City of Gig Harbor issued the folllowing announcement on May 14
Thank you for checking in on closures and updates regarding COVID-19. The City of Fife is in constant contact with regional public health officials and other community partners. We are working together to prioritize the health and safety of Fife residents. Here are some of the measures the City of Fife has taken in response to COVID-19.
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STAY HOME, STAY HEALTHY ORDER
Read Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order for Washington residents: https://covid19.wa.gov/. Gov. Inslee extended the order through May 31, 2020. Except for buying essential supplies and food, please stay home. Grocery stores, restaurants with take-out/delivery, food delivery services and medical facilities are staying open to help keep you stocked with food and supplies and to keep you healthy. If you do venture out for food or essential supplies, please remember to keep a safe distance around you of at least 6 feet.
Business compliance: Per the governor’s order, details of which you can find here, only essential businesses should be operating at this time. To report a business operating outside the governor’s order, please refer to this resource.
Reopening in phases: Washington State currently is in Phase 1 of reopening businesses and the greater economy (some smaller counties experiencing low levels of COVID-19 have been authorized to move into Phase 2). The phased approach will occur over the next several weeks and months. For a full accounting of reopening information, please visit this resource. Here are guidelines to date:
PHASE ONE REOPENING
- Construction – issued April 24
- Additional Construction Guidance – issued April 29
- Vehicle and Vessel Sales Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions – issued May 6
- Spiritual drive-in services – issued May 6
- Car Washes Requirements – issued May 7
- Landscape Services and Outdoor Maintenance Industry – issued May 8
- Pet Walking Industry – issued May 8
- Curbside Retail – issued May 8
- Outdoor Recreation - issued May 14
- Outdoor Recreation- Golf – issued May 15
- Dine-in restaurants and taverns – issued May 11
- In-store retail - issued May 12
- Additional manufacturing operations - issued May 12
- Professional Services - issued May 13
- Personal Services (including Cosmetologists, Hairstylists, Barbers, Estheticians, Master Estheticians, Manicurists, Nail Salon Workers, Electrologists, Permanent Makeup Artists, Tattoo Artists, Cosmetology Schools and Esthetics Schools) - issued May 13
- Outdoor Recreation - Issued May 14
- Outdoor Recreation- Golf – issued May 15
- Construction – issued May 15
- Professional Photography – issued May 15
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MEETING CANCELLATIONS
None to report.
FIFE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
In keeping with Gov. Jay Inslee’s directive regarding public meetings, Fife City Council will conduct a remote city council study session beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 19. The public is invited to observe the meeting via WebEx streaming at: https://cityoffife.webex.com/cityoffife/onstage/g.php?MTID=e8cb72e95b11fed6fbcc192aea1b647b8. To listen via phone, call 1-408-418-9388. Event number/access code: 961 142 679. The meeting will be conducted remotely with no in-person meeting. City Hall and all Fife city buildings are closed to the public, in keeping with current health recommendations for curbing the spread of COVID-19. Citizens who would like to submit comments in advance of the meeting may do so by emailing the comments to the City Clerk’s office at cityclerk@cityoffife.org or sending via postal mail at 5411 23rd Street E, Fife, WA 98424. Note: Please check back here for updated details on how to listen to the meetings as the instructions could change.
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ALL CITY BUILDINGS CLOSED
SERVICE AVAILABLE REMOTELY FROM 10 A.M. - 3 P.M.
In an effort to take proactive measures to protect the health and safety of the Fife community, City Hall is closed to the public. Employees are working remotely by phone or email. Please read on for more details and contact information.
UTILITY BILL PAY:
The City of Fife offers online utility bill pay. Please click here for more information or click on this link https://fife.merchanttransact.com/Default.aspx.
For assistance with online or phone payments, please call 253-922-2489 and press 1 for utilities during current City Hall hours Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Payment by check may be mailed or put into the utility drop box located in the City Hall parking lot. For information on COVID-19 related utility payment help, please scroll down.
PERMITTING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
253-922-9625 or email comdev@cityoffife.org
PUBLIC WORKS
253-922-9315 or email publicworks@cityoffife.org
REMINDER: Please do your part to help protect our sewer- only flush the 3Ps - toilet paper, pee and poo!
COMMUNITY CENTER
253-896-8671 or email parks@cityoffife.org
AQUATIC CENTER
253-896-8670 or email aquaticcenter@cityoffife.org
POLICE DEPARTMENT
253-922-6633
Full directory here: https://www.cityoffife.org/directory.aspx
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A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR
Today, Tomorrow, Together.
There are a number of Fife residents that have been directly impacted by COVID-19 today.
The directive from Gov. Jay Inslee this week is clear. Stay home to prevent additional pressures on our hospitals and practice social distancing to keep new viral infections down. The need to practice more humanity will be essential in the coming days. We all need to band together as a community to get through this.
This perilous time in our society has touched many of our neighbor’s very livelihoods. Secondary to the loss of life our greater community has experienced, businesses and jobs have been greatly impacted these last few weeks. That being said, we are immediately waiving penalties and shutoffs for utility bills for the next 60 days. We’re also offering hardship payment plans. If the choice before you is feeding your household or paying your utility bill today, take care of your family first and we will settle your bill in the coming months ahead. Contact us at 253-922-2489 and press 1 for utilities.
All indications are that things will get more challenging in the days ahead. The City of Fife is committed to serving you in this trying time. Tomorrow will bring about new concerns, but we will adapt and persevere through those challenges. For now, working together to get through this and supporting one another will be our top priority.
Be well Fife.
Sincerely,
Kim Roscoe
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COVID-19: HELP WITH UTILITY PAYMENTS
During this time of uncertainty and concern surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the City of Fife would like to assure our customers that the community’s well-being is of highest priority to us. We recognize this is a stressful time for many and we are taking the following steps to help our residential and business customers who might be worried about paying their utility bills:
We are temporarily suspending water shutoffs for nonpayment.
We are waiving late fees for utility bills up to 60 days.
We are working with customers to establish payment plans. Click here to apply for a hardship payment plan or contact Utility Billing Customer Service at 253-922-2489, option 1. Leave a message and your call will be returned.
We urge customers to do their best to continue paying their bills. The additional steps taken above do not relieve customers from paying their bills, but allows for spreading out payments over a longer period of time. If you are in need of utilities assistance, the community organization United Way may be able to connect you with programs in this area to assist in bridging the financial gap. United Way may be reached by dialing the 2-1-1 Help Line.
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PARKS, RECREATION AND AQUATICS
For more information and details of closures and cancellations visit: cityoffife.org/covid19pra
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POLICE DEPARTMENT
A LETTER FROM POLICE CHIEF FISHER
“We find ourselves in unprecedented times. With regards to Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order issued on March 23rd, I wanted to share with you what law enforcement’s role will be in supporting this new directive. Law enforcement’s primary role is to help educate people about how to comply with orders to stay at home. We are not being asked to detain, arrest, ticket or establish checkpoints for compliance. Rumors of strict law enforcement or "martial law" are not true. We hope that the information below will further clarify and answer some of your questions:
1. We view our role more as one of education. Educating residents on how to keep themselves safe, how to keep their families safe and most importantly, to keep the rest of the community safe, especially our vulnerable populations.
2. We understand some people need to carry out essential services such as:
• Safety and security
• Food, water, shelter
• Health and medical
• Energy (power and fuel)
• Communications
• Transportation
3. For the most part, our community has shown they understand the severity of the situation and are doing all they can already to keep themselves, their families and neighbors safe and healthy.
4. When officers encounter people not complying with an order, we will remind them, as appropriate, of the recommendation and restrictions.
5. Please be mindful that while our officers have the authority to arrest for violations of the Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order, no law enforcement agencies have any desire to make any arrests or take anybody to jail for violations.
6. Rumors of individuals or businesses needing "passes" or "licenses" to conduct essential services are not true.
7. Stay up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 case numbers, information, and resources by visiting https://www.tpchd.org/healthy-people/human-coronavirus
Rest assured we will continue to serve you every minute of every day and we will always enforce the laws that keep people safe. It is very important that we keep each other healthy and that we support each other through this critical public health emergency.
Take care of each other, your neighbors, and yourselves.”
-Chief Fisher
Here is a statement from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs on law enforcement’s continued role during stay-at-home orders.
POLICE WINDOW CLOSURE
The Police Service window at the Fife Criminal Justice Center is temporarily closed.
• You are still able to reach an officer by using the call button on the blue box outside the exterior doors of the Criminal Justice Center. This will connect you to SS911 dispatch and they can send an officer to meet you outside.
• If you need to speak with Records, you can reach them at 253-922-6633, option 3. You can also request a copy of a police report by visiting www.cityoffife.org/311/Police-Records.
• If you are not reporting an emergency or a crime actively in-progress, the following crimes or occurrences - theft, vehicle prowl, vandalism or destruction of property and lost property - may be reported online by visiting https://www2.southsound911.org/onlinereporting/
PLEASE NOTE: Fingerprinting services and other non-essential services at the Fife Police Department are on hold during the closure.
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MUNICIPAL COURT
COURT & JURY NOTICE AND WINDOW CLOSURE
In the interest of public health during the COVID-19 outbreak, Fife Municipal Court rescheduled all out-of-custody hearings through May 22, 2020. Rescheduled hearing notices were mailed to all participants. If you did not receive your notice, please call the court Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for assistance.
If you are set for an infraction hearing, including a photo enforcement hearing, you will need to submit a declaration by mail rather than appear in person. After the Judge reviews your declaration, a written response will be mailed to you. Make sure the court has your current address. If you prefer to appear in person, you can call the court and request a continuance until in-person infraction hearings resume.
Declaration by mail for Mitigation Hearing: Click here
Declaration by mail for Contested Hearing: Click here
Jury service for May, June and July has been canceled.
Through May 22, staff is available to take your call Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The courthouse remains closed.
Court operations will resume on Tuesday, May 26 at 8:30 a.m. To keep patrons and employees safe, social distancing practices will be in place.
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EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
On March 12, City Manager Hyun Kim signed an Emergency Proclamation in response to COVID-19. Here is some background on what that means. This is a precautionary measure and should not be alarming to anyone. It allows the City Manager and designated staff members to amend established rules and procedures as needed to run the city. It’s one mechanism to help the city be more flexible and responsive to the needs of our city and its citizens during a quickly developing situation. It allows us to dispatch funds and mobilize employees as our needs change. It also allows us to coordinate with agencies to secure supplies we might need. You can read the proclamation here.
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COMMUNITY INFORMATION
SCHOOL CLOSURE
Governor Jay Inslee on April 6 ordered all K-12 public and private schools in the state of Washington to remain closed for the remainder of the school year.
FREE PUBLIC WIFI
Here is a neat Wifi access finder website: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/washington-state-drive-in-wifi-hotspots-location-finder/
Looking for free public wifi? Xfinity is offering free wifi to everyone as part of its response to COVID-19. You don’t have to be a customer to access this service. It is open to everyone and there are wifi hot spots throughout the area. Find a hot spot close to you at www.xfinity.com/wifi. For detailed instructions, visit: https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19
BUSINESS HELP
If you’re a small business looking for help and resources, please contact the Fife, Milton and Edgewood Chamber of Commerce. Here is the chamber’s helpful resource page for the phased reopening of local businesses. The Pierce County Economic Development Board is another helpful agency.
FIFE HISTORY MUSEUM & DACCA BARN
The Fife Historical Society has postponed the Annual Membership Meeting and May lecture event, in response to public health agencies’ recommendations to avoid bringing groups of people together.
Reservations of the Dacca Barn for May are postponed until further notice.
The Fife History Museum is currently closed to the public.
For questions or research requests, members of the public can contact the Historical Society at (253) 896-4710 or fifehistorymuseum1957@gmail.com.
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COVID-19: RELIABLE INFORMATION
You might have questions about the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19). Here are reliable sources to check for information.
The Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, please call 1-800-525-0127 and press #. Phone volumes might mean a bit of a wait on that hotline.
Here are more reliable resources:
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department maintains a great database of resources at this website and they also provide deep background information and facts about the virus -- https://www.tpchd.org/healthy-people/human-coronavirus
The Washington State Department of Health is maintaining up-to-date information on the virus here -- https://www.doh.wa.gov/emergencies/coronavirus
Pierce County offers the following advice for everyone:
• Increase handwashing and use of alcohol-based sanitizer
• Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette – cover a cough or a sneeze
• Keep distance from others (more than six feet, if possible)
• Frequently clean and disinfect surfaces
• Remain home during a respiratory illness
Original source can be found here.
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