Moving Forward
City begins gradual reopening of facilities Sept. 8

Several City facilities will reopen with limited service and heightened precautions on Tuesday, Sept. 8, to include the Henry F. Hauser Museum, The Cove, and building lobbies.
 
Lobbies that will be reopened include the Sports Division, City Hall, the Pedro Castro Maintenance Center, the Ethel H. Berger Center, Oscar Yrun Community Center, Sierra Vista Police Department, and Sierra Vista Public Library.
 
"The decline in our number of active COVID-19 cases demonstrates that the precautions being taken here in Sierra Vista are working and that our residents are doing a tremendous job," Sierra Vista Mayor Rick Mueller says. "As we reopen, we must do so gradually and remain vigilant to keep our case numbers low to ensure we do not lose the progress we've made."
 
Cove to offer lap swim, reservations required
The Cove will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 8, for lap swim on a by-reservation basis to limit the number of people inside the aquatic center at one time. No other activities will be offered at this time.
 
Lap swim will be available with a reservation on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will also be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (520) 417-4800 to make a reservation.
 
Library lobby, computer lab, and café to open
Starting Sept. 8, the Sierra Vista Public Library will reopen the lobby and offer limited services, while maintaining some best-practices developed in response to COVID-19.
 
The library lobby will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday, and from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday. It will remain closed on Saturday and Sunday. The café inside the library lobby will be accepting orders to go during the daytime library lobby hours. All library book drops are now open.
 
The library facility itself will remain closed, but patrons may enter the lobby to pick up holds, sign up for a library card, request items, or return materials. A temporary computer lab will be open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. The number of patrons accessing the computer lab will be limited.
 
Patrons are asked to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet and wear a face covering when entering the facility. Those who are not yet comfortable entering the building, or who cannot wear a face covering, still have the option of ordering materials for outside pickup.
 
The Little Library Bookstore will remain closed at this time.
 
Museum reopens with abbreviated hours and visitor limits
The Henry F. Hauser Museum, located in the Ethel H. Berger Center, will also reopen on Sept. 8, and will limit the number of visitors who can enter at one time. The museum will be open Monday-Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will remain closed on Saturday and Sunday.
City Spotlight
Library goes "fine free"

Effective Tuesday, Sept. 8, all past-due library fines will be forgiven, and items kept longer than their due dates will no longer accrue daily overdue fees.
 
But that doesn't mean materials can be kept indefinitely without penalty. Patrons who keep an item past its due date may receive a bill for its replacement, and patrons will be charged for lost or damaged materials.
 
"The American Library Association has endorsed going 'fine free' to avoid the punitive stamp that overdue fines cause," says Emily Duchon, the City's Arts, Culture, and Education Division manager. "We want to encourage library patrons to come back and use the library, and fines tend to discourage return visits."
 
The Sierra Vista Public Library joins a growing legion of libraries that have implemented fine-free policies, including Cochise, Maricopa, and Pima counties.
 
Patrons with questions are asked to call the library at (520) 458-4225.
Extraordinary Vigilance
   
As we look forward to the long weekend, please remember to recreate safely. 

Fortunately, it's easy to socially distance outdoors on Sierra Vista's many multi-use paths, hiking and biking trails, and sports amenities. Aside from COVID-19, residents should be mindful of the heat. Be sure to drink plenty of water and save strenuous activities for early or late in the day. 
Uncommon Community

Looking for a fun way to cool off over the holiday weekend? 

The splash pad in Len Roberts Park is now open and is available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Oct. 15!
City Announcements                   

Check out this week's mini-episode of Let's Talk Sierra Vista for a preview of a video we're currently producing in lieu of the City's annual Spotlight Breakfast. We also share that the podcast will take a break in September, before returning with the next full episode in October.

City facilities will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Monday's trash pickup will shift to Tuesday, Sept. 8, and Tuesday's pickup will occur on Wednesday, Sept. 9. No special pickups will be available on Wednesday.

City Council Meetings

City Council Work Session - Tuesday, September 8, 3 p.m. 
City Council Meeting - Thursday, September 10, 5 p.m. 
 
Channel 12/Online

Head to our website to stream City Council meetings live or watch previous meetings.
 
Accommodations

For any special needs or accommodations, please notify Jill Adams 72 hours prior to the meeting date. Reach Ms. Adams at (520) 458-3315 or through the Arizona Relay Service at 7-1-1.
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