Rick's Blog

COVID-19: More official news

Rick Outzen

DOH has reported that the death that I mentioned in my last post was in Palm Beach County.

City Parks & Playgrounds

Parks managed by the City of Pensacola remain open to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, but park visitors should not use playground equipment, park benches, and other shared public surfaces. The COVID-19 virus has been shown to survive on surfaces up to several days according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department is not disinfecting these frequently touched surfaces.

As recreation and physical activity are essential for optimal health, the City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department encourages families to continue enjoying open spaces at any of the city’s 93 parks. Park visitors should bring their own equipment such as a ball or Frisbee, and CDC guidelines should be followed to help stop the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing.

The City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department has taken the following actions to protect the public:

For more information about City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation, visit playpensacola.com or like Play Pensacola Parks and Recreation on Facebook.

Escambia County will close facilities and programs to public in-person access to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 effective Monday, March 23. Alternative ways to conduct business with county departments:

Animal Services, 200 W. Fairfield Drive – By Appointment Only

  • Animal Services will continue to handle emergencies and non-contact calls.
  • Available by phone at 850-595-3076 or email at animalshelter@myescambia.com.
  • Animal Services asks citizens not to pick-up stray animals or bring them to the shelter. Contact Animal Control at 850-595-0097 to report a stray animal.
  • Animal Control will not be accepting animals from the public until further notice.
  • Adoptions and lost animal reclaims can be made by appointment only.Please call 850-595-3076 to make arrangements for these services. Please only request an adoption appointment if you are truly interested in adopting an animal as the number of available adoption appointments are limited.
  • Citizens can go to www.petharbor.com to look to see if their lost pet is at the shelter or to look for adoptable animals.
  • Submit an online Animal Control complaint here.

Board of County Commissioners, County Attorney and County Administration, 221 Palafox Place – Closed to Public

  • Citizen’s Information Center  850-471-6600

Capital Improvement Projects, Surveying, and Drainage Issues, Central Office Complex 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

Community Centers

  • Community Centers are closed for all public programming.

Community Redevelopment Agency, 221 Palafox Place – Closed to Public

  • No new appointments or walk-ins are being accepted.
  • For questions, please contact 850-595-3217 or email cra@myescambia.com.

Development Services, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

Engineering and Construction, Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

The Escambia County Area Transit, 1515 W. Fairfield Drive – Customer Service to remain Open

  • ECAT administrative offices and lobby will be closed to the public beginning Monday, March 23. ECAT Rosa L. Parks Transit Complex and customer service will remain open and will adhere to the 6-feet social distancing policy. Bus tickets are also available for purchase online at www.GoECAT.com.
  • In-person paratransit eligibility interviews will be rescheduled or completed over the phone. Please call the ECAT Mobility Clerk for assistance or to reschedule an interview at 850-595-3230.
  • For additional information, please call 850-595-3228 or visit www.GoECAT.com.

Extension Escambia County, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment – By Appointment Only

  • UF/IFAS Extension is open by appointment only. The phone number for appointments 850-475-5230, ext. 3 for Extension Services, ext. 2 for the 4-H office or email shendrix@ufl.edu.
  • Walk-in traffic is closed to the main lobby at the Extension Services office and the Langley Bell 4-H Center beginning Monday, March 23.
  • Traditional services such as soil samples, plant samples or identification are still available, but clientele is encouraged to communicate by phone or computer as much as possible.
  • Field visits will be limited and must be considered essential at this time. Clientele are encouraged to call, set up appointments and follow guidelines for visits from the agents.
  • All volunteers associated with Extension Services are asked to limit office visits and contact agents by phone or email.
  • Unless directed by Parks & Rec, the walking track around Extension Services is still open to the public, we highly encourage social distancing.
  • ECUA yard debris bag pick up at Extension Services has been suspended until further notice. Recycling and FOG station remain available for use.
  • Pesticide license testing for limited and commercial pest control will not be available for administration through our office until after April 30.
  • 4-H Livestock facility in Molino is closed to the general public. Only essential authorized personnel are allowed in the facility.

Neighborhood Enterprise Division, 221 Palafox Place – Closed to Public

  • No new appointments or walk-ins are being accepted.
  • For questions, please contact 850-595-0022 or email ned@myescambia.com.

Neighborhood & Human Services, 221 Palafox Place – Closed to Public

Parks and Recreation office, 1651 East Nine Mile Road – Closed to Public

  • Please call 850-475-5220 for assistance.

Permitting and Inspections – Building Services, Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

  • All walk-in permitting has been suspended effective Monday, March 23, until further notice. Business will still be conducted as usual using online accounts through mygovernmentonline.org and submitting permits electronically. For all permit-related questions, please call Building Services at 850-595-3550.Below are a few helpful guidelines to follow while transitioning to online permitting:
  • Permit applications must be submitted electronically using mygovernmentonline.org. Guidelines for creating an account and submitting online are available through the Escambia County Building Services website.  You may also call Building Services at 850-595-3550 for help in creating an account. For all active customer portal account questions, please call My Government Online at 866-957-3764.
  • If the permit requires plan review, two sets of stamped sealed paper copies are required to be submitted. Plans can be dropped off in the drop boxes located at both the Central Office Complex and Molino permitting locations. Please attach the application to the plans and ensure that contact information is clearly displayed.  If the plans are too large to fit within the drop box, then you may make an appointment for drop off. At the scheduled appointment, staff will meet you to receive the plans at either location. To schedule an appointment for plans drop off, please call 850-595-4560.
  • All documents such as notices of commencement must be uploaded into the permit application through the online portal or submitted with the plans.
  • Contractor registration, application for a new license (examination), and application for reciprocity must be a complete package upon submission. to contractorlicense@myescambia.com. To renew a license, please call 850-595-3550 and ask for licensing in order to renew over the phone.
  • All permits must be paid by credit card and printed from your online account and posted on the job site prior to commencement of work.
  • Customers picking up paper plans only must schedule an appointment by calling 850-595-1627 or 850-595-3587 and a staff member will meet with you to provide the approved copy.
  • Owner-builder permits will need to be submitted online. The required owner-builder affidavit will need to be done by appointment only, and a notary will meet you to notarize and witness the signature per Florida Statutes. Please call 850-595-4560 for assistance.
  • Permit extensions and requests for renewals of expired permits must be submitted via email to buildinginspections@myescambia.com.
  • Requests for certificates of occupancy for permits issued prior to Nov. 5, 2019 should be made by phone to 850-595-3559 or email at buildinginspections@myescambia.com. Copies of signed certificates of occupancy will be emailed out.
  • Inspection requests for mygovernmentonline.org permits will need to be scheduled either online through the customer portal, or via telephone using the IVR system by dialing 866-957-3764 and choosing option 5.
  • Inspections, where the inspector has to enter an inhabited residence, will need to be completed via Facetime, Skype, etc.  All other inspections will be completed in the normal fashion.

Purchasing, 213 Palafox Place – Closed to Public

  • Purchasing will use Skype if needed for solicitations.

Road Department call center office, 1651 East Nine Mile Road – Closed to Public

  • For Road Department services for stormwater, mowing, tree trimming, streets and sidewalks go to: Our Services – Public Works.
  • Available by phone Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 850-494-5860. To report an issue of an immediate nature after business hours, please call 850-937-2100.

Transportation and Traffic, Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

  • Transportation and Traffic services are available via email or phone at Traffic@myescambia.com or 850-595-3404.
  • Signals and Signs Maintenance and Traffic Calming services can be utilized online:

Signals and Signs Maintenance and Traffic Calming, Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

  • Signals and Signs Maintenance and Traffic Calming services can be utilized online:
  • Click here to learn how to report a traffic signal problem.
  • Click here to report a road sign issue.
  • Click here to request new traffic calming measures.

Veterans Services, Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

Waste Services, Perdido Landfill 13009 Beulah Road and Oak Grove Convenience Center 745 County Road 99 – OPEN

West Florida Public Libraries – Closed to Public

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