ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN THE CITY OF SAN FERNANDO
Public Access to City Facilities:
In an effort to limit the potential exposure and spread of COVID-19 and to safeguard the City of San Fernando’s ability to continue providing essential services, including public safety, water service, and community support, City Hall and City recreation centers remain closed to the public. City staff continues to be available to answer calls and respond to emails Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Online Permit Counter:
For additional convenience, the public may use the Online Permit Counter,
www.sfcity.org/Community-Development
, to submit building permit applications, track progress, and schedule inspections online.
San Fernando Water Supply and Service:
San Fernando water comes from wells that pump water from deep in the ground. It is treated and is delivered ready for drinking, washing, and bathing and will meet your needs during these challenging times. You have enough to worry about right now, don’t worry about San Fernando water; we will continue to deliver water that exceeds the health standards. We do not expect disruptions to our customers due to COVID-
19.
Additionally, the City of San Fernando WILL NOT be disconnecting any customers’ water and WILL BE waiving all late fees due to limited access to City Hall.
If your water bill is due, currently, there are three payment options:
- By Mail: City of San Fernando, 117 Macneil Street, San Fernando, CA 91340.
- Night Dropbox: Located outside City Hall’s main entrance on the right-hand side. Place your payment in an envelope and put it in the drop box. NO CASH PLEASE. Payments received in the drop-box will be processed by 9:00 am the next business day.
- AutoPay: Available to all City of San Fernando water customers. It is a direct debit program that works with your bank for a quick and simple way to pay your utility bill electronically. Click here to download an AutoPay Application.
Please contact the Finance Department (
Finance@sfcity.org
or (818) 898-1212) to set up alternate payment plans.
Eviction Protection for Commercial and Residential Tenants:
At a Special Meeting on April 8, 2020, the San Fernando City Council approved an Urgency Ordinance (“Eviction Protection Ordinance”) that provides protection to small businesses and residents from eviction due to inability to pay rent. The Eviction Protection Ordinance, effective immediately, prohibits a landlord from starting the eviction process for non-payment of rent until May 31, 2020.
The City’s Eviction Protection Ordinance requires that commercial and residential tenants notify their property owner within 7 days of their rent being due and demonstrate a financial impact due to COVID-19. The Eviction Protection Ordinance only applies to commercial tenants with 25 or fewer employees. Tenants have up to 180 days after the expiration of the deferment period, currently May 31, 2020, to repay all outstanding rent.
To qualify, tenants must provide documentation of COVID-19 related impacts. Tenants that qualify and choose to defer rent payment are still encouraged to pay as much rent as they can to avoid getting too far behind. The following table summarizes the qualifying COVID-19 related impacts under the Eviction Protection Ordinance.
Residential Tenants:
- Tenant was unable to work, or was caring for a household or family member, due to illness from a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19;
- Tenant experienced a lay-off, loss of hours, or other income reduction resulting from COVID-19, the state of emergency, or other government response; or
- Tenant needed to miss work to care for a child whose school or daycare was closed in response to COVID-19.
Commercial Tenants:
- Tenant was unable to operate due to a COVID-19 related state or local health order; or
- Tenant experienced a loss of income resulting from COVID-19, the state of emergency, or other government response; or
- Tenant’s operations were impacted due to employee(s) being sick or caring for a household or family member who was sick with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, or needing to miss work to care for a child whose school or daycare was closed in response to COVID-19.
Parking Citation Reduction Program:
On April 20, 2020, the San Fernando City Council approved an extension of the program to reduce residential street sweeping parking citations issued between Monday, March 16, 2020 and Friday, May 15, 2020 from $55 to $25. To qualify for the program, the vehicle owner must demonstrate a COVID-19 related financial hardship, including, but not limited to:
- The registered/legal owner of the vehicle was sick with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or caring for a household or family member who was sick with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19;
- The registered/legal owner of the vehicle experienced a lay-off, loss of hours, or other income reduction resulting from COVID-19, the state of emergency, or other government response; or
- The registered/legal owner of the vehicle needed to miss work to care for a child whose school or daycare was closed in response to COVID-19.
Only one reduction request per vehicle will be considered. To submit fine reduction request, the vehicle owner must complete a
COVID-19 Financial Hardship Request form
and supporting documentation within 60 days of the ticket issuance date. This form may also be requested by emailing
Police@sfcity.org
.
Modified Residential Street Sweeping Parking Restrictions Remain in Effect:
Please be aware that the modified residential street sweeping parking restrictions will remain in effect. To reiterate, although the City is relaxing the 2-hour restriction, residents must move their vehicle until the street sweeper has passed. After the sweeper has passed along the curb and cleaned the street, residents may move their vehicle and park on the restricted portion of the street. All other parking restrictions, including street sweeping parking restrictions in the commercial corridors, will remain in effect.
The City of San Fernando is working to balance accommodating the needs of residents that are being asked to stay home, with our responsibility of maintaining clean and sanitary public spaces. Clean and sanitary public spaces, including streets and parks, are especially critical to help curb the spread of COVID19.
Many solid waste haulers (including Republic Services) are rolling back services to protect their workers and comply with the social distancing directive. This makes street sweeping even more critical as removing trash, dirt, debris, and standing water from the curb is a crucial component to the City’s sanitation system. If the City is unable to sweep the streets due to parked vehicles; trash and other potentially contaminated surfaces will congregate and create an unsanitary environment.
A lot of thought when into San Fernando’s decision to prioritize public hygiene by maintaining street sweeping to remove trash, clear storm drains to avoid flooding, and reduce standing water for vector control. The City’s residential street sweeping policy is not an effort to hurt residents, it is an effort to protect residents by removing unsanitary waste from street curbs. In times of crisis, it is easy to do what is popular; it is hard to do what is right. The City’s policy may not be popular, but we feel it is right and in the best interest of protecting public health.
For more information, contact the San Fernando Police Department at (818) 898-1254 or
Police@sfcity.org
.
Visit the City's website for updates and to learn what the City is doing to keep you safe during COVID-19:
WWW.SFCITY.ORG/CORONAVIRUS
.
