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Irvine City Council Newsletter
Special COVID-19 Resources and Information Edition March 2020
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For a complete list of measures in effect in the City of Irvine and for regular updates on this rapidly evolving situation, visit
http://cityofirvine.org.
Consult these additional resources for up-to-date COVID-19 information:
For Small Businesses:
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. Assistance is available up to $2 million with a loan interest rate of 3.75% for small businesses that have been impacted economically by COVID-19. For more information or to apply online visit
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Applicants may also call the customer service center at 800-659-2955 or email
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Completed applications can be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155
The Irvine Company has issued a statement regarding deferring rent for their retail companies. Starting on April 1, 2020 the Irvine Company will be deferring rent at retail properties for 90 days. Deferred rent will be paid back over a 12-month period with no interest commencing on January 1, 2021.
Unemployment Benefits (California):
Individuals who have had hours reduced or their employer has shut down have the option to file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim through EDD. UI will provide workers who have lost their jobs or have had their hours reduced with partial wage replacement benefit (applies only to those who have lost their employment or had hours reduced through no fault of their own). To learn more about UI or file a claim visit:
Link to EDD in Chinese HERE.
Individuals may also be eligible for UI benefits if their child's school has closed and they must miss work to care for them. Eligibility considerations include whether or not individuals have other care options and if you are unable to continue working normal hours remotely.
Disability Insurance (California):
Individuals who are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (must be certified by a medical professional), may file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim. DI provides short-term benefit payments that amount to approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income). For more information or to file a claim online visit:
https://www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/How_to_File_a_DI_Claim_in_SDI_Online.htm
COVID-19 Information for AD 68 Cities:
School information:
Community Colleges:
Universities:
Additional Support for Families/Communities (Locally):
Any households that may be financially impacted by COVID-19 and are concerned about paying for various utilities and other essential services should visit the following links for the latest updates:
Under California's anti-price gouging statute, it is illegal to raise the price of many consumer goods and services by more than 10% after an emergency has been declared. Report price gouging at 800-952-5225.
Report any COVID-19 related scams or fraudulent activities to the Orange County District Attorney at their Fraud Hot Line: 714-834-3482.
Please also see my blog posts related to COVID-19:
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Drive-Thru Farmer's Market at Orange County Great Park to Open Sunday!
I have worked with City of Irvine staff and the coordinator for the Great Park Farmer's Market to develop a Drive-Thru Farmer's Market for Sundays, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
I've always loved farmer's markets, and I'm glad I was able to help provide fresh food to our community when it's never been more important to eat right to stay healthy!
The Sunday Drive-Thru Farmer's Market at the Great Park allows for the market to be open during the COVID19 outbreak while maintaining social distancing in keeping with state and federal guidelines will continue until further notice.
At this time, there are approximately 23 vendors scheduled to participate with items varying from fruits and vegetables to hummus, bread, beef jerky, honey, and eggs.
A traffic safety plan has been developed with the assistance of Public Works & Transportation, Public Safety, and Community Services staff to facilitate anticipated traffic.
Some options from the first Drive-Thru Farmer's Market at the Great Park. Photo by Caroline Djang.
The Market will be staffed with four uniformed police officers in marked vehicles to assist in traffic flow and to ensure social distancing is adhered to. Community Services will also have three staff on-site beginning at 6 a.m. to facilitate the vendors or provide additional assistance as needed.
Admission is free. The Farmers Market is located in Lot No. 2; enter along Great Park Boulevard at Sand Canyon Avenue.
Last week, when we first opened the Drive-Thru Farmer's Market at Great Park, I arrived just before 10:00 a.m. and it took e about an hour to get through the line. Since then, City staff and I have discussed ways to try to improve on that time - now, to better facilitate traffic, vendors with packaged products such as kettle corn, bread, nuts and beef jerky will be at the beginning of the drive-through, and vendors with fresh vegetables will be in two lines at the end - but I would still expect to spend about an hour in line in your car.
We bought fresh vegetables, fruit, bread and terrific tamales last week - and we're looking forward to shopping there again this Sunday!
Here is some important information:
- Drive-thru only. No walk-ups or cyclists will be served.
- Exact cash is required, if using cash. Venmo and bank cards will be accepted.
- Purchase only what is needed, be considerate of others in need.
- Be patient and proceed slowly when waiting in traffic.
- Wash all produce before consumption.
The Great Park Certified Farmers Market is operated by Mary Ann Senske. For vendor details or other information, visit the market on
Facebook or
Instagram.
For questions or to request an application to be a vendor, contact her at 714-733-3167 or
ocgpfm@verizon.net
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California Governor Orders Halt in All Evictions Due to COVID19
The Order bans the evictions of renters over the nonpayment of rent through May 31.
It covers those who have lost work because of the pandemic, have become sick or have had to take care of family members with COVID19. Law enforcement and the court system also would be prohibited from executing evictions while the order is in effect. Renters are required to eventually pay all the rent they owe, and must notify their landlords in writing within seven days of their nonpayment.
In an earlier Executive Order, Governor Newcom had given authority to local governments to ban evictions due to COVID19 for 60 days. Many cities had exercised this power to halt evictions, including Anaheim and Costa Mesa in Orange County, as well as San Diego, Long Beach, San Jose, Los Angeles, Long Beach, El Monte, Fresno, San Francisco, Camarillo, Ojai, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and Santa Monica.
Now, renters in all California cities - including Irvine - are protected from eviction due to COVID19.
Thank you, Governor Newsom!
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Special Grocery Store Options and Hours for Seniors and People in Special Categories
Here are some grocery stores that now have special hours for seniors and others in special categories to shop during the coronavirus crisis. Thank you to each of these businesses!
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In response, our Police Chief stated that his department had no received reports of any such incidents in Irvine.
I am one hundred percent confident that Chief Hamel truthfully answered my question. However, I am not as certain that such incidents are not, in fact, occurring, but have not been reported to our local authorities.
Therefore, I want to encourage residents who have experienced discrimination, harassment, and bullying due to their perceived race, ethnicity, or national origin, to let me know. I will pass this information on to the proper officials and we will take appropriate actions.
I also want to assure Irvine residents that our Irvine Police Department and our City are committed to ensuring that every resident or visitor to Irvine feels welcome and respected, especially in this difficult time.
As Chief Hamel has
written, "One of the best things about Irvine is that we are dynamic and diverse. We are made up of people from cultures and countries all over the world, but this also means that various community groups may have specific and unique needs. We are here to do all we can to help address your needs. It doesn't matter where you come from, your lifestyle, what language you speak or what religion you practice, we are your police department and we are here for you."
The number for the Irvine Police Department is 949-724-7000. In an emergency, call 911.
I can be reached at mefox@cityofirvine.org.
Some folks have called these attacks on people of Asian heritage a myth,
but they are real. Just as with the virus itself, head-in-the-sand denial will not help.
You can help by not using or justifying using racial, ethnic or national language in taking about the virus.
We're all in this together. The coronavirus doesn't discriminate. Neither should we.
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Melissa Fox
Irvine City Council
Staff and Commissioners
Allison Binder, Lead Council Executive Assistant
abinder@ci.irvine.ca.us
Jules Jech, Council Executive Assistant
Lauren Johnson Norris,
Community Services Commissioner
Dustin Nirschl,
Planning Commissioner
Roger Sievers,
Finance Commissioner
Kenneth Montgomery, Transportation Commissioner
Zhihai Li,
Children, Youth and Families Committee
Aarti Kaushal Chopra,
Childcare Committee
Juneu Kim,
Senior Council
Richard Cody Prince,
Green Ribbon Environmental Committee
Fred Judd,
Investment Advisory Committee (Chair)
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