City, Police and Fire News

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City, Police and Fire News

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County issues new omnibus public health order

(April 18, 2020) In our mission to serve, protect and respect our residents, employees and businesses, the County today enacted an omnibus COVID-19 health order that helps clarify items related to public safety directives.

Highlights of the new order include:

* Face coverings are not required for drivers traveling alone or with members of their households, unless they must lower their windows to interact with someone who is not a member of their household.

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Redlands Community Foundation launches Meals for Seniors program

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, many Redlands senior citizens continue to need assistance.

The Redlands Community Senior Center and Family Services are currently distributing 120 meal packages to seniors every Wednesday at the center.

But the needs of low-income seniors and those at high risk, unable to leave their homes, is growing.

To assist, the City of Redlands Senior Services Division has teamed with the Redlands Community Foundation to establish a “Meals for Seniors Fund.”

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City Council meeting rescheduled; closed to public

The Redlands City Council meeting, which was canceled April 7, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 15. Following public health recommendations to limit public gatherings during the Covid-19 pandemic, the meeting will be closed to the public.

The April 7 meeting, which was also closed to the public, was canceled after an earlier downtown power failure caused equipment failures at City Hall, including computer servers, phone lines and television broadcast equipment used to provide cable TV and livestream access to the public.

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County, partners provide more locations for drive-up COVID-19 testing

San Bernardino County residents who display symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, cough and shortness of breath can get tested at five upcoming specimen-collection events through the end of April. 

“We understand the high demand for COVID-19 testing in our county and we are making every effort to organize drive-through events throughout the county,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “We are working closely with state and federal partners and exploring all avenues to increase testing capacity, despite a nationwide challenge with shortage of supplies.”

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Parks and trails open to those within walking distance

In keeping with orders issued by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health on Tuesday, April 7, the City of Redlands has closed or restricted access to parking facilities at all City parks. Under the April 7 order “parking lots at all parks and/or trails shall be closed and shall be accessible only by members of the public within walking distance of the parks and/or trails.”

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City to join local churches honoring helpers during pandemic

Image includes graphics of first responders, health care workers and others and information for the Moment at 7 event

Mayor Paul Foster invites Redlands residents to join the City of Redlands and a host of local churches in a “Moment at 7,” honoring health care workers, first responders, grocery store employees and other helpers, beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 12, and continuing each Sunday at 7 p.m. through the end of May.

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Children’s Story Time goes virtual during coronavirus closure

While the A.K. Smiley Public Library building is closed to the public during the ongoing Covid 19 crisis, preschool children can still enjoy virtual Story Time every Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. on the library’s Young Readers Room Facebook page.

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Statement on RPD enforcement of public health orders requiring face coverings

During the current public health crisis, the Redlands Police Department continues to proactively patrol the City, protecting our residents and businesses, and to respond to calls for service and reports of crime. As always, we will prioritize calls for service based on call volume, available personnel and the severity of the call, with violent crimes, immediate threats and crimes in progress as our top priority.

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City Council meeting canceled after damage from power outage

The Redlands City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, has been canceled due to equipment failures at City Hall caused by a power failure in the downtown area earlier in the day.

The power outage, which was reported by Southern California Edison early Tuesday morning, caused computer and phone system failures throughout the Redlands Civic Center at 35 Cajon St. and other City facilities.

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City Council meetings closed to public during pandemic

Following public health recommendations to limit public gatherings during the Covid-19 pandemic, City Manager Charlie Duggan, acting as the City of Redlands Emergency Services Director has directed that City Council meetings be closed to the public until further notice or until the current local State of Emergency has been lifted. The City Council will continue to meet to conduct essential business.

The order is effective beginning with the Tuesday, April 7, City Council meeting. The City Council will consider an item at that meeting ratifying the decision.

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City, Chamber cancel 2020 State of the City event

The City of Redlands and the Redlands Chamber of Commerce have canceled the 2020 State of the City event, originally scheduled for June 12.

“It was a difficult decision, but the right one, said Mayor Paul Foster. “Staff from the City and the Chamber spend a full year planning for this event and many members of our community look forward to being a part of it. It’s an opportunity to share the challenges and successes of the previous year and the plans for the year to come.

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Residential structure fire limited primarily to chimney

Redlands Firefighters responded to a residential structure fire at an occupied home in the 1200 block of Dearborn Street Tuesday evening, March 31.

Responding units arrived shortly before 7:30 p.m. to find light smoke showing from the chimney of a two-story, single-family home. The fire was rapidly extinguished by the first units on scene.

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Two arrested in connection with pair of armed robberies

Redlands Police arrested two people Monday, March 30, in connection with two armed robberies.

On Sunday afternoon, March 22, an ARCO gas station at 902 Orange St. was robbed at gunpoint by a suspect wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a white surgical mask.

Five days later, on Friday, March 27, a suspect wearing the same clothing robbed a 7-Eleven store at 1256 Orange St. The robber escaped in a vehicle occupied by another two people also wearing hooded sweatshirts and white surgical masks.

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Interactive map offers guide to open local businesses

The City of Redlands has launched an interactive map to help residents locate local businesses that are open and providing necessary services available during the current stay-at-home order.

Redlands Open for Business is provided to help Redlands residents access necessary services while supporting local businesses authorized by the State of California to operate during public health stay-at-home orders. The map will be updated as information becomes available.

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City skate park, sports courts, playground equipment closed

In an effort to further slow the spread of Covid-19 (novel coronavirus), the City of Redlands on Monday closed and locked the Redlands Skatepark, Redlands Dog Park and all sports courts, including tennis and pickle ball courts. Basketball hoops have also been removed from all outdoor basketball courts at City parks.

In addition, playground equipment at all of the parks has been cordoned off and may not be used.

City parks and trails remain open, however residents are encouraged to avoid gatherings and maintain appropriate social distancing while using the parks.

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Redlands Senior Helpline offers resources during pandemic

In response to the impacts of COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus), the City of Redlands has established a senior citizen helpline and website to provide information on local resources available to the community.

The Senior Helpline number is (909) 798-7579. The helpline is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Never Alone website can be found at www.cityofredlands.org/neveralone.

The following is a list of some highlighted resources:

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Essential City services will continue following governor’s order

Following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s March 19 order that California residents remain at home, the City of Redlands wants to assure residents that all essential City services, including public safety, water treatment and distribution, wastewater treatment, solid waste pickup, infrastructure maintenance, animal control and other critical services will continue.

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A message to our residents

These are turbulent times. The situation is changing daily and the impacts of COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus) and the uncertainty around us only adds to the public health and financial anxiety we are all feeling.

The City Council, City Manager and the staff at the City of Redlands want all of our residents to know that, while many things are different, we are still working hard to provide service to our community and especially to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare of everyone in Redlands.

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City facilities and offices closed to the public

UPDATE AS OF MARCH 27

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Smiley Library implements coronavirus precautions

In the interest of the health and welfare of patrons and employees, the board and staff of the A.K. Smiley Public Library are implementing immediate steps to cancel or postpone gatherings of more than 250 people and limit smaller gatherings that do not allow appropriate social distancing, in keeping with recent guidelines from the California Department of Public Health.