COVID-19

Safe & Healthy: Helping the Big Bend Get Past COVID.

Safe & Healthy is a communitywide educational initiative that combines the resources of local governments, local hospitals and health care providers, the public school system, and media partners to keep the public informed and provide up-to-date information on COVID-19.

General Impacts

• Some City offices and facilities are closed to the public until further notice. To the greatest extent possible, City employees will work remotely during this time.
• The City is operating under enhanced cleaning protocols at City facilities, on City buses, and at the Tallahassee International Airport.

Animal Services

• The Animal Service Center is open every day between the hours of 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. by appointment only.
• City Animal Control is responding to emergency calls (sick, injured or aggressive stray animals), investigations of animal cruelty or abandonment and stray dogs.

Code Enforcement

• Interior code enforcement inspections and interior inspections for housing construction programs are suspended until further notice. (Please note this does not currently apply to inspections on construction permits conducted by Growth Management.)
• For code enforcement inquiries, call 850-891-7007 or email code.enforcement@Talgov.com.

Growth Management

• All Growth Management site plan, plan review, permitting and inspection processes are fully operational. Online applications (now also including residential and environmental permits) are available through the customer portal. Growth Management staff can be reached by calling 850-891-7001 and selecting the option that applies to your specific inquiry.
• Virtual Building Inspections are being implemented for a limited number of services starting April 6. Check out the full details of this new service (PDF).
• Type A, Type B/DRC site plan meetings and Board of Adjustments and Appeals (BOAA) meetings are being held via Skype and staff is available by phone and email to assist customers with any specific needs.

Housing

• Applications and requests for assistance can be received online at Talgov.com. For housing services inquiries, call 850-891-6566.

Parks

• Golf: Both of the City's golf courses are open for restricted play from 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. During restricted play, only one person per cart is permitted. Players are asked to not touch or remove flags and to bring their own water, hand sanitizer and scoring pencils. There will be at least 15 minutes required between tee times, and tee times for Hilaman Golf Course must be reserved online via Hilaman.com. Players are asked to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to tee times. The practice putting green will be reserved for players warming up before their tee time. The practice putting green will be limited to six players at Hilaman and two at Jake Gaither. The pro shop at Hilaman will remain closed; access to the pro shop at Jake Gaither will be limited to two players at a time. The restaurant at Hilaman will be open and serving food in compliance with the Governor's Executive Order. The driving range is open.
• Updated Parks and Recreation Sports Guidelines: Following the guidance of local and national medical experts, the City of Tallahassee has begun phasing in some recreational offerings that do not involve crowds and continues to evaluate how and when to phase in additional options. Focused on slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our community, residents are encouraged to continue practicing physical distancing while enjoying these activities.

Public Safety

• TPD and TFD have implemented protocols for responding to calls where an individual exhibits or reports COVID-19-like symptoms.
• The Citizens Police Academy has been cancelled.
• Public access to the main TPD headquarters is limited. Citizens are encouraged to use online reporting. Learn more
• TPD has suspended private, off-duty support for activities.
• Property and Evidence is open to retrieve property only Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

StarMetro

• Ride Free to FAMU Testing site: To ride free on a StarMetro fixed route on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., simply tell the coach operator as you board that you are headed to or coming back from the FAMU testing site. All riders are required to wear a mask on the bus. To ensure riders can properly distance themselves, bus capacity is limited to 15 people.
• Hours and Service Modifications: The last outbound trip of the day from C.K. Steele Plaza for all regular, fixed routes is at 7:30 p.m., with service ending at 8 p.m. Regular weekday fixed service is extended to 8 p.m. Weekday and Saturday Night routes are temporarily suspended. Saturday and Sunday Daytime service remains normal. Weekend Trolley service is temporarily suspended. Park Route is temporarily suspended.
• Capacity: Bus capacity is being limited to accommodate no more than 15 passengers. Passengers must stay behind the yellow line and remain seated, in staggered formation, through the entire trip. Should the StarMetro bus be at capacity, Coach Operators are instructed to call a Supervisor. Depending on the availability of standby buses, passengers may be picked up before the next scheduled bus is set to arrive. These courtesy pickups are not guaranteed and may be fewer during peak travel times.
• Masks: Federal mask mandate requires mask use on public buses. Click to learn more, including about medical exemptions. To obtain a medical exemption card from StarMetro, which will allow you to ride our vehicles or enter our facilities and stops without a mask, StarMetro requires medical documentation from a licensed medical provider stating you require exemption from this mask requirement. You can provide that documentation in person at 555 Appleyard Drive, via fax at 850-891-5143 or via email. Please be assured your documentation and its handling will remain confidential. Once documentation is received, you will be issued a medical exemption card within 48 business hours. Please show your card each time you board the bus and upon request at C.K. Steele Plaza, bus stops and shelters. Federal law mandates that StarMetro provides medically exempt individuals transportation if there is adequate social distancing available. Currently, StarMetro has a 15 person capacity limit on its buses to promote social distancing. If a bus is at capacity, you may be required to wait for another bus, or a supervisor will be called to assist. If you have questions, please contacting StarMetro at 850-891-5199 or via email. StarMetro looks forward to serving your public transit needs.
  
• Enhanced Cleaning and Safety Protocols: All StarMetro Coach Operators and employees are screened daily for COVID-19, including temperature checks at the beginning of each shift. All regular, fixed route and Dial-A-Ride vehicles are outfitted with custom-built plexiglass barriers to protect Coach Operators and passengers. Commercial-grade, CDC-approved disinfectant is used every night during the bus cleaning process and during mid-route layovers at C.K. Steele Plaza. High-traffic touch points, such as handles and seats, are cleaned with the same disinfectant multiple times a day. All Coach Operators have been issued face masks, gloves and hand sanitizers/wipes for use during shifts. Where social distancing is difficult to maintain, Coach Operators may wear face shields. This situation may arise when a Coach Operator needs to assist a passenger with the wheelchair lift. All regular, fixed route and Dial-A-Ride vehicles are outfitted with hand sanitizer for public use. All StarMetro employees are required to wear a face mask or covering at StarMetro and City of Tallahassee facilities, even when not operating a vehicle. Employees must also adhere to strict sanitizing and social distancing protocols.
• Call 850-891-5200 for more information.
  

Utilities

• Customer support remains available by calling 850-891-4968 or via DigiTally (online or mobile app).
• Energy audits will be conducted via telephone for the foreseeable future.

Waste Pro

• Waste Pro, the City's garbage and recycling provider, has modified its service to protect the health of employees. As a safety measure, WastePro has implemented a no touch policy and will only collect waste and recycling materials that are inside carts until further notice. Waste placed outside the receptacle, either loose or bagged, will be left curb side. For more information, call Waste Pro at 850-561-0800. If you feel your service was missed in error, report it via the free DigiTally app or by calling the City's Customer Operations line at 850-891-4968.