“Zooming” It In***
The ‘novel’ corona virus resulted in a novel approach to conducting the April 2 Palm Beach Gardens City Council meeting. While most in-person meetings were cancelled in the City, the council meeting was going to be held in the council chambers with minimum representation and adequate social distancing. Council members Mark Marciano, out-going Matthew Lane, Rachelle Litt and in-coming Chelsea Reed participated remotely. Council members Maria Marino and Carl Woods were in the chambers, along with City Manager Ferris, and minimal staff. The Council was mostly visible on the livestream screen, along with presentation materials as needed, and the meeting proceeded fairly smoothly.
April 2Congratulations to new Mayor Carl Woods, Vice Mayor Maria Marino, Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Rachelle Litt and new Council Member Chelsea Reed! See the Palm Beach Post article for more information on the selection of the Mayor and Vice-Mayor and the meeting.
Public Comment was made via email and read by Mayor Woods:
- Marsha Thrower – urged the City to issue a Stay At Home order and to close all non-essential businesses
- Former Mayor Marcie Tinsley – wished every well, thanked Matthew Lane for his service to the City and welcomed Chelsea Reed
City Manager Ferris described the adjustment to City Operations – schedules and staffing, summarized in his status report which can be read here. He also thanked all the first-responders as the heroes in these unusual times and that we all owe a lot to them. He also thanked all the other employees who have been making everything work despite the limitations. The City has reached out to Gardens and Jupiter hospitals who have adequate supplies.
Consent Agenda passed 5:0. Council Member Reed asked that Resolution 11 be pulled – regarding future sidewalk and bike-path on Kyoto Gardens Drive – giving kudos to staff for their application to TPA and for furthering the City’s mobility plan. Council Member Litt asked that Resolution 29 be pulled to have City Manager Ferris or City Attorney Lohman explain the purpose of the Resolution. It would allow the City Manager to have the authority to continue the Covid-19 Emergency status as long as necessary, rather than needing council approval every seven days. Both pulled items also passed 5:0.
Both Ordinance 4, 2020 first reading regarding updating land-use regulations to be consistent with recent state legislation, and Resolution 23, 2020 regarding Nuvo Business Center at the Gardens, passed 5:0 with minimal comment.
The Council then segued to external board and committee appointments, after which a discussion ensued regarding how to better inform the Public about Covid-19 related issues. Most on the Council were getting questions from the Public – unrelated to the operations of the City and described their attempts to communicate with current information. When it seemed that they were going to assign the task of dealing with the issue to the City Manager – he pushed back. His job was to run the city, and he recognized that people were frustrated and scared about all kinds of things related to Covid-19. He is not a physician, nor should the City be trying to get information on the location of affected patients, nor where is toilet paper. The information on those kinds of issues are on tv, the radio, on the internet and social media. He said that he gives the Council all the information he has and it’s their role to use what communications media they have to respond to their constituents. Mayor Woods agreed, as did the Council, to continue to direct the public to the information they did have.
The business of the city goes on and all should be commended for their flexibility and patience during these unusual times.
(*** we have not confirmed that the City used Zoom for the City Council Meeting yet – but will update this comment if we’re able to find out which application was actually used)
Martino: Message to Small PBG Business Owners
If you are a small business owner that has been ordered by the government to shut your doors because of the Covid-19 virus pandemic, there is a glimmer of hope for you. The President and the United States Congress, your Federal government, wants you to remain in business with your employees intact. They realize that it is the small businesses around our country that help to provide fuel that drives the engines of our great American economy. Our Federal, State, and Local governments understand that nearly 70% of the American work force is employed by small businesses. Through no fault of their own, these small businesses have been severely and dangerously disrupted by the Covid-19 virus.
The President and the United States Congress recently passed into law the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Using $350,000,000 of those funds, they created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP orders the Small Business Administration (SBA) to loan monies from these funds at extremely low interest rates. The Federal government wants the PPP monies disbursed quickly. If you meet the modest conditions of the loan the entire loan amount may be forgiven.
Conditions and qualifications to receive a PPP loan for your business are minimal with little to no red tape. However, this is a no frills loan. It must be used to underwrite normal business operations, such as, payroll for you and your employees, money for rent, mortgage obligations, utilities and other debt obligations you may have. Starting Friday, April 3rd, these monies will be available for small business owners with 500 employees or less. This can be an S Corp, C Corp, LLC, sole proprietorship or independent contractor.
If you are a small business owner who has worked 24/7 to build a viable and successful business, I urge you to investigate this loan opportunity. If it makes sense to help save your business, then take advantage of the SBA rescue money. It’s available at most FDIC banks, your bank or any local bank of your choosing. Bring the obvious business records with you. Click on the link more information on the Paycheck Protection Program .
I am sure that I share the same expressions of care and concerns of all Palm Beach Gardens residents for our stressed business community. We want our local businesses to be there when we once again can avail ourselves of their products and services. It is true; the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed our daily lives, temporarily. Normalcy will return. For our small businesses, please know that we anxiously wait to once again see your sign…
YES, WE ARE OPEN
Florida and PBC Stay-at-Home Orders
Governor DeSantis and County Administrator Verdenia Baker have issued executive orders to state and county residents requiring closure of certain facilities and stay-at-home requirements. Most community pool, clubhouse, tennis courts and other facilities are closed for the duration. Please read and understand what is in these orders:
Since new orders and status reports come out frequently – please check out the County’s site which lists both County and State orders and the City’s site which lists updates:
Stay safe!
Martino: Let’s Band Together To Defeat this Covid-19 Pandemic
Palm Beach Gardens Residents,
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has transformed our daily lives. Together with each other we must battle the local, as well as, nationwide effects of this virus. These are very demanding times with unprecedented circumstances. Here in Palm Beach Gardens we must collectively do our part with unselfish effort and a total City response to overcome this unparalleled challenge to our community and our country.
If we are to be successful in blunting the spread of COVID-19 it is imperative that we follow President Trump’s Coronavirus guidelines. If you are a Postal Customer you received a post card in the mail annunciating these guidelines. The best and the brightest public health officials, scientists, medical doctors and nurses from all over our country strongly recommend that each of us follow these guidelines. State and local authorities advocate with one voice for these guidelines. Our own City Council and Administration encourage us to adhere to them. As a former Mayor and City Council member I would respectfully request that each resident of the Gardens hold fast to them.
Another opportunity for each of us to do our part to help to defeat the spread of COVID-19 is to respect, support, be grateful for, pray for, and say thank you every day to our fearless front-line first responders to this contagion. With self-sacrifice, dedication, and determination our fire and police departments, our doctors and nurses, our hospital personnel, the grocery store workers, the truck and delivery drivers, and others are at the center of the battle protecting each of us from this life threatening scourge. At great sacrifice to their own families and themselves, these individuals, some our friends and neighbors, are putting their lives on the line for us while holding at bay and helping to defeat this pandemic.
Selfishness is not a weapon against this virus but accepting personal responsibility to one’s self, to one’s family, to one’s neighbors, and to one’s community is. There are a number of other personal weapons each of us can utilize to defeat this COVID-19 pandemic. Mitigation works, embrace it by practicing good hygiene. Wash your hands often, particularly after touching hard surfaces. Disinfect surfaces and used items frequently. Cover your coughs and sneezes. Stay away from crowds. Use social distancing as a show of respect and consideration for others. An old Roman proverb says “Home is where the heart is”, so if you feel sick, if you are a senior citizen with underlying health issues, stay home. If possible work from and study from home. Avoid large gatherings, avoid travel, avoid eating or drinking out – support our local restaurants by using pick-up and delivery options.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide. This pandemic has been called a “Health War”, an “Invisible War”, and a “World War”. It is an invisible enemy that has penetrated every country’s borders without bullets and missiles in unprecedented ways. In the USA, COVID-19 is attacking us and killing us with a highly contagious airborne and touch viral disease as its weapon. It is creating chaos within our local, state, and national health-care systems. The pandemic is forcing our work force to the unemployment lines while wreaking havoc with our economy.
To defeat this enemy Garden’s residents must join with all USA citizens in imposing our American will and ingenuity. Leadership must begin with each of us as individuals. Unity must be our watchword. Concern and compassion, care and consideration, help and assistance, tenacity and calmness, should guide our actions. We must all band together as one force with one collective purpose, the defeat of this COVID-19 pandemic.