Wehoans - in an effort to flatten the curve... here's the latest on the City of West Hollywood's response to COVID-19.
The Latest:
Today, April 9, 2020, our City Manager, Paul Arevalo, issued an Executive Order implementing the following:
- All City Parks and Dogs Parks are closed to the public.
- Construction Sites shall abide by the following requirements or may be issued a stop work order:
- Handwashing facilities or hand sanitizer shall be installed at entrances to construction projects (unless the work is being conducted in an occupied building with operable restrooms in which case sinks are available for handwashing).
- Shared tools and equipment shall be regularly sanitized.
- Signage shall be posted at entrances to construction projects or common areas where work is occurring in an occupied building to instruct workers of social distancing and sanitation requirements, and workers who are sick or exhibit symptoms of being ill or those in recent close contact with someone exposed to COVID-19 shall not be present on the work site. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health standards for social distancing shall apply.
- Face coverings shall be worn by all persons present at the construction site, and when necessary, OSHA regulations for personal protective equipment for the activity being performed shall be followed.
- Workers shall not gather in groups larger than three during breaks and shall maintain a six-foot social distance during such breaks.
- “Choke points” and “high-risk areas” shall be identified where workers are forced to stand together, such as hallways, hoists and elevators, break areas, and buses, and they shall be controlled so social distancing is maintained, to the extent practicable.
- Interactions when picking up or delivering equipment or materials shall be minimized to allow social distancing.
- The trades shall be staggered as necessary to reduce density and maintain social distancing.
- Non-essential retail businesses that have supply of goods that are needed to slow the spread of the virus (e.g. face coverings, hand sanitizers, sanitizing wipes) may conduct limited retail sidewalk sales of those goods through a revocable (no fee) encroachment permit.
- Window coverings to board up windows to secure a business during the closure are permitted, provided that the coverings are painted and secured either on the inside or outside of the window.
---
What else?
At our April 6, 2020 meeting, the City Council approved a number of measures to help community members, including additional emergency funding related to rental assistance, food and nutrition services, transportation services and business relief measures. Council actions also included the adoption of expanded residential tenant protections and protections for commercial tenants.
For Residential Tenants (Renters):
- The adoption of expanded residential tenant protections including: 1) a freeze on rent increases for units subject to the City’s full Rent Stabilization Ordinance during the moratorium and for 60 days following the end of the local emergency period; 2) extension of the eviction moratorium to May 31; 3) tenants who defer rental payments during the moratorium may offer an explanation of the financial impacts related to COVID-19 in lieu of supporting documentation; 4) in addition to nonpayment of rent, the City Council also added protections to tenants from eviction during the moratorium for having unauthorized occupants; 5) the repayment period for the rent deferred during the moratorium is expanded to a 12-month rent repayment period, which commences upon expiration of the local emergency; 6) landlord may not use the eviction process to recover the deferred rent during the repayment period; 7) landlords may not charge interest on the deferred rent or late fees. For more information as well as resources for renters, click here.
For Commercial Tenants:
- The adoption of additional protections for commercial tenants to ensure they cannot be evicted for nonpayment due to financial impacts related to COVID-19 during the approved moratorium: tenants must notify landlords within 30 days and provide documentation to support their claim of hardship within 90 days; landlords cannot charge late fees or interest for the deferred rent; commercial tenants will have a 6-month rent repayment period, which commences upon expiration of the local emergency. You can find more information as well as resources for businesses here.
---
COVID-19 Testing:
The City of West Hollywood will be added to the list of locations in Los Angeles County offering drive-up COVID-19 mobile testing sites effective Monday, April 13, 2020. For specific testing location information, please go to http://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing. Drive up mobile testing is available only to those who meet testing criteria. The City of West Hollywood will be providing logistical support to the drive-up mobile testing site.
There are current restrictions in place for those seeking to be tested, and you must book an appointment online. Tests were previously limited to those who would be most at risk for severe complications from COVID-19, or those who have been exposed to a confirmed case, but have now been expanded to all people exhibiting symptoms, or people who have been prevented from working because of contact with someone who has been infected. Priority will still be given to those with underlying health challenges or over 65.
---
Weho Says...
The City of West Hollywood is advising community members to follow Los Angeles County "Safer at Home" and California "State Stay at Home" orders.
- The City urges everyone to stay in place, maintain your space, and cover your face. Leave home only for essential needs, always use social distancing of at least six feet, and follow guidelines to use cloth face coverings such as bandanas or scarves (so that medical masks, which are in short supply, are prioritized for health professionals).
- West Hollywood City Hall is currently closed to the public and has suspended all in-person transactions.
- All public City buildings, playgrounds, and facilities are closed.
- City Hall will remain accessible for business and essential services with transactions to be conducted by phone (323) 848-6400 and via the City’s website at www.weho.org.
---
For updates on local (City of West Hollywood), County and State orders, please visit the City's website and check this page on a regular basis. If you're on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, please follow @wehocity for updates. If you can't find the information you need, you can call us at 323-848-6460, or email us at [email protected]
Thank you for doing your part to help flatten the curve. These are tough times but we'll get through it. And remember, we're all in this together!
Be well!
Be the first to comment
Sign in with