May 5, 2020 (Moscow, Idaho) -- The City of Moscow is moving to reopen in-person services according to Governor Brad Little's Stay Healthy Order and Idaho Rebounds Plan, which went into effect on May 1, 2020.
Many City services have been modified to meet the requirements of the Governor's previous Stay Home Orders and Mayor Bill Lambert's Public Health Emergency Orders, which have now been terminated. Examples include closure of City buildings, playgrounds and suspension of recreational programs.
In a phased approach to reopening, similar to the Governor's Stay Healthy Order, in-person access to some limited public services will be open beginning Wednesday, May 6. Facilities that are reopening will follow specific social distancing and sanitization requirements as outlined in the Idaho Rebounds Plan guidelines and the Stay Healthy Order.
Facilities that will resume in-person service for the public include:
- City Hall, 206 E Third Street
- Administration
- Human Resources
- Community Events
- Arts
- Finance - Utility Billing
- Police Department, 118 E 4th Street
Visitors will be required to wear masks as appropriate when visiting City facilities. Disposable single-use masks will be provided at all open facilities for those visitors who do not have a mask.
Measures the City has adopted for opening in-person services as outlined in the Idaho Rebounds Plan guidelines have been implemented and include the following:
Social Distancing - Maintain the six-foot physical distancing requirements for employees and customers.
- Facilities that can conduct business without in-person interactions will continue to do so.
- Floor stickers to be applied in public areas to provide reminders for social distancing
- Facilities unable to provide space for more than one person and meet 6 feet minimum allow only one person in the facility at a time.
Enhanced Sanitation/Hygiene Practices - Provide adequate sanitation and personal hygiene for employees, vendors, and patrons.
- Hand sanitizer stations in place throughout offices.
- Ensure frequent disinfection of the facility as well as regular cleaning, especially of high-touch surfaces
- Disinfectant wipes or spray and paper towels to be kept at every work station.
- Stations are to be wiped down upon employee's arrival, departure, and after every interaction with another customer or employee.
Personal Protective Equipment/Mask Protocols - Personal use items such as masks, face coverings, and gloves may be required to be used by employees, customers and visitors. The City has provided cloth masks to all City employees.
- Masks are required to be worn at any time employees are working with customers or anticipate working with customers.
- Masks are required to be worn in office settings when the six-foot social distance between customers and/or coworkers cannot be maintained. This includes vehicles.
- In public places, masks are to be worn when social distancing cannot be maintained and when close to other employees or working in crews.
- Visitors will be required to wear masks as appropriate when visiting City facilities. Disposable single-use masks will be provided at all open facilities for those visitors who do not have a mask.
Limit Interactions When Possible - Provide services while limiting close interactions with customers.
- Plexiglass partitions have been installed at all customer service counters.
- Online options and drop boxes are to be used where possible for applications, payment, etc.
Restrict Non-Essential Business Travel - All non-essential business travel has been suspended.
Maintain a Healthy Workplace - Strategies have been identified for addressing ill employees, which include requiring COVID-19 positive employees to stay at home while infectious, and include keeping employees who were directly exposed to a COVID-19 positive employee away from the workplace, and the closure of the facility until the location can be properly disinfected.
- The guidelines for employees who are sick are outlined in the City's Sick Leave Personnel Policy. It is the general philosophy of the City that employees who are ill have primary responsibility to stay home if they are sick. Supervisors are required to work with their employees in enforcing this philosophy for the safety of the individual who is ill, fellow employees, and the public.
- If other practices are identified as appropriate for specific types of situations, such as screening of employees for illness and exposures upon work entry, requiring non-cash transactions, etc.
Services that are still available, but public access will remain closed due to limitations on the ability to maintain social distance mandates will continue to be accessible via the web, email and phone include:
- City Hall - Legal Office
- Paul Mann Building - Building Safety & Planning
- Water Office Building
- City Council meetings will continue to be conducted remotely
- City Commissions will not meet during May, with some exceptions for Board of Adjustment, Planning & Zoning, and Tree Commission when conducting land-use and/or quasi-judicial functions
Public facilities and services that will remain closed until Phase 2 of the Idaho Rebounds Plan guidelines, tentatively scheduled for May 16 include:
- Hamilton Indoor Recreation Center
- Eggan Youth Center
- Playgrounds
- Restrooms at Playgrounds
- Advisory Commission Meetings
As additional services are reviewed, and plans are made to reopen in-person services under the Idaho Rebounds Plan guidelines, additional information will be shared with the public via press releases, social media, and the City's website at www.ci.moscow.id.us.
###
Story Contact: Gary J. Riedner, City Supervisor
Phone: 208-883-7006
Email: griedner@ci.moscow.id.us
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
