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In-person customers at restaurants and retail businesses!

The state has approved San Diego County to move further into Stage 2, allowing in-person customers at restaurants and retail businesses, with modifications. Click here for more information. In light of this new update, there will be a press briefing today, May 21, 2020, at 2:30 PM available for viewing via YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

A message from the Business Sector Support Team

Recap & Next Steps provided on May 21, 2020

• At the County Board of Supervisors meeting, held on Tuesday, May 18, 2020, the board approved two measures intended to allow the region to accelerate the reopening of the local economy.
•  First measure: County will submit plan to Governor’s office and if approved it would move San Diego further into stage two of the of the California Resilience Road Map in coming days
  • Proposal: Dining to ease restrictions on in-person dining in restaurants, and retail shopping would be allowed as long as businesses implement their  Safe Reopening Plan  and Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol. 
• Second measure: Pilot Program where a select number of businesses would be permitted to gradually reopen ahead of schedule from Stage Three. This program includes outdoor religious services, research labs, hair and nail salons, fitness facilities, youth and sports clubs, and apartment complex pools.
• The County is currently working on revising all stages of the Regional Reopening Framework. We have met all federal guidelines in terms of reopening to accelerate to stage 2. Pilot Program request will be submitted for Governor’s consideration

• Temperature check/Symptom screening process and Confidentiality 
  • The health officer order requires the temperature screenings with the caveat that if you do not have a thermometer available you can do the symptom check. There is no requirement to complete private symptom screenings/temperature screenings. However, employers have discretion to make a plan that works for their business. 

• Pandemics effect on non-profit vs. for-profit sector
  • Covid-19 is impacting everyone across the board, although non-profits have been uniquely affected by this pandemic. Non-profit funding has been limited, yet our Community Based Organization Sector has recently highlighted organizations that are addressing the gap in resources available for non-profits. 
• Fitness facility pools
  • At this time, facility pools were not included in the County's request to the Governor. Leadership's initial focus was reopening pools at a limited capacity within the HOA's, condominiums, apartment complexes. Once we monitor the impact of easing the restrictions on pools at 25% capacity, we can review easing restrictions for community pools, recreational pools, and pools located in fitness centers. 
• When can my business reopen?
  • As soon as the Governor approves San Diego County's acceleration plan, we will begin reopening. The Counties approach to easing restrictions is to review each sector and by groups (i.e., essential businesses, reopened businesses). From those groups defined, sub activities were then differentiated (i.e., retail, manufacturing, restaurant, bars, hair salons night clubs, and even offices), and additional categories were defined  (i.e., congregate living facilities, art, and cultural venues, sporting events, convention centers).
• Private and Vocational schools
  • According to the Public Health Order, all public or private schools, colleges, and universities shall not hold classes or other school activities where students gather on the school campus. Parents of minor children shall take steps to ensure said children are not participating in activities prohibited by this Order. 
• Leisure travel and hotel stays 
  • There are currently International holds on travel until June 22nd, and at this time, hotels/lodging for leisure and tourism are not permitted to reopen. 
• Sanitation of restrooms
  • The requirement for the safe reopening plan is that there is a section of break rooms, bathrooms, and other common areas that should be disinfected frequently on schedule. That schedule is determined by the employer. 
• Maximum “capacity” requirement
  • In our current framework there is no specified building capacity. However, please be mindful of your businesses fire marshal’s maximum occupancy.
• Reopened Office settings
  • According to the public health order the current recommendation is that certain businesses could reopen with recommendation for teleworking. There are no prohibitions if it is in conformance with the order and safe reopening plan. 
• Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) required for an employee to return to work?
  • While a IIPP  is not required, everything tool utilized to ensure the safety of yourself, employees, and customers is beneficial. 
• Specifications for airflow
  • The County is currently reviewing airflow specifications. At this time employers should reinforce their SRP and Sanitation Protocol. For additional questions concerning airflow please visit ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers). 

• Community Based Organization Sector
• Nonprofit Support Networks: San Diego Grant Makers,  Field Stone Leadership Network, UCSD School of Leadership and Education,  Copernicus Coaching and Consulting
• Essential Business questions – [email protected]
• Safe Reopening Plan
• Injury Illness Prevention Plan

• Waxing and Facial Salons opening as part of accelerated plan (pilot program): We will review with this question with the County advisory team and answer this question at the next telebriefing. 
• Retail reopening: The accelerated phase two has been approved. Please tune in to today’s 2:30 PM telebriefing.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact the OBMA office.

The state has approved San Diego County to move farther into Stage 2, allowing in-person customers at retail businesses, with modifications. Businesses need to follow guidance, complete and post safe reopening plans.

In-Store Retail Reopening Plan

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact the OBMA office.

The state department of health gave San Diego County the go ahead Wednesday to allow restaurants to open for dine-in service beginning today, May 21, 2020.

A message from the County of San Diego GREAT PLATES DELIVERED

ATTENTION:

County of San Diego Recruiting Local Restaurants for 'Great Plates Delivered' State-Funded Program for At-Risk Seniors

The County of San Diego has launched the Great Plates Delivered program, a state-funded initiative aimed at connecting struggling local restaurants to high-risk seniors to encourage staying at home by arranging delivery of three nutritious meals a day. The dual purpose of the program is to provide meals to adults 65 and older and adults 60-64 who are at high-risk, while supporting local restaurants and other food provider/agricultural workers who have closed or are struggling to remain open due to COVID-19 mitigation measures.

The County of San Diego has released a process for interested restaurants, caterers, and other food suppliers to apply by completing an online survey form. Please note applications are still being accepted.

• The process will require food providers to submit documentation like a W-9, a sample menu, and specific certification forms. 
• Those chosen will provide three meals a day to designated at-risk seniors.
• Food service providers already participating in a State or federal meal service program are not eligible to participate.
• Chosen eateries will receive $66 for providing the three daily meals, inclusive of delivery.
• Learn more by reviewing California's Great Plates Delivered Program Guidance document and the County’s Request for Quotation document.

The California Department of Public Health has provided restaurants with their expectations for opening dine-in service in California.

The county of San Diego is expected to provide restaurants with next steps and the green light to provide dine-in service very soon.

This checklist is intended to help dine-in restaurant employers implement their plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and is supplemental to the Guidance for Dine-in Restaurants. This checklist is a summary and contains shorthand for some parts of the guidance; familiarize yourself with the guidance before using this checklist.

Restaurant Checklist

COVID-19 Guidance Restaurants Reopening Dine-In Service

The state has provided guidance for Retail Establishments to open for curbside and delivery only.

A friendly reminder from SDPD that all retail businesses must adhere to the safe reopening plan put in place by the Governor and County of San Diego. Although the rules can be confusing, if each business lives by the rules our community can continue to move forward. SDPD has asked the OBMA to remind you NO WALK IN TRAFFIC is permitted in businesses at this time. A $1K fine will be issued to any business in violation.

Don't shoot the messenger!

Retail Establishments - Curbside or Delivery ONLY

San Diego county has provided additional guidance on the safe opening of businesses. According to the county, the Resilience Roadmap released by the state allows for certain businesses to reopen, with restrictions, starting May 8.

It restricts operations at retail establishments to curbside and delivery only, including:

• Bookstores
• Jewelry stores
• Toy stores
• Clothing stores
• Shoe stores
• Home and furnishing stores
• Sporting goods stores
• Antique stores
• Music stores
• Florists

Businesses in the supply chain that support these businesses, in manufacturing and logistical sectors, can also operate consistent with relevant industry guidance and checklists issued by the state.

Businesses that are allowed to re-open consistent with state and county actions need to complete the county’s Safe Reopening Plan, print and post it at their entrance.

You can find more information from the county here. Businesses with questions can also email [email protected]

The updated county public health order with additional information can be found here.

The state has also set up a way to gather input to inform future industry guidance using the California Recovery Roadmap survey.

Please help us reach out to the City Council and Mayor in support of small businesses as they start their budget hearings. Copy and paste the email addresses into a new email. Copy and paste the short letter into that email making sure you fill in the sections that are bold and in brackets with your own information. Be sure to use the Subject line: Requesting Small Business Support.

Instructions:

Simply customize the sections [bold, in brackets] and send to the email addresses below blue.  Of course you can add or edit the letter or email distribution list as you’d like.  Quantity matters! The more letter that are sent to elected officials the more powerful our collective voice.

Budget hearings start Monday so if you can get to this today that would be great.  Feel free to pass along to others who can lend their support especially your staff, independent contractors and fellow merchants.

SAMPLE EMAIL

To: [email protected]                              

CC: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]                                                  

Subject Line: Requesting Small Business Support

(This list includes: Mayor Kevin Faulconer; Councilmember for District 2 Jennifer Campbell; District 2 Teddy Martinez; Mayor’s Office, Chief of Staff; City Clerk Elizabeth Maland; Christina Bibler, Director, Economic Development; Elizabeth Studebaker, Sean Karafin Economic Development Staff)

Dear Mayor Faulconer,

I [own, manage, work at] the [name of business], a small business in the City of San Diego that is [currently closed/restricted] due to COVID-19.  So far, we estimate that we have lost [x amount of dollars] due to the closure.

Thank you for recently making $6 million of the City’s current budget available for small businesses.  Realizing you and the City Council are facing tough decisions regarding the FY21 budget, I was glad to see the federal government issue $148 million to the City to assist with COVID-related loss and expenses.

The City needs its small businesses to survive, and right  now the small businesses like [name of business] need help to do that.

Can you please make $100 million of the federal money available as soon as possible so we can survive and thrive together?

Respectfully and appreciatively,

[your name, title, address]

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of a first-in-the-nation “Great Plates Delivered” program, a meal delivery service for California’s older adults.

The application for restaurants to be part of this new program can be found here. The deadline to fill this out is Monday, May 4 at noon.
 There is a lot of great information on how this program will roll out here.
 
https://covid19.ca.gov/restaurants-deliver-home-meals-for-seniors/

For More Information Click Here

SDG&E understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of uncertainly and we want to help. Have you filed for unemployment? You may qualify for utility bill discounts or direct payments to your utility bill.

Apply today for CARE or FERA at sdge.com/care or apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by visiting 211sandiego.org.

#PoweringThruTogether

The second round of Paycheck Protection Program funding will be available TODAY, April 27th starting at 10:30am EDT.

Here’s a practical guide for those who have already applied and are waiting on funding, as well as those looking to try on this second round.

The Treasury  Department has also sent out some updated rules and regulations:

For Self-employed on PPP applications

Updated Q & A - on the PPP process