City of Rancho Mirage's Weekly Update: September 22, 2020

Fall is usually the time of year we begin planning our holiday schedules and preparing for the upcoming season. This year, of course, is a bit different but some things will go on as scheduled like COVID-19 recovery progress, the reseeding and maintenance of our dog park, the 2020 Presidential Election and the 2020 U.S. Census.

We continue to follow the latest updates and guidance on the pandemic and will relay any new information to our residents and visitors as we receive it.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOVES TO NEXT REOPENING PHASE

On Tuesday, September 22, 2020, the State of California approved Riverside County to move into the next phase of reopening pursuant to the “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” California’s color-coded, four-tier system that allows different levels of reopening based on a county’s positivity rate — the rate at which COVID-19 tests come back positive — and its rate of new coronavirus cases.

Riverside County will move from the most restrictive purple tier to red, which allows for the reopening of some businesses with limited indoor operations.

What changes from Purple to Red?

Restaurants indoors (max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer)
All retail indoors (max 50% capacity)
Shopping centers indoors (max 50% capacity, closed common areas)
Museums, zoos, and aquariums indoors (max 25% capacity)
Places of worship indoors (max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer)
Movie theaters indoors (max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer)
Gyms and fitness centers indoors (max 10% capacity)

All industry guidance and details about what types of business operations may resume in Tier 2 - Substantial are available at covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance.

Personal care services such as nail salons and spas may resume indoor operations with modifications. To view Personal Care Service Guidance,

In order for schools to reopen for in-person classes, the county would have to remain in the red tier for at least two weeks.

Numerous schools around the county and five in the Coachella Valley were able to reopen in-person due to a waiver. Schools had to demonstrate they are able to operate safely before the waiver was approved.

RANCHO MIRAGE DOG PARK

CLOSED FOR RESEEDING & MAINTENANCE

Every October, the Rancho Mirage Public Works department does a full "overhaul" on the dog park including deep cleaning of concrete pads, plant replacement, reseeding, tree trimming, and general sprucing up.

The Rancho Mirage Dog Park located at

34-100 Key Largo Avenue

will be closed for annual maintenance from

October 1 - 31, 2020.

The dog park will reopen on November 1, 2020.

For more information about the dog park closure, please contact our Public Works department at (760) 770-3224.

Ballots for the 2020 Presidential Election will be mailed October 5, 2020. For your convenience, the City of Rancho Mirage (69-825 Highway 111) will have a ballot box for drop off of vote-by-mail ballots beginning October 5th and the Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory (71-100 Highway 111) will offer a Voter Assistance Center from:

October 31 - November 2, 2020 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

November 3, 2020 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, please call (760) 324-4511, Ext. 488.

For detailed 2020 election voting information,

please visit the City's website at RanchoMirageCA.gov.

Ahead of the November 3rd General Election, every registered voter in California will be sent a vote-by-mail ballot with a prepaid postage return envelope. You can check your voter status at VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov and make sure you’re ready to #VoteSafeCA #VoteCalifornia!

Update Your Registration

Make sure your registration is up-to-date! You’ll need to update your registration if you:

Moved
Changed your name
Want to update your political party

Update today at RegisterToVote.ca.gov.

We understand that many of you may have concerns about

Vote-by-Mail ballots and how the

U.S. Postal Services is responding

to voter inquiries.

The California Secretary of State has provided answers to some frequently asked questions to assist those

who choose to Vote-by-Mail.

To view the Secretary of State FAQs,

click here.

Deadline to Register

Make sure you’re registered to vote ahead of the

November 3, 2020 General Election.

You can do so easily, online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov.

ONE MORE BENEFIT TO COMPLETING

YOUR 2020 U.S. CENSUS!

As an incentive to ensure we are all counted and receive the benefits that the U.S. Census offers all of us, the City of Rancho Mirage is offering $10 gift cards for use at local grocery stores or gas stations.

If you haven't filled out your 2020 Census information, now is the time to take advantage of this limited offer.

To receive your gift card, simply send your name, address, phone number and census confirmation number to census@ranchomirageca.gov.

For more information, please call

(760) 324-4511.

GREAT PLATES DELIVERED PROGRAM CONTINUES!

We are happy to announce that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) program has authorized a time extension for the Great Plates Delivered program through

October 9, 2020.

If you are a Rancho Mirage resident

65+ or 60-64 and at risk, please

call (877) 652-4844 or email greatplates@ranchomirageca.gov to find out if you qualify to receive free delivered meals through this program.

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE PROVIDES ASSISTANCE

RENTAL ASSISTANCE

Have you, or someone you know, been impacted by COVID-19 and having trouble paying your rent?

Eligible residents in Riverside County can apply for $3,500 in rental assistance. Rental assistance is open to all residents regardless of immigration status.

Applications are now open. Apply online at UnitedLift.org

COVID-19 BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM

EXPANDS ELIGIBILITY

The County of Riverside COVID-19 Business Assistance Grant Program, round 3 is open for applications.

$10,000 grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be accepted beginning on September 16th until October 30th at 5 p.m.

For more information, visit rivcobizhelp.org.