Log in

Litchfield Park council to discuss COVID-19 impact on facilities, programs and operations

Posted 6/28/20

The Litchfield Park City Council will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 30 to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on city facilities, programs and operations, and to potentially direct staff …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

Litchfield Park council to discuss COVID-19 impact on facilities, programs and operations

Posted

The Litchfield Park City Council will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 30 to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on city facilities, programs and operations, and to potentially direct staff regarding building closures, modified schedules, virtual meetings and other measures to mitigate the spread of the novel coronivrus as infections spike across the state.

Litchfield Park closed its buildings and facilities to the public in mid-March to comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, and Gov. Doug Ducey’s stay-at-home order.

City Hall, 214 W. Wigwam Blvd., and the Litchfield Park Recreation Center and Pool, 100 N. Old Litchfield Road, reopened June 1, with social distancing and other mitigation measures in place.

“Our reopening is going good so far,” City Manager Bill Stephens said at the time. “The mood seems upbeat. Some are happy to be back and see fellow staff, and others are still cautious and a little worried. We do have a few staff members that would qualify for the ‘vulnerable category’ and therefore they’re more cautious. So, where it makes sense and staff would like to continue to work from home, I’m allowing it. I have a couple of staff members in that category.”

As infections began spiking across the state after the stay-at-home order was lifted, Litchfield Park joined other cities in efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus. On June 19, the council adopted a resolution requiring people to wear face coverings in public spaces when they cannot distance themselves from others.

After learning June 23 that a Recreation Center and Pool employee had tested positive for COVID-19, the city closed the facility indefinitely for deep cleaning and disinfecting.

Employees who had close contact with the individual were identified and notified, and were self-quarantining at home, Mr. Stephens said, and the city was working to provide proper notification to others who may have come into contact with the employee.

“Litchfield Park’s top priority is the health and safety of our citizens and employees,” Assistant City Manager/Community & Recreation Services Director Matthew Williams stated.

When the pandemic hit, the city initially canceled all public meetings because it didn’t have the technology in place to conduct virtual meetings, but it began conducting meetings via Zoom and streaming them on YouTube within a few weeks.

Those interested in attending Tuesday’s virtual meeting may visit the city’s website, litchfield-park.org, and follow the links to Zoom or YouTube. They also may attend by phone by dialing 669-900-6833 and entering meeting ID 817 3563 1888.