All SLO County libraries closed as government offices limit in-person contacts
UPDATE: All San Luis Obispo County library branches have closed until further notice.
“Our digital library collection remains available for your convenience 24/7,” the county’s system noted. “If you would like up-to-date information on the local response to COVID-19 please check www.readyslo.org.”
UPDATE: Some branches of the SLO County library are closing, according to county officials.
Those include Cayucos Library, Morro Bay Library, Oceano Library and Shell Beach Library.
Library officials cite the temporary closures of those branches due to staffing issues.
A note on the San Luis Obispo library door posted Wednesday also said the library is closed due to coronavirus prevention.
“Until further notice, all libraries in the Black Gold Cooperative Library System will not be able to fill holds on any item,” the library noted on its website. “Please contact your local library for more information.”
UPDATE: Paso Robles city offices are closing to in-person transactions in response to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, including City Hall, the Public Safety Center, the Police Department, and the Public Safety Center.
Staff is available via telephone, email and by appointment if needed, city officials said.
“The telephone located immediately on the outside of the Public Safety Center at 900 Park Street is available to connect to police dispatch,” city officials said.
Fire and emergency services personnel will continue responding to emergency calls for service.
“Public access to fire stations, including station tours and ride-alongs, have been canceled,” the city noted. “If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.”
Administrative inquiries can be made by calling (805) 227-7560.
Paso Robles library offices will close immediately to the public.
“Staff will be available from 10-5 p.m. for telephone reference and account services by calling 805-237-3870,” Paso Robles officials said. “Online digital collections are available 24/7 via the library website: www.prcity.com/library.”
ORIGINAL STORY: Coronavirus measures are affecting the operations of several government agencies in San Luis Obispo County, including police, administration and recreation services.
While some offices and programs are closing or limiting public access — while taking calls and emails — others remain open.
All local government agencies are continuing to provide essential services such as water, wastewater, fire and police functions, local agency officials say.
And the county’s library system remains open for the time being, while encouraging the public to use digital library tools.
But many non-essential services such as recreational programs are being shut down to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
SLO city facilities temporarily closing
The city of San Luis Obispo announced over the weekend that it’s closing several of its facilities, as of Monday, while keeping services open through phone lines and email.
The temporary measure will last through the end of the month, or “or until such time that appropriate measures are in place to ensure public health and safety.”
Those include City Hall, Community Development, Parking, Fire, and Police departments.
City facilities such as the Senior Center, Ludwick Community Center and the Jack House are closed, but the SLO Swim Center and Laguna Lake Golf Course are open.
For more information, go to www.slocity.org/services/public-safety/covid-19.
City Hall will open at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday for the scheduled City Council meeting. But there will be limited capacity for public attendance due to social distancing.
“Community members are strongly encouraged to watch City Council meetings live on cable channel 20 or on the city’s website at www.slocity.org/channel20,” the city stated.
The public can also submit public comment for meetings in advance by emailing the address: emailcouncil@slocity.org.
All advisory body meetings have been postponed for the week of March 16.
San Luis Obispo also is joining the county and other cities in ordering the temporary restriction of alcohol sales at “on-site alcohol-serving establishments” effective at 5 p.m. Monday until 12:01 p.m. on Wednesday for the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.
SLO transit continues and the city’s bus system has enhanced its cleaning efforts to include disinfecting vehicles every 24 hours and individual spot cleaning during daily routes.
“The cleaning agents used in this effort are deemed effective for these purposes and approved by the FDA to kill viruses like COVID-19,” the city announced. “...Passengers are strongly encouraged to take only necessary trips and pursue alternatives to public transit if they are sick.”
Paso Robles and Atascadero
Paso Robles has issued a notice stating that all essential services are continuing, and “all facilities other than the Senior Center are remaining open, with regular hours being sustained.”
The Paso Robles City Council and advisory bodies will meet. But the public is encouraged to practice social distancing in observing meetings.
City Council and Planning Commission meetings will be live-streamed and available to play later on YouTube.
Residents can call 888-867-1694 and will be able to provide public comment via phone.
Additionally, effective immediately, the Paso Robles Police Department will implement limited in-person contact with the public.
Until the spread of COVID-19 has eased, officers will handle non-emergency calls for service by phone, or community members can file non-emergency reports via the Department’s online reporting system.
“There have been no changes to our staffing,” the city noted. “Officers will still be deployed at maximum levels and respond to emergency calls for service. ... Officers will continue to gather evidence from serious crime scenes and make arrests as needed.”
Paso Robles’ city library is open with the the Library Study Center closed through April 13, in conjunction with the the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District.
The city of Atascadero is offering limited public access with the main lobby closed to the public.
“You can contact all city offices, by phone,” the city noted. “A phone will be provided in the City Hall foyer.”
Several city service offices will be closed to public access as well, including the fire and police stations (which will take calls) and the Colony Park Community Center in Atascadero.
Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach and Grover Beach
Arroyo Grande’s city administrative offices have closed until further notice, including City Hall, City Council Chambers, Public Works Department and Corporation Yard, Recreation Services Department, Police Department, and Five Cities Fire Authority Headquarters.
“In order to further reduce the risk of community spread of COVID-19, the city of Arroyo Grande is announcing temporary and precautionary changes to public access to some city facilities and operations,” the city wrote on its website. “Although facilities will be temporarily closed to walk-in services, the city will continue to provide all essential services and will conduct most non-essential business by phone, email and online services that limit person-to-person contact.”
The city also issued a notice that “all Arroyo Grande recreation facilities, classes and programs are closed until further notice.”
Grover Beach and Pismo city offices were open Monday, but officials requested any public communication be done remotely or by email.
In Grover Beach, the police station and fire station are closed, and all facility rentals are canceled.
In Pismo Beach, the Bello St Veterans’ Hall and Shell Beach Veterans’ Hall are closed.
Morro Bay
Morro Bay canceled its planned Planning Commission meeting Tuesday due to concerns with the spread of coronavirus.
The city has declared a local emergency that will allow it to access state and federal funds should they be made available.
The city has closed Morro Bay Community Center and canceled all recreation classes and senior activities, with the exception of food services for seniors.
“Those who receive food through delivery will continue to receive it,” said Scott Collins, the city manager.
Permit and planning services are being coordinated by e-mail. People can still come to City Hall for payment and inquiries, and the Fire Department is open as well because people come in with health issues, and other emergency needs.
“We’re practicing social distancing, and our employees who can are telecommuting,” Collins said. “The city has a role in providing good, credible and up-to-date information.”
Collins said this “is what we need to do,” despite the strain on operations.
“We’re hopeful the virus will be killed off by summer, but we know this will be a hit on the city’s business community and finances,” Collins. “We’ll be mindful of our expenses, but we won’t spare expense to keep our community safe (using reserve funds).”
The city’s annual garage sale, which had been set for the first weekend in April, will be moved to May 29-31, and the Kite Festival, Easter events and others also may be postponed.
SLO County
All SLO County government offices remain open for business, said Whitney Szentesi, the county’s spokeswoman.
But the county urges transactions over the phone and using websites whenever possible “to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
“If these approaches will not work for specific problems citizens are encountering, they are encouraged to phone the office and make an appointment before coming to county facilities,” Szentesi stated. “This will help alleviate frustration and potentially long wait times.”
Citizens who show up at county facilities showing clear signs of illness may be asked to leave the premises.
“We are all in this together and appreciate the public’s patience and understanding at this time,” Szentesi said.
SLO County library facilities remain open with a notice that all programs and meetings at the libraries have been canceled or postponed until March 31.
“All libraries will remain open normal business hours and all other services will be available,” the library said.
The library’s digital collection remains available for public convenience 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Also, the SLO County Air Pollution Control District is limiting person-to-person contact and will close the office to walk-ins.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 4:27 PM.
%20Cropped.jpg)