Oldsmar City Manager's
Weekly Update
May 1, 2020
Official City Seal
Oldsmar City Manager
Al Braithwaite
Greetings from City Hall -

Good news for all!!!! The end of emergency operations MIGHT finally be in sight…..there is no disputing the horrible nature of what this pandemic could have done to us, and for those who have suffered in any way, the effects are all too real. We all have family or friends that have been touched by this, and we can’t ever forget those who have lost loved ones.
Having said that, citizens of Oldsmar should be proud of their leaders at the State and County levels, and especially your Mayor and City Council.  Statistics do not lie.  Pinellas County is the MOST densely (more people per square mile) populated county in the State of Florida, yet we’ve experienced one of the lowest numbers of cases and fatalities of any metropolitan area.  You are all to be commended on how you have complied with guidance provided from the Governor and others, which is why our results have been so comparatively favorable.  

We cannot be complacent, though, because the possibility of a second wave is real, and we will have to adjust many aspects of our everyday lives, possibly forever, and likely in ways that we haven’t yet considered.

Now, as we start the process of heading towards whatever “normal” is going to be, I’d like to briefly outline how your City organization will be phasing back to normal operations.  Basically, there will be three phases, and we will generally follow guidance from the Governor’s office, as well as the Board of County Commissioners.  Step one of the three will start on Monday, May 4 th for many facets of society, and the City will be slowly expanding our presence, although I doubt you’ll notice much difference, for now. Our buildings will still be closed to the public, and we will still be operating remotely, for the most part, but more of our personnel will be returning, incrementally working towards an eventual return to normalcy.  The second phase, which will likely involve the partial opening of some city facilities, will take place shortly after the Governor and County Commission decide to implement their second phase.  At this point in time, we DON’T know what that timeframe will be, so stay tuned and please be patient.  We will return to full operations when your Mayor rescinds all Emergency Orders, which are currently in effect.  We still don’t know when that will be, but we will be ready whenever it is.

For more information on city services, recovery funding opportunities and online entertainment, please be sure to read below, and to check out the city’s website , which has been maintained extremely well throughout this emergency.  Please take advantage of it. As always, we are here to serve, so feel free to reach out to any of us with your needs, especially if they are urgent.

I hope you all remain healthy, and safe.  We will get through this, together, as a community. Stay positive, stay confident, and stay healthy.

Al b
NEW!
INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Provides one-time assistance for Pinellas County individuals/families who have lost jobs or significant income due to COVID-19 to help pay for overdue rent/mortgage and utility bills.

NOTE: APPLICATIONS BEGIN MONDAY, MAY 4th.

NEW!
SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS
$5,000 GRANTS 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.

NOTE: APPLICATIONS BEGIN MONDAY, MAY 4th.

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.

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

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.

CITY COUNCIL VIRTUAL MEETING
The Tuesday, May 5th Oldsmar City Council meeting will be hosted 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 also reach the Council by calling (813) 749-1115 or emailing [email protected] .

STORY TIME WITH MR. ANTHONY
The Oldsmar Public Library continues to publish a new video every Monday and Thursday for ‘ Story Time with Mr. Anthony .’ These animated videos are on their YouTube Channel. Be sure to subscribe!

STUDENT ASSISTANCE
Pinellas County School Board has created a webpage with resources to help families support the mental health and wellness of students. These are tough times for children and teens, who may be coping with separation from friends and extended family members.

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