As more LA County schools’ re-open, we must keep protecting children from infection, especially those not eligible for vaccinations.
publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/
5/14/21
City Hall Scoop
South Pasadena News and Updates
As more LA County schools’ re-open, we must keep protecting children from infection, especially those not eligible for vaccinations.
publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/
5/14/21
For the past year, the library has asked donors to patiently hang on to their donations until a later date. That date is finally here! The Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library will accept donations of gently used books, CDs, and DVDs from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 22 at the South Pasadena Public Library Community Room (1115 El Centro).
Acceptance of regular donations will resume as of Monday, May 24. Small donations can be brought to the reference desk and larger donations can be dropped off at the loading area at the end of the driveway off of Fairview. Those with very large donations are advised to contact the Library in advance by calling 626-403-7340.
The first floor Last Chance Book Sale will be available starting May 17, when the Library begins its modified in-person services. The Friends Bookstore on the second floor of the Library is expected to begin offering hours sometime in June. Sign-up to receive email announcements from the library for updates.
Cathy Billings
Library Director
5/14/21
Need help getting to your vaccine appointment? Call the DPH vaccine hotline at 833-540-0473 or visit vaccinatelacounty.com.
5/13/21
You can’t fight a pandemic on an empty stomach. Nearly 1 in 3 residents has suffered an instance of food insecurity since the pandemic started.
That’s why LA County is mobilizing public agencies, nonprofits and volunteers to provide free meals to anyone in need during the COVID-19 crisis. Together we can support our most vulnerable communities.
To help out or find food resources near you, please visit covid19.lacounty.gov/food
5/13/21
City Council will now be accepting live public comment via Zoom beginning Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Participants will be able to “raise their hand” using the Zoom icon during the meeting, and they will have their mic un-muted during comment portions of the agenda to speak for up to 3 minutes per item. Written public comments may be submitted via email to ccpubliccomment@southpasadenaca.gov. There will no longer be a voicemail call-in option for public comment.
For closed session, public comment will be taken at the beginning of the meeting. The public will be released from the meeting so that the Council can convene closed session discussion of items allowed under Government Code. Any action taken in closed session will be reported by the City Attorney during the open session meeting immediately following. A separate Zoom webinar link will be provided for open session for the public to attend.
Speakers are invited to provide name (optional) and the agenda item about which you are commenting or, alternatively, to specify you are making a general public comment about an item NOT appearing on the agenda. Please visit the City Council agenda meeting page here for additional guidelines.
5/11/21
All three COVID-19 vaccines including the J&J vaccine have been shown to prevent illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Find a vaccination location near you at http://VaccinateLACounty.com
5/12/21
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, and virtual classrooms.
As of Wednesday, May 12, 2021, eligible households will be able to enroll in the program to receive a monthly discount off the cost of broadband service from an approved provider. Eligible households can enroll through an approved provider or by visiting GetEmergencyBroadband.org.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute $10 to $50 toward the purchase price.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
Check out the Broadband Benefit Consumer FAQ for more information about the benefit and please continue to check this page for program updates.
5/12/21
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month, and the South Pasadena Public Library has curated lists of ebook and eaudiobook titles by AAPI authors for teens and adults on OverDrive. Whenever possible, titles featuring AAPI characters as main protagonists were selected, such as Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko and Sandhya Menon’s When Dimple Met Rishi, and the collection represents various genres from fantasy to historical fiction.
Want to dive further? Use your South Pasadena Public Library card to access online databases! For those seeking to learn more about Asia, the Pacific Islands, and more, head to World Book Encyclopedia. For timely full text articles and research on AAPI and more, search on ProQuest eLibrary.
Cathy Billings
Library Director
5/12/21
This is to provide you the following revised document from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for:
Please visit their website for all of the protocols and guidance documents related to COVID-19, including information on the vaccine.
Thank you, from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
5/12/21
On Monday, May 17, the City will reopen certain City facilities in accordance with public health guidelines. The public may visit facilities to conduct business during specified business hours beginning that date, in accordance with established safety protocols. Face coverings and social distancing will be required. Virtual services will continue to be offered for convenience and appointments are still recommended to reduce wait times and ensure social distancing.
The City has implemented all possible steps to ensure a safe environment for both our employees and visitors. This includes workplace modifications to provide for appropriate social distancing, plexy glass barriers at public counters, and increased cleaning and disinfecting of facilities. In addition, employees have completed training on how to clean and disinfect their workspace before and after each shift, or as necessary, for the protection of employee and visitor health.
“We are very excited to open the doors to your facilities so that we can serve you in-person whenever possible,” said Interim City Manager Sean Joyce. Over the last few weeks, employees have phased back to the workplace as necessary to deliver services to the community, while maintaining safe operations. As we transition to full reopening between May 17 and June 1, employees will be on site during regular business hours. We encourage the public to continue to make appointments when visiting city facilities andfollow protocols posted prominently at each city facility per Los Angeles County Health Orders. Face masks and social distancing will be required at all times when inside the facility and sneeze guards have been installed where necessary for the safety of visitors and employees. Visitors may be asked to have their temperatures checked prior entering city facilities and be required to schedule appointments for in-person meetings with department staff to ensure that office capacity reductions are maintained in accordance with LA County Health requirements.
For your convenience, virtual services, such as online payments and meetings, will continue to be offered.
Also beginning May 17, the South Pasadena Public Library will welcome customers back into the library building with its “Library Abridged” modified in-person services. The popular Library Takeout no-contact borrowing service and Materials Matchmaker offering will continue during this transition as services are reintroduced. For more information about in-library services visit the library’s website at www.southpasadenaca.gov/libraryabridged or call 626-403-7350.
The Planning, Building and Public Works public counters will start in-person scheduled appointments beginning the week of May 31, but will continue to offer virtual appointments as well. Signs posted online at www.southpasadenaca.gov/government/departments/planning-and-building and in the City Hall courtyard will provide information on how to schedule meetings with staff.
The Senior Center will re-open on June 7 as it completes minor interior renovations. The limited reopening will allow for certain activities to resume at 25 to 50% capacity, depending on the activity. Staff anticipates additional guidance from the health department to be released shortly. The Senior Meals Program will continue to deliver meals through the end of June and begin in-person meal service on July 6.
The City is also taking measures to again conduct in-person City Council and Commission/committee meetings. Protocols are being developed and physical barriers are planned for installation for the safety of all. Live in-person council and commission meetings are expected to resume mid-June or early July.
The City will continue to monitor the evolving situation and follow guidance from public health officials.
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