Exemptions to City order

Well over half of the regulation issued by the city was to list the exceptions to the stay at home order. Most of these exceptions mirror the state’s “essential activities” exceptions. Here they are, as worded in the Emergency Regulation order:

Exceptions

People may lawfully leave their residence while this Emergency Regulation is in effect to engage in the listed essential activities below so long as they maintain reasonable social distancing practices, including, but not limited to, maintaining a distance of at least six-feet away from others, frequently washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer, covering coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands), regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces and not shaking hands.

Essential Activities

To engage in certain essential activities (is exempt), including, without limitation, visiting a health or veterinary care professional, obtaining medical supplies or medication, obtaining grocery items (including, without limitation, canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet supplies, fresh or frozen meats, fish, and poultry any other household consumer products and products necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of residences and other buildings) for their household or to deliver to others or for legally mandated government purposes. In addition, any travel related to (a) providing care for minors, the elderly, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons; (b) returning to one’s place of residence from outside the city; (c) travelling to one’s place of residence located outside the city; (d) compliance with an order of law enforcement or court shall be exempt from this Emergency Regulation; or (e) legally-mandated government purposes.

Outdoor Activities

To engage in outdoor activity and recreation (is exempt), provided that the individuals comply with social distancing requirements, including, without limitation, walking, hiking, running, cycling; use of scooters, roller skates, skateboards, or other personal mobility devices; or travel in a vehicle with household members to a location where it is possible to walk, hike, run or ride a bike, or operate personal mobility devices, while maintaining social distancing practices.

Indoor and outdoor playgrounds for children, except those located within childcare centers, shall be closed for all purposes.

Use of vehicles, including but not limited to, boats and golf carts, shall only be permitted with household members.

Golfing is prohibited.

Work in Support of Essential Activities

To perform work providing essential products and services or to otherwise carry out activities specifically permitted in this Order (is exempt).

Protection of Non-essential Businesses: Non-essential businesses may keep facilities open only to maintain minimum basic operations, such as maintaining the value of an inventory, keeping the site secure, or ensuring that employees are able to work remotely. Non-essential businesses shall not be open to the public.

To care for or support a friend, family member, or pet in another household (is exempt).

Emergency Personnel. All first responders, gang and crisis intervention workers, public health workers, emergency management personnel, emergency dispatchers, law enforcement personnel, and related contractors and others working for emergency services providers are categorically exempt from this Emergency Regulation in the performance of their duties.

Essential Activities Exempt. Certain business operations and activities are exempt from the provisions of this Emergency Regulation, on the grounds that they provide services that are recognized to be critical to the health and well-being of the City. The conversion of a non-essential business into an essential business is prohibited during the term of this Emergency Regulation. These include:

All healthcare operations, including hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical and scientific research, laboratories, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare services providers, veterinary and routine care providers, mental and behavioral health providers, substance use providers, physical therapists and chiropractors, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services, manufacturers and suppliers (are exempt). Healthcare operations do not include fitness and exercise gyms, barbers, beauty and nail salons, tobacco shops or similar facilities.

Grocery stores, water retailers, certified farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, convenience stores, warehouse stores, food banks, convenience stores, and other establishments engaged in the retail sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet supply, fresh or frozen meats, fish, and poultry, any other household consumer products (such as construction supplies, cleaning and personal care products) (are exempt). This includes stores that sell groceries and sell other non-grocery products, and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences.

Organizations and businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals (including gang prevention and intervention, domestic violence, and homeless services agencies) (are exempt).

Newspapers, television, radio, magazine, and other media services (are exempt).

Gas service stations, auto supply, mobile auto repair operations, auto repair shops (including, without limitation, auto repair shops that operate adjacent to or otherwise in connection with a used or retail auto dealership), bicycle repair shops and related facilities (are exempt). Car washes and auto detailing are prohibited.

Banks, credit unions, financial institutions and insurance companies (are exempt).

Hardware and building supply stores, and nurseries (are exempt).

Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, custodial/janitorial workers, handyman services, funeral home workers and morticians, moving services, HVAC installers, carpenters, landscapers, gardeners, property managers, private security personnel and other service providers who provide services to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation to properties and other essential activities discussed in this subsection (are exempt).

Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes (are exempt).

Educational institutions including public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities for purposes of facilitating distance learning or performing essential functions provided that social distancing of six-feet per person is maintained to the greatest extent possible (are exempt).

Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry service providers (are exempt).

Restaurants and retail food facilities that prepare and offer food to customers, but only via delivery service, to be picked up, or drive-thru (are exempt). For those establishments offering food pick-up options, proprietors are directed to establish social distancing practices for those patrons in the queue for pick-up. This includes maintaining a distance of at least six-feet away from others.

Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home (are exempt).

Businesses that supply other essential businesses with the support, services, or supplies necessary to operate, provided that strict social distancing is maintained (are exempt). This section includes, without limitation, utility companies.

Individuals and businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, beverages or goods directly to residences or businesses, including rail and trucking (are exempt).

Taxis and ride sharing services, and other private transportation services, providing transportation services necessary for essential activities and other purposes expressly authorized in this Emergency Regulation.

Home-based care for disabled persons, seniors, adults, or children (is exempt).

Residential facilities and shelters for homeless residents, disabled persons, seniors, adults, children and animals (are exempt).

Professional services, such as legal, payroll, realty, tax preparation or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities (are exempt).

Childcare facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in this Emergency Regulation to work as permitted (are exempt). To the extent possible, childcare facilities must operate under the following mandatory conditions: 1. Childcare must be carried out in stable groups of 12 or fewer (“stable” means that the same 12 or fewer children are in the same group each day). 2. Children shall not change from one group to another. 3. If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group shall be in a separate room. Groups shall not mix with each other. 4. Childcare providers shall remain solely with one group of children.

Government Employees

This Emergency Regulation does not apply to employees of government agencies working within the course and scope of their public service employment. Employees of the City of Canyon Lake shall follow any current or future directives issued by the City Manager.

Essential Infrastructure

Individuals may leave their residences to provide any services or goods or perform any work necessary to build, operate, maintain or manufacture essential infrastructure, including without limitation construction of commercial, office and institutional buildings, residential buildings and housing; airport operations, food supply, concessions, and construction; water, sewer, gas, electrical; roads and highways, public transportation and rail; solid waste collection and removal; flood control and watershed protection; internet and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services); and manufacturing and distribution companies deemed essential to the supply chains of the industries referenced in this Paragraph, provided that they carry out those services and that work in compliance with social distancing practices as prescribed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Riverside County Department of Public Health, to the extent possible.