City News: Your Weekly Update
May 1, 2020
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Non-Contact Recreational Amenities Open
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Folsom City Manager Elaine Andersen today announced the reopening of selected City of Folsom recreational amenities that provide the community with non-contact, healthy recreational opportunities that allow for safe social distancing. Beginning Saturday, May 2, 2020, the following City of Folsom recreational amenities will be reopened to the public, provided that the six-foot social distancing requirements are adhered to.
- Playgrounds and play equipment
- FIDO Field Dog Park
- Tennis, bocce ball, pickleball, and outdoor volleyball courts
- Andy Morin Sports Complex – Only non-contact sports or recreational activities are authorized, such as pickleball, table tennis, and batting cages. (Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, until further notice. Masks or cloth face coverings required to enter. Visitors must use personal equipment and are strongly encouraged to disinfect the equipment prior to use).
- Ball walls
- B. T. Collins disc golf course
- Skate and bike park (open 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily, until further notice)
- Athletic fields. Only non-contact sports or recreational activities are authorized. No structured or organized practices, games, trainings, coaching, or team/league sports groups are permitted.
Parks and equipment users are asked to take personal responsibility for sanitizing sports equipment before and after use.
Masks or cloth face coverings are strongly advised when six-foot social distancing cannot be maintained. Masks or face cloth coverings must be worn at all times at the Andy Morin Sports Complex. Signage will be prominently posted around parks to remind the public to comply with social distancing practices. City parks, trails, pavilions, and barbeques remain open if the public adheres to social distancing requirements.
The city will continue its park patrol program to help educate people in parks about social distancing requirements. Park patrol staff are circulating through every park several times each day, seven days a week, and are available to answer questions and to assist with compliance of the Sacramento County Public Health Orders.
For questions about allowable park usage, contact the Folsom Parks & Recreation Department at
PRDept@folsom.ca.us or 916-461-6676. Parks & Recreation representatives will respond as quickly as possible.
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Emergency Order Offers Local Business Support
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The City of Folsom's fourth Emergency Order effective May 2, 2020 supports local businesses and residents facing challenges due to the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.
To support local businesses and economic development, Emergency Order DES-04-20:
- Waives provisions in the Folsom Municipal Code and allows the use of temporary signage—such as A-frame, window signs, or banner signs—for business advertisement and promotion, as long as signs do not interfere with public rights-of-way.
- Suspends business license, permitting requirements and fees for home occupation, which is defined in the Folsom Municipal Code as any business-related use by a resident within a residence or accessory structure to the residence that is secondary to the residential use and does not change the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.
- Temporarily waives rental payments for rental or lease of city facilities under a formal written lease agreement or concessionaire agreement due and payable to the city.
- Increases the local contract preference to 25 percent when the city is evaluating bids for supplies, equipment, and services.
- Requires public works projects in the public rights-of-way— including construction and maintenance— to take place outside of regular business hours when feasible, to minimize disruption to commercial and business operations.
- Allows for the temporary use of city-owned non-ADA public parking spaces for curbside restaurant food and retail merchandise pick-up from essential businesses. These city-owned, non-ADA public parking spaces will be available to other Folsom businesses and retailers when the Sacramento County Health Officer allows their operation.
- Allows city-owned public properties – such as outdoor plazas, closed streets and public parking spaces – to be used temporarily for outdoor dining, once sit-down dining is permitted by the Sacramento County Health Officer. Restaurants must obtain a temporary permit from the Community Development Department and follow requirements outlined in the Emergency Order.
- Suspends the Folsom Municipal Code rules on the frequency of garage sales. Six-foot social distancing must be maintained at all times, except for people in the same household.
The emergency order will remain in effect until termination of the local emergency by the Folsom City Council.
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City Issues Letter to Governor Gavin Newsom
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On April 30, 2020, the City of Folsom sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom requesting that the governor allow individual counties autonomy in reopening non-essential businesses while following deliberative and safe guidelines. Similar to many small- to mid-size cities, the City of Folsom is experiencing significant economic challenges due to the public health emergency, which will adversely impact the city’s ability to provide essential public services. The letter formally requests the governor establish a city revenue stabilization fund; allocate a share of the State’s CARES Act funding to cities with populations under 500,000; and create a COVID-19 financing vehicle to support immediate cash flow needs. Read the
City of Folsom’s letter to Governor Gavin Newsom
.
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City of Folsom Utility Relief Programs
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The City of Folsom is committed to providing reliable water, wastewater and solid waste disposal service to our customers. We also understand that many are facing severe challenges due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The City of Folsom offers several residential and business utility assistance programs designed to help during this difficult time.
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Folsom “Stop, Pop, and Go” Food Drives to Support Community Members in Need
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The Twin Lakes Food Bank, City of Folsom, and faith-based and nonprofit organizations are teaming up to provide food and essential items for community members in need.
Nineteen “Stop, Pop, and Go” drive-thru food drives are planned throughout Folsom from Wednesday, April 29 to Sunday, May 10.
Measures taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in hardships for many individuals and families. The food bank has served twice the regular number of households and is experiencing a critical food shortage of nonperishable goods. Families, seniors, and those deeply affected by this emergency are in need of assistance.
The “Stop, Pop, and Go” food drive is a no-contact, maximum-impact way to support the community. Food donors should not get out of their vehicle when donating food, but simply:
- STOP: At the location with food already placed in the vehicle’s trunk
- POP: Pop-open the vehicle’s trunk so the volunteer can take the donated items
- GO: Once the items are removed, proceed on their way with our gratitude
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May 1, 2020 COVID-19 Cases
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Sacramento County: 1,090
Folsom: 43
As of Friday, May 1, 2020, there are 43 reported COVID-19 cases in the City of Folsom and 1,090 in Sacramento County.
Sadly, Folsom’s first loss of life due to COVID-19 was reported. Sacramento County Public Health reports that the resident lived in a senior assisted living facility. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of this individual.
For health confidentiality, in compliance with HIPAA, Sacramento County Public Health and the City of Folsom do not release location information of individuals.
Sacramento County Department of Public Health is the lead agency managing the local COVID-19 public health emergency. For the latest public health information, including local confirmed cases, visit
Covid19.SacCounty.net
.
The California Department of Public Health has released a
list of skilled nursing facilities
where COVID-19 cases have been reported involving either staff or residents.
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Annual Weed Abatement Work Underway
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The City of Folsom has more than 650 acres of city-owned open space, and just over 300 of those acres are weed abated annually to help reduce fire hazards. Weed abatement work also takes place within the city’s Landscaping and Lighting Districts, in and around parks, and along the many miles of recreational trails. Folsom’s Parks & Recreation Department started the weed abatement work the week of April 27. In some areas, mechanical methods are used to clear the weeds; and in other locations, herds of goats and sheep are used to eat the weeds down to the ground. The work in all areas is expected to be completed in early summer.
The
weed abatement schedule
is based on fire hazard ratings as determined by the Fire Chief. If you notice an area in need of weed abatement, first check the abatement schedule to find out if it appears on the list. If you’d like to report an area that does not appear on the current weed abatement schedule, use
SeeClickFix Folsom
or call the Folsom Fire Department at 916-461-6315.
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Upcoming Training Webinar for New Online Electronic Plan Review
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The City of Folsom’s Community Development Department launched a new online electronic plan review system called ProjectDox for building, planning, and engineering applications and permits. A training webinar will be hosted from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 6. Architects, engineers, contractors, developers, businesses, and homeowners with development projects are encouraged to participate. The webinar is limited to 300 participants; register by 5 p.m. Monday, May 4 by emailing
kmullett@folsom.ca.us
. Please use “Webinar Registration” in the subject line of your email.
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Saratoga Way/Wilson Boulevard Extension Project Complete
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Traffic flow between El Dorado Hills and Folsom will significantly improve now that El Dorado County has completed the Saratoga Way/Wilson Boulevard Extension Project. Saratoga Way travels a short distance westward from El Dorado Hills Boulevard, closely paralleling Highway 50 and connecting to Iron Point Road. Wilson Boulevard extends from the north intersecting with Saratoga Way. The Wilson Boulevard and the four-lane Saratoga Way extensions provide a direct connection via Iron Point Road in Folsom, and are more efficient venues to access destinations within Folsom.
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East Bidwell Wid
ening and Sidewalk Projects Resu
me
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Daytime work on the East Bidwell Street Widening and Sidewalk Project will begin Monday, May 4. The project will improve traffic flow and pedestrian access by adding a third lane and new sidewalks on East Bidwell Street in each direction near Woodsmoke Way and Bluestone Circle.
Daytime work will take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., with occasional lane closures between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Traffic delays are not expected. The project will be completed by Sunday, May 31.
Engineers will also install advanced interconnected traffic signals at Oak Avenue Parkway and Bluestone Circle, allowing the signals to communicate for more efficient traffic flow through the corridor. Crews will apply a seal coat on the asphalt once the road is widened. The prominent oak tree adjacent to the Fieldstone Meadows subdivision will be protected. For more information, call the Folsom Public Works Department at 916-461-6713.
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As the weather warms up and more residents are out walking, running, and biking, it is important to be aware of the wildlife we share our trails with. Rattlesnakes, mountain lions, bobcats, and coyotes are just a few of the animals that live among us in Folsom.
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New Career Resources at the Library
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TeachingBooks Provides Kids with Reading Enrichment
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With school disrupted right now, kids may not be getting the normal reading enrichment that helps them to understand books better.
TeachingBooks.net
is a resource from the Folsom Public Library for students to learn about books and authors frequently read in schools. The website offers videos of the authors talking about their writing, and reading from their own books. Students can also access reading supplements like vocabulary word lists and discussion questions.
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Virtual Recreation Center
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Folsom Parks & Recreation’s
Virtual Recreation Center
provides resources for residents of all ages to keep active and engaged as we all do our part to stay at home and practice social distancing. Visit the site to learn how to catch a rainbow, make a batch of salt-dough for crafting, and listen to “Froggy Bakes a Cake” in the storytime video.
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Comprehensive and up-to-the-minute Sacramento County Public Health information about COVID-19 can be found at
Covid19.SacCounty.net.
Sign-up for our weekly e-newsletter.
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Parks and Recreation Commission - CANCELED
May 5, 6:30 p.m.
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City Council Office Hours
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Mayor's Office Hours
May 7, 2-5 p.m.
In light of the County's stay at home order, Mayor Sarah Aquino encourages you to call or email her with your questions, comments, or concerns. She may be reached at 916-798-5380 or
saquino@folsom.ca.us
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Contact the City of Folsom's Communications Director
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Get Connected, Stay Informed
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