BernCo at a Glance
E-newsletter
Volume 3 | May 12, 2020
Safer at Home Order through May 15

  • Foremost, please stay home if you are sick. Period.
  • If you go out, wear a face mask
  • Practice social distancing -- be aware of your surroundings and others near you
  • Adhere to the six-foot rule and stay at home except as needed for grocery shopping, medical assistance and exercise
  • Limit group contact to five or fewer people
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
New Mexico Department of Health:
  • New Mexicans with COVID-19 related questions should call the coronavirus hotline at 855-600-3453
  • Non-COVID-19 related questions or concerns, call 833-551-0518
  • ***NMDOH COVID-19 Public Dashboard -- the data dashboard includes county-by-county breakdowns of positive cases by age, gender and ethnicity.
Up-to-date information about state mandates and information: www.newmexico.gov . Emergency order through May 15
Information and resources from the CDC regarding coronavirus COVID-19: www.cdc.gov .
BernCo Parks and Recreation Sets
In an effort to keep Bernalillo County residents and county employees safe during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, most summer programs have been cancelled and outdoor swimming pools will not open.

The following is a schedule of open and closed facilities and cancelled events and programs:

OPEN:
Rio Grande Pool (opening date and operating hours to be determined)
·        Limited swimmers in facilities
·        No spectators
·        Social distancing will be observed
·        Modified adult swim programming:
  • Lap swim only (no congregating and social distancing must be maintained
  • Adult water exercise
·        NO OPEN RECREATIONAL SWIM

Grab-n-go lunches will continue

CLOSED AND CANCELLED:
·        ALL outdoor swimming pools
·        Community centers
·        Summer sports leagues (youth basketball and adult softball)
·        Jimmy Nieto Softball Tournament
·        New Mexico Recreation & Park Association state conference in Albuquerque

The county Parks and Recreation Department is re-branding for the summer of 2020 with the slogan,
“Recreating Recreation to Virtual Involvement
for a Healthier and Safer Community Experience”  

While the county is not offering traditional summer camps, “virtual camps” are being set up to offer zoom classes for exercise, art instruction, music classes and more. The county will also offer grab-n-go art kits that kids can use at home. 

Any resident who has already paid for a summer program or camp is entitled to a refund or credit toward another program/season. Information about refunds/credits is at: https://www.bernco.gov/uploads/files/ParksRecreation/CREDIT%20or%20REFUND.pdf .

Information about available summer programming opportunities through Bernalillo County Parks, Recreation and Open Space can be found at:

Annual Notices of Value Sent to Property Owners
Recent BernCo News Releases
(click each news release below to read in full)
Notice of Value statements have been mailed to property owners, showing the appraised value for their real property, residential and manufactured homes, and non-residential, commercial and vacant land in Bernalillo County. Property owners who disagree with the appraised value of property have 30 days to appeal. The deadline to file a protest form with the Assessor’s Office is May 29.

Property owners who have not taken advantage of the head of family, veteran or 100% disabled veteran exemptions and the value freeze program, must do so no later than 30 days after the mailing of the notice of value (NOV) statements.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated the changing of the date. The Aug. 30 date will still be dependent on the conditions later this summer regarding COVID-19 and the ability to have large gatherings.

CARES payments to states, local, and tribal governments are designed to offset the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Plans are being made and money has been approved by the Bernalillo County Commission to fund local organizations who will, in turn, assist small businesses with advice and direction, as unincorporated area businesses prepare to reopen post coronavirus (COVID–19). The commission approved $500,000 from the county general fund for Economic Development programming to aid small businesses in the unincorporated areas of the county.

The county’s CARE campus is still operating, with reduced staff, to provide 24/7 services for behavioral health. The CARE campus provides a variety of programs to reduce the impact of alcoholism, substance abuse, and behavioral health needs within the community. The campus is located at 5901 Zuni, and more information is available at www.bernco.gov/dbhs .
2020 Primary Election: Request an Absentee B allot
Voters may request an absentee ballot online  here .

Absentee ballots are being mailed now.
Last day to request an absentee ballot for the primary election is May 28.
New Mexico has a closed primary election system. To vote in the 2020 Primary Election, one must be a registered Democrat, Republican or Libertarian.
Community Resources and Information
BernCo Serves Grab-and-Go Breakfasts and Lunches
Cost: Meals are free
BernCo is serving ‘grab-and-go’ breakfasts and lunches at six county locations. Parents drive-up to the community center with their children in the vehicle and center staff give a breakfast and lunch for each child requested.
Meals are served Mondays - Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (grab and go only):
  • Mt. View Community Center
  • Paradise Hills Community Center
  • Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center
  • South Valley Multipurpose Center
  • Vista Grande Community Center
  • Westside Community Center

APS Student Meal Pick-Ups
Cost: Meals are free
  • UPDATE: Hours of Operation: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
  • Students will receive meals for two days.
  • Available to all school-age students under the age of 18 as of Monday, March 16, 2020.
  • UPDATE: Students are expected to be in the vehicle when meals are picked up. If they have an online or televised class that conflicts with meal distribution, parents may pick up the meals for them as long as they can show their child’s student ID or report card. 
  • APS requests that you do not bring animals to the Grab & Go sites, including in your cars. Visit the APS website for locations.

Stimulus Checks

US Census 2020
How to Respond, https://2020census.gov/

Safety Tips for Shopping -- Tip sheet (English)
Safety Tips for Shopping -- Tip sheet (Spanish)


Complete the 2020 Census Today!
It takes less than 10 minutes to shape our next 10 years!
Fastest and easiest way -- go online to www.2020Census.gov
Local Growers Offer 'Farm to Car'
Local growers and farmers will be offering pre-order of your favorite fruits and vegetables for both the Rail Yards Market, http://railyardsmarket.org/   and the Downtown Grower's Market, http://www.downtowngrowers.org/ .
Visit their websites  for pre-ordering instructions. Curbside pickup allows for proper social distancing.
Vendors will be updated weekly.
Thank you for reading BernCo at a Glance
For assistance, please contact:
  • Metropolitan Detention Center (general inmate info): (505) 839-8700
  • Roads and traffic: (505) 848-1504 or (505) 848-1503
  • Animal Care Services: (505) 468-PETS
  • Property Maintenance (report a park or facility that needs cleanup): (505) 224-2119
  • Schedule a large item pick-up: (505) 892-1200
  • Department of Behavioral Health Services customer service: (505) 468-1555
  • Court of Wills, Estates and Probate (general info): (505) 468-1232
  • Schedule an appointment: call (505) 468-1229 or email, probate@bernco.gov
  • Unclaimed & Indigent Cremation Program: (505) 468-7295
  • Accounts Payable general inquiries: (505) 468-7020
  • All other calls: (505) 468-7777 or email, contactcenter@bernco.gov

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Website: www. BernCo .gov | Email: info@BernCo.gov