03.24.20 Special Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Meeting Minutes March 24, 2020 The City has closed all playgrounds and certain parks facilities where people are more likely to gather in close proximity: - Playgrounds - Dog and Skate parks - Park restrooms City efforts to address the emergency Emergency management and response staff participating in multiple daily calls • Monday 3/16 - Facility Closures with high public access like the Library and Activity Center and Pool • Friday 3/20 - Public Facing City Counters Closure — Include Utility Billing, most of City Hall, as well as our public counters in the Municipal Building, Grant Harris Building and others. • City Director team meeting via remote conference daily and established measures to protect employees — Virtual Meetings — Changes to delivery of services — Teleworking and Shift work separation • 3/23 Successfully tested Zoom remote meeting for Council The city website is updated regularly with resource information for residents and businesses. The City has initiated an awareness campaign regarding the need to wash your hands after touching gas pump and public building door handles Joe Pantalion and Stephanie Reyes, Assistant City Managers, provided a presentation on financial assistance strategies to assist the local business community and residents due to COVID-19. City Council provided direction to implement or further research the following strategies: Strategies that are currently in place: • Temporarily Halt Utility Service Disconnections for Nonpayment (evaluate after 90 days) • Utility Bill Payment Arrangements • Waive Utility Bill Late Fees (evaluate after 90 days) Council agreed to the items above, implemented as suggested by staff. • Waive/Modify Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Late Payment Penalties — additional direction to waive penalties for small, local hotels, modify penalty City of San Marcos Page 2