Message From The San Juan Capistrano City Manager - March 18

Betsy Parkinson
March 19, 2020

At its March 17 meeting, the San Juan Capistrano City Council ratified a proclamation declaring a local emergency in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The proclamation is an important step in providing the City with more flexibility and greater access to resources as we respond to impacts related to the national health emergency. I want to assure you that the City of San Juan Capistrano is taking the appropriate steps in order to protect the health and safety of our residents and business community during what promises to be challenging times ahead. Although City Hall and other City facilities are closed to the public, all public safety services – including police, fire and ambulance – are fully staffed and operational. Essential services such as waste disposal, building inspections, street maintenance, parks maintenance, etc., are continuing uninterrupted. Importantly, the City’s drinking water remains safe and reliable, as COVID-19 has no impact on the quality or supply of your tap water.

At this time, the senior meal delivery program and senior transportation support services remain in operation. City staff members are proactively contacting senior communities to ensure that their residents have adequate food and supplies, as well as the information they need to stay safe and healthy. The City is partnering with the Chamber of Commerce to support our local businesses, and we will soon be releasing a list of local restaurants that are providing delivery or take-out. The COVID-19 crisis will have real and sustained financial impacts, and we encourage all residents to do what they can to support our local economy and small business owners by purchasing your supplies, groceries and other provisions here in San Juan Capistrano.

Because this is a rapidly evolving situation, one of our primary goals is to ensure that you have access to the latest information. The City has created a dedicated webpage that provides information, resources and instructions for accessing City services: http://sanjuancapistrano.org/COVID-19. The webpage is updated throughout the day and also includes links to public health agencies, County resources, information for business owners, and much more.

To keep our community safe, we also need your help. Please follow the guidance from local health officials, and be sure to share this information with friends, family and neighbors who may not have regular access to the internet. San Juan Capistrano is a strong and vibrant community, and we will get through this together.

Ben Siegel

City Manager

This press release was produced by the City of San Juan Capistrano>. The views expressed here are the author’s own.