If there is one clear sign that Surprise is under a state of emergency, it can be found in the paper section at just about every grocery story in the city.
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If there is one clear sign that Surprise is under a state of emergency, it can be found in the paper section at just about every grocery story in the city.
“Unbelievable, isn’t it?” Jay Joseph said to a photographer who was shooting aisles of empty shelves that usually hold paper towels and toilet paper. “Make sure you document it for history.”
It’s certainly historic times as for the first time Surprise Mayor Skip Hall declared a “State of Emergency” on March 19, joining other Valley cities as they all deal with the effects from COVID-19, or the coronavirus.
City facilities are now closed to public until further notice, although city business will continue to be conducted.
Core services — including fire-medical, police, trash, water and other essential city services — have not been affected.
Surprise water customer shutoffs have also been suspended suspending all through Sunday, May 10.
“My top concern is protecting the health and safety of our employees, residents, and visitors,” Mr. Hall wrote in a city statemate. “This proclamation is an important step that gives our city manager the authority to respond quickly during this rapidly changing time.”
The city has already canceled city-sponsored events, programs and sports through May 10, and changed how public comment is taken at City Council and Planning and Zoning meetings.
Because city facilities are closing to the public, most of the staff will telecommute.
The following city facilities will be closed to the public for walk-in services:
• City Hall
• Fire Administration
• AZ TechCelerator
• Senior Center (meal delivery and pick-up will continue)
• Parks and Recreation offices
• Surprise Aquatic Center
• Tennis and Racquet Complex
• Countryside Recreation Center
• Sierra Montana Recreation Center
• Villanueva Recreation Center
The Police Department is still open, and fire stations will be available for emergencies only. The City Court and Surprise Resource Center will be open for drop off and pick-up only.
All city skate parks, pickleball courts, splash pads and dog parks are closed.
“I hope residents are really taking care of themselves and not going out as much, especially in crowds,” Councilman Roland Winters said at a sequestered City Council meeting on March 17. “I myself am sheltering in place. This is a very serious virus. It’s very contagious. And as you know there’s no cure for it.”
Nightclubs, bars, gyms, movie theaters, beauty salons and dentists offices are among those that have shut down in Surprise and elsewhere in the Valley as the COVID-19 curve continues to grow.
The Surprise Senior Center, 15832 N. Hollyhock St., was the first city building to shut down. It turns out it was at the beginning of all the dominoes falling across the Valley. There is no planned reopening date yet.
Meals are still being served through the Senior Center through pick-up and delivery. Staff is asking members to register for a meal like normal, 48 hours in advance, at 623-222-1500. The meals can be picked up at noon weekdays for those with transportation. The meals will be brought to members who can’t pick them up.
“I just hope everyone takes care of themselves and just do gentle things,” Councilwoman Nancy Hayden said. “Don’t panic over this. Just try to stay home as much as possible.”
The city has closed the council chambers for City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings. Instead, members of the public are now set up in the room next to council chambers. Their questions are either taken through email or a phone call.
City Clerk Sherry Aguilar tested out the system March 17 when she connected the two rooms for the city council meeting.
For emailing comments, including Call to the Public for non-agenda items, residents should sent them to publiccomments@surpriseaz.gov prior to the start of the meeting, which is generally 4 p.m. for work sessions and 6 p.m. for regular sessions.
To call in a comment 623-222-1250 prior to or during the meeting to get on a callback list.
A camera and microphone has also been set up in the City Hall Council Overflow Room for those to comment in real time during Call to the Public for non-agenda items or as each agenda item is called.
The meeting is also now streamed to that room, plus there are two TVs located in the Mayor’s Atrium of City Hall.
To watch from home, residents can log on to surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv or the Surprise City Gov Facebook page at facebook.com/cityofsurprise. Cox channel 11 and Century Link channel 8513 also carry the meetings live.
To minimize the potential spread of illness, the events, programs and sports have been canceled or suspended through May 10
For residents who already signed up for a recreation activity, refunds will go back on the credit card on which it was paid. Those who paid with cash or check could expect to receive a refund check within a couple of weeks.
Meet Jason Jason Stone joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2019, after a distinguished three decade media career that included stops at the Arizona Republic, iHeart Media/Clear Channel and Beckett Sports Card magazine. He remembers when airports sold newspapers.
Community: He is a big supporter of the Valley's original sports team: The Phoenix Suns.
Education: Northern Arizona University with a BS in broadcast journalism and a minor in sports coaching.
Random Fact: The capital of Nebraska is Lincoln.
Hobbies: Surfing, backgammon and men who aren't afraid to cry.
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