Dear Rancho Cordova Residents and Businesses,
I want to begin by thanking you. Thank you for adhering to the stay-at-home Health Orders and for practicing social distancing. I know it’s not easy, but your efforts are making a difference in keeping people healthy and saving lives.
In this update, I want to provide you with a summary of new information since my last update. Please note that all of this information also can be found at the city’s coronavirus webpage at
CityofRanchoCordova.org/Coronavirus
.
Extended Health Order.
The County extended the stay-at-home Public Health Order to May 1, 2020. The new Public Health Order has further clarifications and limitations than the previous Order, which include:
- Requiring essential businesses to implement social distancing protocols and distribute to employees
- Restricting access to recreation facilities
- Clarifying essential activities and essential travel
- Clarifying and limiting essential business activities
- Directing all businesses and government agencies to cease non-essential operations at physical locations in the County
- Prohibiting all non-essential gatherings of any number of individuals
- Continuing to exempt individuals experiencing homelessness from the order but urging them to find shelter and government agencies to provide it
Loan Program for Small Businesses.
The Rancho Cordova City Council approved $1 million in funds for very low-interest loans to local businesses affected by COVID-19/coronavirus. The city will partner with Lift Investing to direct $1 million of its existing investment accounts into a community financial institution that will then provide very low-interest loans with deferred principal and interest payments for the first three to six months to local businesses to help them retain or create jobs. More information is
here
.
Rancho Delivers.
The city launched
Rancho Delivers
, which provides free grocery delivery to any Rancho Cordova resident. Designed to support the stay-at-home Health Orders and people who are more vulnerable to COVID-19/coronavirus, residents can shop online at
Shop.Raleys.com
and use the promo code
RanchoDelivers
at checkout for free delivery. We expect more grocery stores in the city to join this program and will update you when they do.
Public Parks.
Cordova Recreation & Park District
parks remain open, but all park amenities are closed, including: playgrounds, restrooms, athletic fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, bocce ball and petanque courts, skateparks, picnic pavilions/tables/BBQs, outdoor fitness equipment, dog parks, amphitheaters and horseshoe pits. Learn how you can take classes via the
Virtual Recreation Center
.
I mentioned the following information in my previous update, but I wanted to remind you of these important resources:
Temporary Moratorium on the Evictions of Residential and Commercial Tenants:
The City Council voted in favor of halting evictions for residential and commercial tenants affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Learn about the residential urgency ordinance
here
and commercial urgency ordinance
here
.
Community Resources.
Our community and partner organizations are working hard to provide key services, such as:
Open for Business.
During this time, it’s important that we support our local businesses. Here is a list of what businesses are
open
.
Activities for Families.
We have heard from families adhering to stay-at-home orders that they would like ideas for activities. We’ve created City Hall storytime and compiled some fun activities
here
.
#RanchoCordovaInspires.
While the news around us may be grim, it is comforting and inspiring to know that our community has come together in some special ways. Share your stories of inspiration on social media using the hashtag #RanchoCordovaInspires and follow stories that we know about
here
.
We are making progress, but it’s critical for everyone to do three things to help stop the spread:
1. Follow the Governor's and the County’s Stay-at-Home Orders
2. Do the Five
- HANDS: Wash them often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
- ELBOW: Cough or sneeze into it, or into a tissue that is immediately thrown away.
- FACE: Don’t touch it, especially your nose, mouth and eyes.
- SPACE: Keep a safe distance from others (at least 6 feet).
- HOME: Stay at home, especially if you are sick.
3. Follow CDC Recommendations
for wearing cloth face coverings when in public and for frequently disinfecting surfaces and objects used regularly.
I will continue to update you as new information becomes available. In the meantime, I ask that you share this information widely with others who may not have signed up for the city’s newsletters and are not following us on social media.
Wishing you my best as you stay home and stay healthy. Together, we can save lives.
Sincerely,
Cyrus Abhar
City Manager
