In this week's R/M Weekly, you will find updates on our "Tier" status, business recovery with "Shop Safe Shop Local" campaign, voter assistance information, how to get your $10 gift card just for being counted, new legislation affecting your trash collection and costs, and more.
As we continue on this pandemic journey together, we will continue to follow the latest updates and guidance to ensure residents and visitors are as up-to-date as we are.
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RIVERSIDE COUNTY ENTERS STATE'S RED TIER
MORE BUSINESSES RESUME INDOOR OPERATIONS
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All remaining personal care services may return indoors, including nail salons, tattoo shops, massage services and esthetician services. As a reminder, hair salons and barber shops were returned indoors under the previous purple tier.
In addition, restaurants, places of worship, movie theaters, as well as museums, zoos and aquariums may resume indoor operations up to 25 percent capacity. Gyms may resume indoors up to 10 percent capacity and indoor shopping malls up to 50 percent capacity.
For more information on Riverside County’s case and positivity rate, as well as which businesses are currently allowed to reopen, please visit www.covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
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UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR OUTDOOR PLAYGROUNDS |
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The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently released updated guidance for the operation and use of Outdoor playgrounds, defined as:
- Locations that are fully outdoors;
- Publicly accessible;
- Free to enter and use;
- Operated by a city, state, county, or federal government;
- Designed primarily to serve nearby residents within a half a mile;
- Can provide State-mandated outdoor space for preschools (which could be scheduled in advance to avoid overlapping use); and
- That typically include recreational equipment, like play structures, slides, swings, etc. intended to enrich children's physical health and development
This definition serves to separate outdoor playgrounds from indoor playgrounds, those hosted at restaurants or museums, or as therapy locations attached to businesses.
The updated guidance allows outdoor playgrounds meeting the definition above, to be open and operational, with defined safety protocols. These safety protocols include time limitations of use when others are present, physical distancing both for supervising adults and on play structures, maximum capacities, and scheduling strategies.
To view the CDPH guidance,
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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.
Make sure you’re registered to vote ahead of the November 3, 2020 General Election. Register by October 19th to receive your vote-by-mail ballot. You can do so easily, online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov.
Voter Assistance Centers will be available in Rancho Mirage for your one-stop voting needs. At Voter Assistance Centers, Voters can:
- Vote
- Register to vote
- Help with voter registration issues
- Get a replacement ballot
Voter Assistance Centers in Rancho Mirage:
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory
71-100 Highway 111
The River at Rancho Mirage
71-800 Highway 111, Suite B-119
(former Forever 21 space)
OPERATING HOURS
October 31, 2020 – November 2, 2020 / 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Election Day, November 3, 2020 / 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, please call (760) 324-4511, Ext. 488.
For detailed 2020 election voting information,
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TIME TO RESPOND TO THE U.S. CENSUS IS RUNNING OUT
SO IS YOUR CHANCE TO RECEIVE YOUR GIFT!
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The deadline to respond to the U.S. Census has been extended to October 5th. The City of Rancho Mirage is counting on you to be counted. As an incentive to ensure we are all counted and receive the benefits that the U.S. Census offers all of us, the City is offering Rancho Mirage residents a $10 gift card 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, call (760) 324-4511.
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WHAT NEW STATE LAW - SENATE BILL 1383
MEANS FOR BURRTEC CUSTOMERS
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Over the years, the Rancho Mirage City Council has worked hard to keep trash service costs down. However, a new State mandate challenges this effort. |
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Senate Bill 1383 was signed into law by Governor Brown in September 2016, this law requires a 75% statewide reduction in organic waste by 2025, this includes food waste, green waste, and items such as paper and wood wastes. For our City, this requires actively developing new residential organic waste infrastructure and collection services.
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Why the rate increase? Annually, the City faces rate adjustments as part of its franchise agreement with Burrtec. The rate adjustments include refuse disposal and recycling fees set by the county during the previous year. This year, in addition to these County fees, the City is also faced with rate increases due to changes as a result of Senate Bill 1383.
With the coming collection of organic waste disposal, the State has also mandated collection bins follow the prescribed colors:
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Trash – Any shade of grey or black
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Recycle – Blue
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Organic Waste – Green
For the City of Rancho Mirage, this means we will now need to ensure all residents have the appropriate collection bins for trash, recycling and now one for organic waste. The additional organic waste bin will also create a need for additional service.
In 2021, Rancho Mirage residents will be receiving new blue recycling bins and green organic waste bins. Upon receiving these new bins, residents will transition their current grey bins to become their new trash bins. The transition of the grey bin will save residents money, by reducing additional bin purchases.
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As a part of the effort to meet State requirements, residents are seeing 17.4% increase in waste collection rates, which are billed three times a year, each bill including four (4) months of service. These additional funds are being used to purchase the state required colored bins, as well as to meet the additional collection requirements of the community.
The City of Rancho Mirage is committed to offering the best trash and recycling services available to our community while continuing to meet this new State mandate.
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GREAT PLATES DELIVERED PROGRAM CONTINUES!
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The Great Plates Delivered program will continue through October 9, 2020.
If you are a Rancho Mirage resident
65+ or 60-64 and at risk, please
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BUSINESS RECOVERY ALLIANCE COACHELLA VALLEY
PROMOTES "SHOP SAFE, SHOP LOCAL"
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The Business Recovery Alliance Coachella Valley is a group of local business leaders working toward the safe, successful and sustained reopening of our valley.
The Business Recovery Alliance is currently working on a shop local pledge and an early holiday shopping campaign -“Shop Safe and Shop Local” aimed at reminding people to remain safety-minded and keep dollars local rather than shopping at any business out of the area.
More details on the Shop Safe, Shop Local campaign are on their way so stay tuned!
For more information on the Business Recovery Alliance efforts, go to
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THE JOSLYN CENTER'S
ANNUAL FALL HEALTH FAIR & FLU SHOT CLINIC
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The Joslyn Center
Annual Fall Health Fair and Flu Shot Clinic
Drive Through Event
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
73-750 Catalina Way
Palm Desert
The event is open to all senior citizens and older adults ages 50 and above.
Care packages are available on a first-come, first-served basis. One care package per car. Masks are mandatory and guests are always required to stay in their cars and move efficiently yet cautiously through the parking lot.
To read the Joslyn Center full press release,
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For more information, contact Rebecca Ruffing, program director at
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FACE COVERINGS ARE REQUIRED IN ALL BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS AND ADJACENT PUBLIC SPACES IN THE CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE
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