May 19, 2021
Watch the COVID-19 Community Update that was presented at the Regular Meeting of the Tracy City Council on May 18, 2021.

For more information about the local impacts of COVID-19, please visit sjready.org.

To learn more about the state's response to COVID-19, please visit covid19.ca.gov.
San Joaquin County Public Health Officer, Dr. Maggie Park, shared with the Board of Supervisors today that San Joaquin County’s overall averaged COVID-19 case rate continues to decline, dropping from 8.2 to 6.2 per 100,000 over the past two weeks - inching the County closer to the Orange Tier threshold. The County currently meets the State’s benchmarks for testing positivity at 2.5% and for testing positivity of health equity quartile at 2.8%, but until the County reaches a new daily case rate of 5.9, it will remain in the Red Tier. 
Council Meeting Update

With the reopening of our Council Chambers to allow for the public to participate in-person and the option to provide remote public comment verbally via Webex, the Tracy City Council will no longer accept public comment by phone starting June 1st, which is the next regularly-scheduled Tracy City Council meeting. This change is expected to help streamline the public comment processes and allows for more efficient facilitation of future Council meetings.

To view past Council meeting videos, click here; for Council meeting agendas, click here; for Council meeting policy and information, click here.

Our Planning Commission has been meeting remotely on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 PM and those meetings will be reopened to the public for in-person participation effective June 23rd. You can find Planning Commission meeting information here
City Reopening Plan
Effective May 5, 2021, the City of Tracy began offering some in-person services by appointment. You may click here to view the appointment hours being offered at City facilities and departments. Please note that City buildings will remain locked and those with appointments will be escorted into the building. For your convenience, access to City services online, by phone, email or virtual meeting will continue to be available Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and on alternating Fridays: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Within 30 days of transitioning to the Orange Tier, in-person services will be expanded. Our goal is to incrementally transition and expand our in-person services to the public in a safe, thoughtful way. It is important that this process is inclusive of feedback from the employees who are providing these services and aligned with current public health orders and industry guidance.  
Development Services
While in-person appointments are now available on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., we have discovered that many in our community prefer to do business with our Development Services Department online!


Online service for plan review is available through CRW E-Track-It. For additional information, please go to: trakit.admin@cityoftracy.org or email des@cityoftracy.org.

Customers are encouraged to submit questions and service requests regarding building permits, zoning, city engineering, and economic development through the City’s GoRequest appDownload the app or make online requests.

Parks and Recreation Services
In-person services are being offered by appointment on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Parks and Recreation service questions and inquiries can still be addressed by phone or email. For information or to make an appointment, call (209) 831-6200, visit www.tracyartsandrec.com or email parks@cityoftracy.org

2021 Parks and Recreation Activity Guide
Get your play on! Summer 2021 Registration is now open. Please visit our Recreation Activity Guide to see what camps & classes are being offered this season. Please note all programs have been modified to follow local, county and state guidelines regarding Covid-19. *Camps and Classes subject to change. To register, please click here.

Virtual Recreation Center
A one-stop recreation destination designed with you in mind!

The Virtual Recreation Center can be accessed through your desktop, tablet or smart phone. Click here to get started.

There's a new way to learn this year at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts! Virtual classes are being offered to provide a safe learning experience for students and families.

The skilled instructors at The Grand will be teaching classes through the web application ZOOM. All classes will be accessible online via computer, tablet, or cell phone. 

Registration is available online at www.tracyartsandrec.com and in-person at the Box Office ticketing window during normal business hours.

Finance Customer Service Information
In-person appointments are now available on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

  • The Utilities Billing Division is offering customers relief by suspending shut-offs for non-payment and waiving late fees. Please see press release for details. 
  • Customers are strongly encouraged to use the City’s online and telephone payment options and other resources for self-service and 24/7 account access.
  • Customers who wish to enroll in the online access system may do so at here.
  • For additional information or to make an appointment:
  • call (209) 831-6800 or email customerservice@cityoftracy.org or financedept@cityoftracy.org.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program
The $29.3 million Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is still available to San Joaquin County residents. The ERAP will help qualified tenants address unpaid rent, utilities, prevent eviction, and assist landlords with their financial obligations.
For those living in Tracy and unincorporated areas of San Joaquin County, you may apply here.
CDPH Masking Recommendations Clarification

We'd like to provide some clarity around the issue of masking, as there is some confusion around what the CDC is recommending and what applies to us here in California:

As of May 3rd, face coverings are no longer required outdoors except at crowded events (such as live performances, parades, fairs, festivals, sports events, or other similar settings), and for unvaccinated people when physical distancing cannot be maintained. For indoor settings outside of one's home, including while using public transportation, face coverings continue to be required regardless of vaccination status.

On June 15, California plans to implement the CDC’s guidelines around masking to allow fully vaccinated Californians to go without a mask in most indoor settings.

Until June 15, when California plans to fully reopen the economy, California will keep our existing guidance around masks in place.  
For now, even if you’ve been fully vaccinated, you should still take steps to protect yourself and others in many situations, like wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing, and avoiding crowds and poorly-ventilated spaces. Take these precautions whenever you are:
  • In public
  • Gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household
  • Visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk.

The California Department of Public Health issued the following statement in response to the announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update masking guidance for fully vaccinated Americans.
“We have reviewed and support the CDC’s new masking recommendations and are working quickly to align California’s guidance with these common sense updates,” said State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón, Director of CDPH. “While more than 50% of Californians 16+ are partially or fully vaccinated, many others are still not vaccinated, and the threat of variants remains. We continue to urge all eligible Californians to get vaccinated to help us move past this pandemic.”
San Joaquin County Metrics
Substantial (Red) Tier
The Regional Stay at Home Order ended on January 25 based on projected hospital capacity, and California counties returned to their appropriate tier under the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
The current ICU availability for our Region is 22.8%. Adult ICUs in San Joaquin County are operating at 87% of licensed bed capacity (down from 112% last month) with 33 COVID-19-positive patients admitted for care. No patient deaths have been reported due to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. As of yesterday, our region's four-week ICU Capacity projection is 29.5%.
Projected capacity depends on four variables:

  1. Current estimated ICU capacity available
  2. Current community transmission
  3. Current regional case rates
  4. Proportion of cases admitted to the ICU

Stay up-to-date on current regional ICU capacity by visiting this website.

To view the most recent San Joaquin County COVID-19 hospitalization press release and related reports, please visit the San Joaquin County Emergency Medical Services Agency's website.
San Joaquin County Metrics
as of May 18, 2021
Other State orders remain in place and our current tier status is Red/Substantial.

As of May 18, 2021 our current case rate per 100,000 is 6.2 – down two points from our last update. Our positivity rate is 2.5% and health equity quartile positivity rate is 2.8%. We do not have any credit toward the Orange Tier yet and our metrics need to meet the Orange standards for two weeks in order to move into that tier. The earliest we could possibly be assigned to the Orange Tier, IF our county reduces our case rate to 2.0-5.9, is on June 1st, with it being effective the next day, June 2, 2021.
Curious to know which business sectors are currently operating? Visit the State's COVID-19 webpage to use their business activity search feature.

MOVING BEYOND THE BLUEPRINT

Governor Gavin Newsom outlined the State’s next step in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery on April 6th - moving beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

On June 15, California will fully open its economy (while continuing to require masking) if two criteria are met:
  1. IF vaccine supply is sufficient for Californians 16 years and older who wish to be inoculated; AND
  2. IF hospitalization rates are stable and low.

Everyday activities will be allowed and businesses can open with common-sense risk reduction measures, including encouraging all Californians to get vaccinated and mandating masking, to prevent illness and promote health. The State will continue contact tracing and testing to detect cases early and contain spread of the virus. The entire State will move into this new phase as a whole. The State will monitor hospitalization rates, vaccine access and vaccine efficacy against variants, with the option to revisit the June 15 date if needed.

All sectors listed in the current Blueprint for a Safer Economy grid may return to usual operations in compliance with Cal/OSHA requirements and with common-sense public health policies in place, such as required masking, testing and with vaccinations encouraged. Large-scale indoor events, such as conventions, will be allowed to occur with testing or vaccination verification requirements.


COVID-19 Vaccine Update
All Californians 12 years old or older are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. 12 to 17-year-olds who work or live in San Joaquin County must have a parent or legal guardian present at the time of appointment to provide consent. 

Over half of all eligible Californians have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 37.11% of our County’s population is fully vaccinated.  
If you are interested in being vaccinated, please check with your doctor, visit SJReady.org for a list of local vaccine providers and upcoming vaccine events, visit MyTurn.CA.gov, or call 2-1-1 for assistance.
Vaccination Events
Sutter Gould Medical Foundation COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

Sutter Gould Medical Foundation in partnership with San Joaquin County Public Health Services will be holding a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Friday, May 21st. For additional vaccine information, please visit www.sutterhealth.org.
San Joaquin County COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Hub

A daily mass vaccination site is being hosted at the Stockton Arena (248 W. Fremont Street). This site is will be open 7 days a week from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Appointments are required. Please visit myturn.ca.gov or call 1-833-422-4255 to schedule your appointment. The sign-up form can be accessed in 12 languages and translators will be available when you call.
Did you know? Californians can get the vaccine for free no matter what your immigration or citizenship status is! You should not be asked about your immigration or citizenship status when you get a COVID-19 vaccine.
For San Joaquin County COVID-19 vaccination info, visit myturn.ca.gov or call (833) 422-4255.
FREE BUS RIDES OFFERED TO TRACY COVID-19 VACCINATION SITES
The City of Tracy is providing free bus rides on TRACER Fixed Routes A, B, C, D, and paratransit service for passengers traveling to COVID-19 vaccination sites within Tracy city limits. Passengers will be asked to show proof of their vaccination appointment to ride for free, which can be printed or shown on a mobile device, or vaccination card.

For more information click here.
COVID-19 Case Numbers
As of May 19, 2021
COVID-19 Testing
Get Connected
This pandemic has brought about additional trauma for Californians young and old. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing. For some, it helps to share your story of healing and resilience. We’re all doing the best we can. Emotions may be unpredictable from moment to moment, but work through those thoughts with compassion and kindness - like you would for someone you love.
San Joaquin County
24/7 Crisis Hotline
209-468-8686

Outside S.J. County
888-468-9370

Consumer Support Warmline
209-468-3585

Dial 2-1-1 or visit 211sj.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Suicide Hotline
1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

Institute for Aging Friendship Line
1-800-971-0016

Veterans Crisis Line
1-800-273-8255
Lolly Hansen Senior Center Weekly Programming Schedule
Here is an updated weekly calendar with all of our current programming at the Lolly Hansen Senior Center. Feel free save this image so you always have the schedule with you. Please call the Senior Center at (209) 831-6240 or email tracyseniorcenter@cityoftracy.org if you have any questions.

*Calendar subject to change*
Social Bridging Project
The Social Bridging Project is the State of California’s public health and safety outreach campaign. By re-engineering tech and tools usually used for voter engagement, this project counters social distancing through direct phone calls to people at risk from COVID-19 and natural disasters. The callers, known as "Bridgers," connect the most vulnerable Californians with government resources, emergency alerts and other life-changing—and lifesaving—referrals. With every call, the Social Bridging Project assures Californians facing adversity: “You Are Not Alone.” Learn more here.
COVID-19 Rent Relief
If you’re an eligible landlord or renter who has been financially impacted by COVID-19, the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program may be able to help. Call 833-430-2122 or go to HousingIsKey.com or click here to check eligibility and apply for financial help.
COVID-19 Strategies Committee
The City's Economic Development Team continues to meet regularly with small business stakeholders as part of the COVID-19 Strategies Committee.
 
Actions to date include:
  • Completion of a small business survey.
  • Small business resources list sent to all Tracy businesses via a letter.
  • Webinars, newsletters, and social media updates on available financial support resources.
  • The Strategies Committee recently implemented a logo as part of the "Shop Tracy" Campaign. The campaign includes: 
  • The creation of an online business directory through the Chamber of Commerce website 
  • Printed window signage to support shopping local 
  • Digital and print advertising 

Business owners can obtain a free window decal by reaching out to Tracy City Center Association or the Tracy Chamber of Commerce
Small Business Relief Grant Update
The Small Business Relief Grant program has successfully deployed all available funds to 100 grant grant recipients in our community– equating to $500,000 in grant awards. The average awarded business has 4.65 employees and experienced a 54% revenue reduction in 2020

The City's Economic Development Team continues to meet on a weekly basis with small business stakeholders as part of the COVID-19 Strategies Committee, the “Support Tracy” shop local campaign is in full swing and business owners can obtain a free window decal by reaching out to TCCA or the Tracy Chamber of Commerce. 
Business Funding Opportunities, Resources, and Employment Assistance
City of Tracy GORequest App
We are confident that through our City of Tracy Economic Development Team’s proactive business outreach and our public education efforts in coordination with local public health officials, our Tracy residents and businesses will continue to help fight the spread of COVID-19 by voluntarily complying with the State’s Public Health orders. 

If someone in our community suspects the orders are not being complied with or has a question about them, they are encouraged to visit COVID19.ca.gov, SJReady.org, submit an inquiry via our GoRequest app or call (209) 831-6300. 
Inquiries and submissions will be reviewed by City staff to determine the appropriate response. In many cases, educating community members on the best ways to assure their safety and the safety of the community is all that is necessary. If voluntarily compliance is not achieved through these educational measures, then further investigation may be required.

It is our hope that by having the public share their concerns directly online, we can help keep our public safety dispatch lines open for emergencies and more efficiently address the concerns of those we serve.
Stay Informed
Stay informed by regularly checking the following websites and their social media accounts for the latest information, tips and guidance:

City of Tracy
333 Civic Center Plaza,
Tracy, CA 95376
www.cityoftracy.org
Follow Us