City Reopens Certain Parks, Boat Ramps, and Amenities with Social Distancing Requirements
The City of Fort Lauderdale has reopened certain parks, marinas, boat ramps, and golf courses to help promote physical and mental health in the community. The parks and amenities listed on our website at bit.ly/35d14Id are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Passive recreation is permissible including bicycling, boating, running and walking (paths will be marked as one-way), singles-only pickleball and tennis games, and launching of single-rider canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. Park users are required to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) personal hygiene guidelines which include using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol; avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; avoiding close contact with people who are sick; maintaining six feet of distance between yourself and others; wearing a facial covering over mouth and nose if social distancing cannot be maintained; and staying home if you are sick. To read the full Declaration of Emergency Regulations, visit bit.ly/35dSQPX. To see the complete list of selected parks and amenities that have reopened, visit bit.ly/35d14Id.
City Offers Free Traffic Control Support for Distribution Events
The City of Fort Lauderdale is committed to helping our neighbors support one another during the COVID-19 crisis. To assist local community, faith-based, business, neighborhood, and non-profit organizations with food and emergency supply distributions, the City is offering traffic control support, at no charge, to help prevent traffic backups and facilitate a smooth, organized flow of vehicles during the event. Organizations hosting food or supply distribution events in need of traffic control are encouraged to complete a short online form at bit.ly/ftltrafficsupport or contact the 24-hour Neighbor Service Center at 954-828-8000. For more information, please contact Keith Farrell in the City’s Office of Neighbor Support at kfarrell@fortlauderdale.gov.
Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Launches Virtual Recreation Center
Fort Lauderdale understands the power of parks and recreation more than anyone. During this time of social distancing, the Parks and Recreation Department is providing virtual recreation opportunities for you and your families. Our Virtual Recreation Center offers free, fun, and educational activities and resources for all ages. Visit this page often or follow us on our social media channels for a variety of free instructor-led classes, at-home activities, updates, and ideas to keep you and your loved ones healthy, entertained, and informed. For details, visit www.fortlauderdale.gov/recreation.
City Launches New Webpage Featuring Community Resources
The City of Fort Lauderdale cares about the safety and well-being of its neighbors and is particularly focused on connecting them with resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. To that end, the City’s Neighbor Services Division has launched a new COVID-19 Community Resources page to help neighbors navigate this challenging time. The page features easily accessible information on a variety of topics including healthcare, childcare, education, elderly support, food distribution, housing, assistance programs and more. To access the webpage, please visit bit.ly/ftlcovid19commres.
Broward County Reopens Selected Parks and Facilities
Broward County has reopened golf courses, boat ramps, marinas, pools in multifamily developments, and a limited number of parks. All of the openings come with specific restrictions including limited hours, usage guidelines, maintaining social distancing, and other regulations to limit interaction. Broward County’s beaches and non-essential businesses will remain closed. For more details, visit www.broward.org.
Broward Schools Offers New Social and Emotional Learning Resources
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is partnering with Rethink Ed, a comprehensive K-12 online platform that provides opportunities for students, teachers, administrators and parents, to access on-demand videos and resources to assist with managing mental health and wellness. The resources are being provided to address the heightened levels of fear, anxiety and stress that have emerged in students and parents as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. BCPS educators and students can access Rethink Ed resources from their Clever launchpad at sso.browardschools.com by clicking on the Rethink Ed tile in the Request Center to find the app. The resources can be directly accessed by parents and students at bit.ly/3bUSGzi.
Chamber Podcast Features Update from FPL
Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dan Lindblade had an opportunity to speak with Past Chamber Chair Juliet Roulhac, Director of Corporate External Affairs for FPL Connect, as part of the Chamber’s Podcast Series for Business. The podcast covers numerous topics related to FPL’s response to COVID-19 including how the company is assisting customers during the crisis, measures being taken to keep its employees safe, initiatives to help communities in need, and details about an upcoming discount that customers will see in May. To listen to the podcast, visit bit.ly/2y4t1po.
Florida Poison Control Hotline 1-800-222-1222
Florida Poison Control offers immediate assistance through a nationwide, toll-free hotline, 1-800-222-1222, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Calls are answered by specially trained physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, toxicology fellows, and board-certified toxicologists who have immediate access to the latest, in-depth poison assessment and prevention techniques. The Poison Control Centers remind everyone, particularly children, that while many household cleaning products may look good enough to eat or taste, they should never be consumed. In case of exposure to cleaning products or disinfectants, call the Poison Control Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. For more information, visit floridapoisoncontrol.org.
211 Broward Checking on Elderly Through Senior Touchline
211 Broward is a free, confidential helpline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week that provides trained specialists who are available to speak directly with callers, assess current circumstances, de-escalate crisis situations, and provide valuable linkage to available community resources. Through a grant from the Jim Moran Foundation, the agency continues to operate the Senior Touchline program, a service that enables 211 Broward representatives to place calls to senior citizens to check on them during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you know of a senior, 60 years of age or older and living alone that would like a daily reassurance call, please contact Rafael Vazquez at 954-640-5800.
Broward Center Offers Online Arts and Education
Stay connected with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts through the organization’s new online series of performing arts classes and content. Selections include 20-minute singing, acting, dance, or improv classes; live chats with special guests and Broadway professionals; sing-alongs with Artist-in-Residence, Tammy Holder; performances by students from the Broward Center’s Spotlights class; and more, all from the comfort of your own home. For more details and a complete schedule of offerings, visit www.browardcenter.org/education/educationathome.
Broward Cultural Division Launches Broward Arts Relief Fund
The Broward Cultural Division has launched the Broward Arts Relief Fund, a grant program to provide financial assistance to Broward-based non-profit cultural organizations that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible organizations may apply for one-time grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to support arts activities that preserve jobs in Broward County’s arts community. The program’s $456,000 in funding comes from sale proceeds from the Florida Arts License Plate Program. Applications are currently available by visiting bit.ly/2yym1B7. Eligibility is limited to Broward-based arts and cultural non-profit organizations that have received general operating support from the Cultural Division during the 2020 fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2019 – Sept. 30, 2020). The application deadline is May 15. For more information or to apply online, visit bit.ly/2yym1B7.
Business and Employee Assistance Programs
The City of Fort Lauderdale is sensitive to the stress and financial impact our businesses and their employees are experiencing as a result of COVID-19. For more information about programs and resources designed to assist businesses, employees, and the general public during this challenging time, please visit bit.ly/2U2qwfw.
SBA South Florida District Hosting Small Business Recovery Webinars
The federal government has approved an additional $320 billion for the Payroll Protection Program (PPP). The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has resumed accepting PPP loan applications from approved lenders on behalf of any eligible borrower. For a guide to help with an application, visit bit.ly/2y34UHP. In addition, the SBA South Florida District Office is hosting a series of Small Business Recovery webinars to help small businesses with economic recovery from the effects of COVID-19. Participants may join the conference 10 minutes prior to its starting time. The free webinars are limited to the first 500 callers, unless otherwise noted. The upcoming schedule is as follows:
SBA Disaster Loan Virtual Office Hours
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) South Florida District Office will host virtual office hours Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. to answer questions about the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. The service is limited to 250 callers at one time. Participants may call at any time and are welcome to enter and exit at will. Callers will be muted upon entry and will be taken in the order they are received. To connect via phone, call: (202) 765-1264; Conference ID: 143765659
To connect via Skype at: https://meet.lync.com/sba123/jfhein/DRJCSWGT
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau Launches “Eat Local” Campaign
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, restaurants are currently limited to offering delivery and takeout service. To support them and to offer a helpful resource to our community, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched “Eat Local,” a campaign that features a comprehensive list of local restaurants offering takeout, drive-thru, curbside and delivery services that residents and visitors can use while practicing social distancing. To access the listing, which includes details about menus, hours, and more, visit bit.ly/34NtAzQ or check out the @VisitLauderdale social media channels. Restaurants may sign up to be added to the “Eat Local” listing for free at bit.ly/3eu2e6p.
Complete the Census!
It has never been easier to respond to the Census on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker. It’s something everyone can do while practicing social distancing at home to make a difference today, tomorrow, and for the next 10 years. Counting every neighbor helps determine how much of the $1.5 trillion in federal funding the city, county, and state receive for schools, roads, infrastructure, and public services and programs. An accurate census count also provides funding for hospitals and health centers, disaster recovery, vital health services, and emergency readiness for pandemics like COVID-19. Help Fort Lauderdale get its fair share of the funding. Complete your census at my2020census.gov or call 1-844-330-2020.
U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Offering Business Assistance
The U.S. Conference of Mayors Small Business and Entrepreneurship Task Forceis pleased to announce that individual business assistance is now available at no cost to small business owners. Small business owners impacted by the economic consequences of the pandemic can call 855-876-5561 to receive one-on-one help. Owners will be connected with experts who can assist them in developing strategies for their businesses, including personnel management, operations, and liquidity. Additionally, specialists will help owners navigate funding options at the federal, state, and local levels. For more details, visit bit.ly/2Vhvqoo.
Report Price Gouging to 1-866-966-7226
During the COVID-19 outbreak, neighbors are reminded to be on the lookout for scams and guard against price gouging. For a list of items covered under the state’s price gouging laws during the COVID-19 state of emergency, visit bit.ly/2wAxiA4. Individuals who have experienced price gouging or scams related to COVID-19 can report them by calling Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline toll-free at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226). Complaints may also be submitted online at www.myfloridalegal.com. Violators of the price gouging law are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period. For more information on price gouging, visit bit.ly/2K2pWsi.
NSU Art Museum Offers Free Virtual Tours and Educational Resources
The NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale is bringing the museum to you with the following free virtual tours and educational resources. To learn more, visit nsuartmuseum.org.
- Virtual tours of the exhibitions Happy!, which explores the full range of human emotion in contemporary art, and I Paint My Reality: Surrealism in Latin America that offer 360 views of the galleries and art on view. To take a virtual tour, visit bit.ly/34rctnf.
- In the Artist’s Studioconsists of virtual studio visits featuring artists in the museum’s current exhibitions including Emilio Martinez, José Bedia, and Demi. Visit with the artists at bit.ly/2RvGrkR.
- Video Channel features talks by artists, curators and historians along with features on museum events like the recent Rob Pruitt Flea Market in which local artists were invited to participate in this socially engaging art activation. Check out the video channel at bit.ly/2RvGrkR.
Please Dispose of Used Gloves and Face Coverings Properly
As more and more people wear gloves and face coverings in public to protect themselves and help slow the spread of COVID-19, it is important to remember to properly dispose of these items after use. Gloves and face coverings should never be left on the ground, on sidewalks, in streets, or in parking lots. These items may be contaminated and could potentially pose a risk to workers who have to pick them up. In addition, used masks and gloves are not biodegradable or recyclable. Those discarded on streets and sidewalks can easily make their way into our stormdrain system, potentially causing drainage problems and polluting our oceans and waterways. Please be respectful of others, particularly during this challenging time, and dispose of these items properly. To view CDC guidelines on how to protect yourself and others, visit bit.ly/3acut6g.
Online City Services
Neighbors are encouraged to utilize Fort Lauderdale’s online services to conduct business. Please visit the Lauderserv page on the City’s website at www.fortlauderdale.gov/lauderserv for information about a variety of online services including utility billing, parking and transportation, code compliance, building permits, human resources, and more.
City Sanitation, Yard Waste, Recycling, and Bulk Trash Services
All City sanitation collection services, including residential trash collection, yard waste, recycling, and bulk trash, will continue to operate on their regular collection schedules.
Water and Wastewater Services
Water and wastewater services are not affected by the coronavirus outbreak. These essential services will continue without interruption. During this challenging situation, as people are spending more time at home, please help us prevent sanitary sewer overflows.
Help Prevent Sanitary Sewer Overflows
Neighbors can do their part to help prevent sewer overflows. Never flush the following items down the toilet: tampons and other feminine hygiene products; baby wipes, wet wipes and cleaning pads; dental floss; swabs and cotton balls; diapers; paper towels and tissues; hair; cigarette butts; condoms; and kitty litter. When flushed down the toilet, these items bind together and may cause sewage backups in homes, manhole overflows, and failures at sewage pumping stations. In addition, never pour cooking oils down the drain. Instead, pour the oils into old cans, milk containers or other packages and dispose of them in the black garbage cart. To report a sewer overflow, please contact the City’s 24-Hour Neighbor Call Center at 954-828-8000 or online at www.fortlauderdale.gov/lauderserv. For more details on preventing sanitary sewer overflows, visit bit.ly/33u6xJD.
Utility Billing
Utility billing staff will be available by phone at 954-828-5150 during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Neighbors can call utility billing to ask questions, open a new utility account, or make a payment. Utility billing payments may also be made online at www.fortlauderdale.gov/utilitybillingand at the drive-thru kiosk on the east side of City Hall, which is located at 100 North Andrews Avenue.
For Additional Information
For additional information regarding Coronavirus, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended protective measures, please visit:
Ways to Stay in Touch
The City of Fort Lauderdale offers numerous ways for neighbors to receive important information and updates:
- Monitor the City website at www.fortlauderdale.gov
- Register for CodeRED alerts
- If you live in Fort Lauderdale, join NextDoor
- Follow us on Twitter @FTLCityNews
- Like us on Facebook @CityofFortLauderdale
- Get E-news delivered to your inbox
- Download the Lauderserv App on your smartphone or tablet
- Contact our 24-hour Customer Service Center at 954-828-8000
Be the first to comment