, the City is updating its Flood Ordinance.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Maps will be changing this summer. As such, your insurance may be affected.
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DISASTER PREP SALES TAX HOLIDAY |
The 2021 Sales Tax Holiday for Disaster Preparedness materials runs from Friday, May 28 - Sunday, June 6.
During this period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness such as generators, flashlights, batteries, tarps, and coolers are exempt from sales tax.
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DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE |
The annual All-Hazard and Hurricane Preparedness Guide for 2021 will be available soon from Pinellas County. This publication contains vital information to help you prepare for a storm or disaster. Copies will be distributed to City facilities once released.
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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.
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Hurricanes, tropical storms, and continuous rain can create flood hazards - especially with high tide & storm surges. It's not uncommon to hear about projected flooding of areas. Knowing your flood zone will help you prepare & plan beforehand to protect your property.
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In order to know when to evacuate, you need to know which zone your property is located. Don't know? Don't worry - Pinellas County provides this specific information. Additionally, you'll see the closest accommodations to help you plan ahead.
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City offices, facilities, and the library will be closed on Monday, May 31 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.
Please note that solid waste and recycling routes are NOT impacted by this holiday. Normal business will resume on Tuesday, June 1.
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VIRTUAL MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY |
Join Oldsmar City Officials virtually as they honor and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom during its virtual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 31 at 10am. This will be held as a LIVE stream event from the City's YouTube Channel to assure social distancing measures are met.
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As part of City Council's Connected City efforts, podcasts have been created to educate our residents, businesses, and visitors on programs, events, and government topics.
Be sure to to follow 'Experience Oldsmar' on your podcast platforms!
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'Coffee with the Mayor' is an initiative developed by Oldsmar Mayor Eric Seidel to keep residents, businesses, and community partners informed with highlights following Oldsmar City Council meetings. Be sure to Follow the City on its Facebook Page for updates on upcoming segments.
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Oldsmar City Council meetings/workshops and Advisory Boards are live streamed for online viewing via the City's official YouTube Channel. Please take a moment and subscribe to receive notifications of future live streaming events.
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The Oldsmar Public Library has returned to regular hours -
Monday - Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday & Saturday 9am - 5pm
Guidelines remain in place for Library patrons. Returned items are no longer being quarantined, and late items will again accrue fines. Check out the link for details.
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Pinellas County's fertilizer ordinance bans the sale and use of any lawn or landscape fertilizer with nitrogen or phosphorous from June 1 to September 30 to protect our aquatic environment during the rainy season. Use Florida-Friendly yard products that contain iron and other micronutrients to ensure healthy lawns.
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Your best protection from COVID-19 will be a combination of getting a vaccine, social distancing, and washing your hands often. Learn about the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination so you'll be ready.
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Various sites across Pinellas County offer FREE Testing for COVID-19. Any health-related questions can be directed to the Florida Department of Health Call Center, open 24/7 at (866) 779-6121.
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Centers for the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County are offering vaccines by appointment, with the closest location from Oldsmar being the Clearwater site. This site is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
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Residents are highly encouraged to visit the Pinellas County Vaccine website for the latest vaccine information and continuous updates. The site includes key things to know about getting the vaccine, eligible groups, distribution, and more.
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Identification of Florida residency and proof of eligibility are required at all locations. On your appointment day, be sure to bring these items with you, show up on time and plan to stay for at least 15 minutes after your vaccination to leave.
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Florida Department of Health provides a
"Vaccine Locator" map showing local sites. The list contains site availability at local pharmacies that include Publix, Walmart, Costco, Walgreens, Sam’s Club, Winn-Dixie, and CVS.
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100 State Street West, Oldsmar 34677
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