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City Beat
Your city, your news
March 24, 2020
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Welcome to City Beat, a free weekly e-newsletter containing the latest news and information about the City of Bartlesville and related topics. Get yours delivered each week!
http://bit.ly/2eaFETx
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State of Emergency proclaimed
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Ordinance closes some businesses, restricts public access for others
The City Council voted Monday to pass Ordinance 3525 which puts into place several measures aimed at reducing the local spread of Covid-19 virus.
The ordinance was approved unanimously by the council after Mayor Dale Copeland proclaimed a State of Emergency for the city.
Under the ordinance, several local businesses will be required to adjust practices to prohibit or reduce public access, including closure in some cases.
Community Development Department staff has begun notifying businesses that will be affected by the ordinance and will continue notifications throughout the day.
Closed
Effective 5 p.m. March 24, the following business will be closed to the public:
- Any bar that does not provide items for off-premises consumption
- Athletic gyms, exercise facilities, indoor sports facilities, indoor climbing facilities, bowling alleys, skating rinks, trampoline parks and similar recreational facilities
- Shopping mall food courts
Open but no public access
Bars that do provide items for off-premises consumption as well as
breweries
,
taverns
and
restaurants
will be restricted to:
- Take-out or delivery of food
- Sale of prepackaged alcohol as authorized for sale under state law
- Sale of other retail items as authorized for sale under state law
The public will not be allowed to enter these establishments.
Not included
These restrictions
do not apply to
:
- Institutional or in-house food cafeterias that services residents
- Employees and clients of businesses
- Hospitals and/or medical clinics
- Long-term care facilities
Businesses with restricted access
Tattoo shops, massage therapists, barber shops, haircut and styling shops and spas may operate only under the following conditions:
- By appointment with no walk-in customers
- Appointments may not be scheduled and held within 15 minutes of the preceding appointment
- Clients may not bring any other person, including children, into the facility during an appointment
- Workstations must have a minimum of six feet of space from the adjoining workstation to promote social distancing
No restricted access
These restrictions
do not apply to
:
- Places of public accommodation that offer food and beverage not for on-premises consumption, including grocery stores, markets, convenience stores, pharmacies, drug stores and food pantries
- Health care facilities, child care facilities, residential care facilities, and congregate care facilities
- Crisis shelters, soup kitchens, or similar institutions
Ordinance strengthens existing measures
The following measures are in effect as of 11:59 p.m. March 23:
- All existing special event permits are revoked and no further special event permits will be issued.
- Municipal Court is suspended other than by teleconference where required. No further failure to appear warrants will be issued.
- All code enforcement hearings are suspended.
- Public gatherings of greater than 10 people will not be allowed at any City owned or managed facilities except as required by law.
- All reservations of City facilities are suspended. Deposits held for any current reservations will be refunded in full.
- Further utility cutoffs are suspended, and the City Manager is directed to reestablish service for any disconnected customer. Amounts due will not be forgiven.
- City-owned pools will not be opened.
- The Bartlesville Public Library and Bartlesville Area History Museum are closed to the public.
- All City board and committee meetings are canceled except for City Council and Authority meetings. Authorities are encouraged to meet only when absolutely necessary. When meeting, the City Council and Authorities are required to utilize the provisions of Senate Bill 661 and to conduct only teleconference meetings where technologically possible. In order to simplify implementation of teleconference meetings, the requirement for citizens to be heard is suspended for all meetings during the duration of this emergency.
- The use of City-owned meeting rooms for public gatherings of any size is prohibited. Meeting rooms may still be used by City staff when necessary.
- All in-person gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational purposes, including but not limited to community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades, concerts, festivals, conventions, fundraisers and similar activities are strongly discouraged while these measures are in effect.
Further review
Under the ordinance, an advisory board will be created that will include
the mayor and vice mayor, city manager, fire chief, police chief, medical experts, emergency management, county government and others deemed necessary by the mayor and vice mayor. The board will review the measures instituted by the ordinance and make recommendations to the City Council.
Additionally, the Bartlesville Development Authority will create a task force to study the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The task force will focus on current business retention and small business assistance during the current crisis.
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Council votes to delay City capital elections
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City of Bartlesville capital elections set for April 7 have been postponed until Aug. 25 following a vote of the City Council on Monday.
The council acted in response to a Declaration of Election Emergency by the Oklahoma State Election Board recommending that governing entities reschedule their elections due to the ongoing coronovirus pandemic.
The City had planned to ask voters to consider approval of nearly $30 million in capital projects with the passage of a General Obligation Bond and an extension of the existing half-cent Capital Improvement Projects sales tax, which, if not approved before, will expire in June 2021.
Stay tuned to City Beat for updates on this topic.
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City playgrounds, golf course dining closed
Offices at City Hall, other City-owned facilities remain closed
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Beginning today, all City of Bartlesville-owned playgrounds and dine-in options at Adams Municipal Golf Course are closed after an ordinance calling for the closure of several business types was approved by the Bartlesville City Council on Monday.
"We have no way of disinfecting the playground equipment on a regular basis so we felt it is best to close the playgrounds in all City-owned parks," said City Manager Mike Bailey. "The parks are open so everyone can still walk their dogs and jog, and kids can still run and tumble and do the things that kids do. There is plenty of space in the parks for everyone to practice social distancing, so we do not see an issue with those at this time."
Park shelter rentals have been suspended and no more than 10 people may gather at one time at any City facility, including parks and park shelters.
"Also, there is no longer a dine-in option at the Adams Golf Course dining room," Bailey said. "The golf course will remain open as long as everyone can exercise proper social distancing and food can still be ordered and taken to-go, but dining in or meeting others for coffee on the premises will no longer be permitted."
Other City closures and partial closures at this time include:
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City Hall
Offices at City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave., are closed to the public. This includes the utility billing, cashiers’ and court clerk’s windows located on the first floor.
Utility bills and court fines can be paid:
- Online, at www.cityofbartlesville.org.
- By mail: City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave., Bartlesville OK 74003.
- Drop boxes, which are located in the parking lot directly south of City Hall, the first floor of City Hall and the west end of the Bartlesville Community Center parking lot.
- Payments will also temporarily be accepted by phone via debit or credit card.
Phones are answered between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. New accounts may be established and discontinuation of services will be accepted by phone.
The Utility Billing office may be reached by email:
[email protected]
or by calling 918.338.4224.
Municipal Court may be reached by email:
[email protected]
or by calling 918.338.4225.
Note: (Note: the 10-day grace period for citations will be waived. Municipal Court is suspended and no further failure to appear warrants will be issued or served until further notice.)
The Administration and Community Development departments on the second floor and Engineering Department on the third floor are also closed. Phones are answered between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for all departments and staff may be seen by appointment.
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The City Manager’s office may be reached by email:
[email protected]
or by calling 918.338.4282.
The Community Development Department may be reached by email:
[email protected]
or by calling 918.338.4238.
The Engineering Department may be reached by email:
[email protected]
or by calling 918.338.4251.
For information about permits, codes enforcement and building inspections, call 918.338.4238.
Police, Fire, Operations
Public Works, Water and Waste Water facilities as well as the Police Department and all four Fire Stations are also closed to the public, and tours of all facilities are suspended until further notice.
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Covid-19: Business not affected unless addressed specifically in City ordinance
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Could you publish on the City website a list of local restaurants and phone numbers that offer carry-out or drive-up service?
The City does not have the (wo)manpower, given the current situation, to keep up with such a list. This request will be turned over to the task force that will be created to study this issue, however, for further consideration. Also note there is a list containing the status for Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce member restaurants on the BRCC website.
Not a fan of giving the police more power.
If you're referring to the ordinance approved by the City Council Monday giving the Bartlesville police chief and Police Department the authority to "
strictly enforce" Oklahoma’s prohibition against the willful exposure of those affected by contagious diseases in public places and thoroughfares as provided by Oklahoma law (say THAT three times fast), this law already exists and doesn't actually give the police any more power than they already had. Why put it in the ordinance then? Just to make sure everyone's aware of it.
Does this apply to department stores like Big Lots or Goodys?
If it isn't specifically addressed in Ordinance No. 3525, it doesn't apply at this time. Department stores are not included in the ordinance.
Tire stores?
Nope.
Liquor stores?
Nope.
Car dealerships?
Nope.
Lowes
? Nope.
The Pillow Factory?
Nope.
Here's a shortcut:
- Bars of all types that do not offer products for consumption off-premises are CLOSED.
- Bars, restaurants, breweries, etc. that do offer products for consumption off-premises are PARTIALLY CLOSED. These businesses may continue to operate utilizing take-out and delivery services, but customers are not allowed inside the facility.
- Gyms, exercise facilities, bowling alleys, movie theaters and mall food courts are CLOSED.
- Tattoo shops, massage therapists, barber shops, salons, spas, etc. may be open BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. (See details above.)
Exceptions: Dining rooms of health care facilities, child care facilities, crisis shelters, soup kitchens.
Will the Tower Center at Unity Square still open on May 1?
Work continues at the construction site at Sixth Street and Dewey Avenue and plans for completion will continue to move forward. However, if Ordinance No. 3525 is extended by the City Council during its regularly scheduled April 6 meeting, opening festivities at the park will not be held.
Are we still having Operation Clean House?
At some point, hopefully. But the 2020 event, scheduled for April 18, has been postponed until further notice.
Will the City still do the free leaf collection May 4-8?
What about the Citizens Police Academy?
P
ostponed. Another date will be set and announced in City Beat.
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What is Covid-19?
According to the World Health Organization, Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Protect yourself
Symptoms
Symptoms of the highly contagious virus can range from mild to severe and can appear two to 14 days after exposure. They include cough, fever and shortness of breath.
There is currently no vaccine or treatment for Covid-19.
CDC recommendations
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
- Use hand sanitizer when washing is not possible.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid gatherings of 10 or more people.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- If you are sick, wear a facemask and call ahead before you seek medical care.
- Throw used tissues in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
Testing
Anyone who suspects they may have Covid-19 should contact their primary care provider or hospital by phone prior to seeking treatment. Before seeking treatment, call ahead so they can prepare for your arrival.
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Other information
The following actions have been taken by the State of Oklahoma in response to the Covid-19 pandemic:
- The one-week waiting period before unemployment benefits can be paid has been suspended and the work-search requirement for unemployment benefits has been waived.
- The State's request for disaster loans for small businesses across all 77 counties that are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic has been approved. Businesses and nonprofit groups can apply for up to $2 million in loans through the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. For more information, see the SBA's website.
- Expiration dates for all occupational licenses issued by any Oklahoma agency, board or commission have been extended during the Declared State of Emergency period.
- Expiration on driver’s licenses issued by the State of Oklahoma are delayed until further notified.
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Board, Committee & Commission Openings
The City of Bartlesville has numerous boards, committees and commissions that are driven by citizen volunteers. All citizens are encouraged and welcome to apply.
Board applications are located
online
and
in the city manager’s office, located on the second floor of City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave. Applications are kept on file for two years. To view a complete list, see
Boards, Committees & Commissions
.
The City currently has the following committee/board openings:
- One opening on the City Planning Commission
- One opening on the Construction and Fire Code Appeals Board
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Job Listing
The City of Bartlesville is currently accepting applications for the following positions:
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Do you have questions you would like to see answered or addressed in City Beat? Let us know! Email [email protected], attn. City Beat.
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Kelli Williams, Editor
401 S. Johnstone Ave.
Bartlesville, OK 74003
918-338-4132
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