At a special session last week, the California Board of Aldermen voted to suspend utility shutoffs until next month and restrict access to City Hall and other city buildings in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The City Council agreed there will be no utility shutoffs until April 20, unless the Council agrees to change that date anytime between now and then. Payments may be made online at cityofcalifornia.net, left in the drop box, or made by phone at 573-796-2500 or 573-796-4753 - the Council agreed to waive any fees accumulated via paying over the phone for the time being.
City Hall and other city buildings began opening with restricted public access this week, with phone numbers posted at exterior doors for individuals to call for assistance. City Hall's front doors are locked - members of the public in need of assistance are asked to go to the California Police Department door at the backside of the building, where there is now a Ring Doorbell Camera installed.
In the event a city employee contracts COVID-19, the Council also agreed to guidelines for leave and pay for city employees if self-quarantining is deemed necessary.
The Council also made some decisions regarding specific city departments in line with the spread of COVID-19 in the county. The citywide spring cleanup originally scheduled for April 6-8 has been postponed and may be rescheduled for a later date. Regular trash service will continue, but the city asks that all loose items be placed in sealed bags.
City parks will remain open to the public, though the council agreed park-goers should be encouraged not to congregate in large groups and to take necessary precautions to limit contact with others. The restroom on the north side of Proctor Park will open as usual starting April 1, but all other restrooms will remain closed until further notice. The California City Pool will likewise remain closed to the public until it is deemed safe to re-open.
The City of California's Parks & Rec programs will also see some immediate changes. Spring flag football will be canceled, with refunds issued to all registrants who have paid already, and the summer baseball/softball/tee ball programs will be postponed to an early June start date. Registration will open again online for those who missed the previous registration deadline. The currently-suspended volleyball program will also remain on hold.