Showing posts with label Real Estate. Show all posts

Friday, May 22, 2020

Items of Interest - May 21, 2020

CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE

City Hall will be closed for Memorial Day, Monday, May 25^th.
For COVID-19 related information for residents and businesses, please visit the City microsite www.laquintaca.gov/covid19
Residents who have questions regarding COVID-19 can reach out to the City by either emailing covid19@laquintaca.gov or by calling 760.777.7130 (Mon-Friday, 8 am – 4 pm).
Riverside County Public Health is reporting 93,101 tests performed, 6,343 positive cases and 284 deaths countywide; 104 cases and 9 deaths in La Quinta as of Thursday, May 21.
Executive Order #7 for Short-Term Rentals was amended as of May 20, 2020 (fourth amendment). Here is a summary of the changes:
- Short term rentals may open and operate as authorized by, and consistent with, California Governor Executive Order N-60-20 and the requirements of the California Department of Public Health set forth and available at the following Web sites, as may be updated from time to time:
- https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/
- https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap/
- https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs/#top
- City of La Quinta no longer requires pre-approval of short-term rental use.
- Short-term rentals that are authorized to open and operate
- Any person who violates the order shall be subject to a fine of $5,000 per violation and an immediate suspension of the short-term rental permit for one year.
The City App has been updated to include the COVID Microsite as well as additional information for Playing, Working and Living in LQ. The app contains links to Resident Resources as well as Business Resources for the La Quinta Community. The app is available currently on Apple iTunes and will be available soon on Google Play.
Small Business Emergency Economic Relief Fund – Round 2: The City received 39 applications for Round 2. The Ad-hoc Committee reviewed and made recommendations to the City Council and at the May 19, 2020 City Council meeting, 18 more businesses were awarded loans. The City is pleased to announce that $550,000 has now been awarded to 47 different local businesses. We support our local businesses and encourage residents to also shop locally to support La Quinta businesses. Please contact ED@LaQuintaCA.Gov for any COVID-19 business related questions or call the City Manager’s Office.
Great Plates Delivered: Home Meals for Seniors (“Great Plates”) program is for individuals at high risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Riverside County is currently accepting inquiries from the public and businesses interested in participating in the Great Plates program. For more information visit www.rcaging.org/covid-19/Great-plates-delivered-program Eligible restaurants are being matched for meal delivery based on availability of participating restaurants in their area.
The City of La Quinta is working with the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce on banners for essential businesses that are currently open during COVID-19. These banners are valid for La Quinta businesses only with a current business license. It’s one per business and is first come, first serve. Businesses can register for a banner by visiting: https://lqbiz.eventbrite.com/
211 Riverside County has been selected by the County of Riverside as the designated information line for COVID-19 public inquiries. Operators are available any time to answer your questions and to provide the most up to date public health information available. Additionally, operators will help provide referrals to services such as food, shelter, and other health related requests. To speak with an operator, dial 211 OR (800) 464-1123.
To receive updates about COVID-19 information and resources straight to your phone through Nixel, text 92253 to 888-777.
City employees were recognized by Destiny Church in Indio and treated to an Employee Appreciation lunch provided by Got Polish Kielbasa@ LLC – enjoyed by all! Thank you!!

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

The La Quinta Wellness Center is your resource for food distribution and general information. Call (760) 564-0096 Monday Through Friday from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for service.
In partnership with FIND Food Bank, the City participates in bi-weekly food site distribution at Washington Street Apartments, Hadley Villas, Coral Mountain Apartments and Wolff Waters Apartments. Staff is in communication with other sites and interested parties are encouraged to call (760) 564-0096 for more information.
With the help from local partners, FIND Food Bank has food distribution locations at the following locations:
- La Quinta High School (79255 Blackhawk Way, La Quinta CA, 92253) 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday, 10:00am-12:00pm
- La Quinta Community Fitness Center Park (77865 Avenida Montezuma, La Quinta CA, 92253) Seniors ages 65+ proof of age required, 1^st and 3^rd Friday, 8:30am-10:30am
- Desert Recreation District La Quinta (77865 Avenida Montezuma, La Quinta CA, 92253) 4^th Saturday, 7:00am-11:00am
Contact FIND Food Bank at 760-775-3663 for more information.
The YMCA of the Desert is providing childcare to essential workers at the La Quinta Museum. YMCA staff have received required COVID-19 health & safety trainings, necessary cleaning & sanitizing supplies, and will implement new program protocols to ensure all Local, County, State, and Federal guidelines are being met. The fee for childcare services is $165 per week, drop off is 7:30am-8:00am and pick up is 5:00pm-5:30pm. Enrollment is on a first come, first served basis and space is limited. To reserve childcare contact Gail Solomon, Member Services: Family YMCA of the Desert office: (760) 341-9622 or gailsolomon@desertymca.org

Riverside County Office of Education is available to provide childcare services to essential workers. To receive more information and an application for emergency childcare services contact the Riverside County Office of Education Early Care & Education at (800) 442-4927 or email cclupdates@rcoe.us
Creation Station continues to produce face shields, mask bands, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for first responders and local hospitals. They have produced 1172 PPE components.

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

Issued 26 business licenses and collected $3,043 in license fees.
Staff received 73 permit applications and issued 51 permits all of which were processed online through City’s eTRAKiT Web Portal, for a total construction valuation of $1,994,595 and collection of $14,807 in permit fees.
Building Division staff performed 62 digital reviews and completed 133 onsite inspections last week; of those inspections, 55 were requested using eTRAKiT.
The Planning Commission will hold a regular meeting on May 26, 2020 via teleconference. For more information or a copy of meeting agenda packet, please visit www.laquintaca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/13294/287.
For Short-Term Vacation Rentals, the online services can be accessed at laquinta.munirevs.com, and City staff is available at (760) 777-7060 or via email at vacationlq@laquintaca.gov to answer any questions.
Improvements to La Quinta City Hall are underway to prepare for reopening. Glass safety shields have been installed at the HUB permit services area, all public counters and at the front lobby concierge. Safety measures, physical distancing, and disinfecting protocols will be in place to ensure the safety of community members and staff at City Hall.
Staff has been working throughout this COVID-19 pandemic and have utilized our online services for continued service. HUB permit services are available through E-Trakit, and City staff is available at (760) 777-7125 or via email at customercenter@laquintaca.gov to answer any questions.

FINANCE

The Finance Department may be reached by email at finance@laquintaca.gov or by phone at 760-777-7150.
The Finance Department has a website dedicated to the Fiscal Year 2020/21 Operating and Capital Improvement Budget. We invite the public to participate by viewing public meetings online; comments may be provided in advance of meetings. For additional participation options and information visit https://www.laquintaca.gov/our-city/city-departments/finance/budget/proposed-budget-2020-21-timeline
The Financial Advisory Commission will hold a special meeting on June 3, 2020.

PUBLIC WORKS/ENGINEERING

Complete Street Project Stage 3 Closure – see below for Stage 3 full schedule for June 1 through October 2020.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Home Maintenance For The New Year

Hi David,

The beginning of a new year is always a great time to address those basic but important home maintenance tasks that may get forgotten throughout the year. This January, when you're packing up your holiday decor or just getting ready to start a new year, take some time to go over these important tasks to help jump start your New Year.

Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Some home systems are vital to ensuring your home is safe, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are on that list. Often, these systems are only refreshed when they start chirping and causing havoc in your home, but they should be checked multiple times a year to ensure they're working the way they're intended. If the detectors are not hard-wired to your home or plugged into a wall outlet, now is the perfect time to replace batteries.

Take some time and perform a test on every detector, familiarizing yourself with the sound - each alarm sounds different. This is also a good time to check any fire extinguishers you may have in your home. These important safety tools should be checked monthly, ensuring the pressure gauge needle is in the green – if it's not, the extinguisher should be serviced or replaced. The last thing you want is for one of these important devices to fail you when you need it the most.

Change Out Home Filters

Several home systems use filters: a furnace, water filtration system, HVAC and heat pumps, and other systems that may be in your home. Whether you're in a sunny climate or a winter one, January is a great time to change out your filters. Filters help keep dirt, debris and other particles from getting into your home, so ensuring you replace them in January guarantees a fresh start for the new year and will help your home’s systems work to their optimal performance. This is also a great time to clean your kitchen’s exhaust hood and air filter, and don’t forget your refrigerator – the beginning of the year is the perfect time to clean behind and below the appliance.

Refill a Water Softener

Hard water can be brutal on a home, especially if minerals are allowed to build up over the years. For most homes with a water softener system, the softener is stored out of site, which can mean it can be forgotten. If you have a water softener, now is the time to replenish the salt it needs to function (and for most softeners this only needs to be done once a year). The salt is used to strip out the excess minerals from the water, ensuring your home is free of hard water.

Update a Disaster Kit

No one can anticipate a natural disaster but having a disaster kit in your home helps prepare you for the unexpected. In the new year, take time to update or replenish your kit - check dates on any non-perishable food items, restock batteries and water, and add any missing items that will come in handy in case of emergency.

Couple going over list of items in their home

Do a Personal Inventory

The holidays can mean a time of new belongings. Now is a great time to do a personal inventory of all your high value items, like electronics, jewelry, or art. If you've added to your personal collections, take a moment to update your records and contact your homeowner's insurance to update your plan if need be. The new year is also the perfect time to go through all your things and get rid of items you don't need or want anymore. Cleaning out clutter not only helps add space to your home, it can also act as a positive change for the new year.

With a new year comes the opportunity to get your home ready for the months to come, and doing these tasks at the beginning of the year will help you remember when you did them. Taking time now to get your home updated will save you time in the future. Here’s to a happy and healthy start to 2020. If you have questions on how to update your home for the year to come, feel free to contact me david@laquintare.com or visit my website davidburke.bhhscaproperties.com. Happy New Year!