COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)

March 27, 2020 

March 27, 2020 Regional Center Update

March 26, 2020

March 26, 2020 Regional Center Update

March 25, 2020

March 25 Regional Information Center Update

Visiting parks in the City of Sparks

Per Governor Sisolak’s Emergency Declaration (007), we ask if you visit a park, please do not do so in groups. The Governor’s emergency directive prohibits gatherings of groups of 10 or more in any indoor or outdoor public area to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, this includes parks, trails and other outdoor activities. 

Update on COVID-19 Homeless Services

Under the direction of the Washoe County COVID-19 Incident Management Team, a Homeless Services division has been created and is actively working to ensure essential services are provided to our region’s homeless population during this crisis.

As part of that of that emergency response, 19 Sani-Hut portable restrooms with hand sanitizer have been temporarily placed in a variety of areas throughout Washoe County to provide our homeless population with access to restrooms. Four Sani-Huts have been placed in Sparks, and 15 have been placed in Reno, the majority of those in the downtown corridor.

Bottled water has also been secured, for general distribution among the homeless population.

About a dozen hand-washing stations will be temporarily deployed soon in the region, once the weather warms up (so the water doesn’t freeze).

The Reno Events Center has been established as a temporary overnight homeless shelter. Nightly operational hours are from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. There are 375 mats/beds currently available. Running water is also available inside the Events Center.

Screening process: Individuals are assessed at entry. If COVID indicators are suspected, individuals are directed to the Community Assistance Center (CAC) Record Street campus for medical screening and isolation. There is a limit of one personal bag per admittance, with some exceptions. Potential occupants are also being screened for weapons, drugs and alcohol – all of which are not allowed in the Events Center or CAC.

Those being housed at the CAC are limited to Veterans, those who need to be isolated, or those with special needs.There are 35 beds available at the CAC.

There are currently no known COVID cases at the Events Center or CAC. Social distancing is being strongly enforced at both locations.

March 24, 2020

Regional Information Center Update

Spotlight on Sparks interview with Councilman Ed Lawson and our plant manager at the Truckee Meadows Water  Reclamation Facility. 

March 23, 2020

Regional Information Center Daily Update

Business Operations Guide

A regional COVID-19 Business Operations Guide has been established to be implemented in Reno, Sparks and unincorporated Washoe County. Please be advised, this document may be updated as the COVID-19 situation changes. Due to health and safety concerns for the public in light of COVID-19, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and his administration took actions starting on March 17, 2020 with regard to the operations of essential and non-essential businesses. This guide summarizes operational restrictions and mandatory closures for certain types of businesses during this public health emergency. Restrictions remain in effect until April 16, 2020.

Park Use

Please see our Park Use During  COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: COVID PARK USE (Joint Message from Reno, Sparks and Washoe County).

Recreation Programs

All recreation programs are cancelled at least until April 16. Parents, guardians and participants, please fill out this Cancellation Form COVID-19(2) to request a refund or credit and return it by email to recinfo@cityofsparks.us. Please note, no processing fee will be charged.

Please see below about extended closures of programs/classes/leagues/etc. The following dates are tentative and may change, please check the City’s website regularly.

• Voice Coaches canceled (may be rescheduled with future date)
• Skills4sports will be canceled through April
• Preschool-Small Wonders cancelled through April 16th
• Before and After School Programs cancelled at least through April 16th
• Blast ball to begin tentatively the week of April 16
• Aquacise to tentatively begin the week of April 16
• Just for Kicks tentatively to begin the week of April 16
• Preschool-Small Wonders tentatively to start back up on April 16
• Alf Sorensen/Larry D. Johnson Community Center tentatively the week of April 16
• All Youth/Adult Leagues no practices or games until at least April 16
• Art in Motion cancelled through April 17
• Dog Obedience tentatively to begin April 20
• Any Art in Motion class will tentatively start April 20
• All Park Rentals, Events, and Tournaments are canceled thru April 30
• Mindful Yoga tentatively to begin in May
• Leisure Without Limits Art and Bowling tentatively to begin in May

Some programs may be reduced in number of participation days or extended. If your program begins and the number of class days is reduced a credit/refund will be prorated to your household.

March 22, 2020

Updates:

Please read our daily Regional Information Center Update .

March 21, 2020

The Monday, March 23, 2020, Sparks City Council Meeting at 2:00 pm is still scheduled. The City of Sparks will be implementing social distancing at this meeting and following additional guidelines from the CDC and Washoe County Health District. In addition, we encourage citizens to email public comment to cityclerk@cityofsparks.us.  A public comment period will still be provided at the meeting. In-person capacity for meeting attendance at City Hall has been reduced to 13 people. We encourage those wishing to attend to meeting to consider watching via our livestream on the City of Sparks Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cityofsparks or online.

In cooperation with the City of Reno, The City of Sparks, and Washoe County, the Community Foundation opened a charitable relief fund to help address needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic in northern Nevada. The COVID-19 Relief Fund will distribute grants to individuals, businesses, governmental services and charitable nonprofits. A fund advisory committee made up of representatives from local organizations, local governments, the Community Foundation and experts on the impact of the virus will decide and recommend the grants to the Community Foundation Board of Trustees. People are asked to contribute to the COVID-19 Relief Fund on the Community Foundation Website, nevadafund.org. The COVID-19 Relief Fund is intended to address the larger and long-term picture and take action where it will be most effective at helping people in our community. To address individual’s and families’ basic needs the United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra has set up The United Way Emergency Assistance Fund. For more information visit the United Way website at www.uwnns.org. View a list of resources  to learn more about Northern Nevada’s situation and the organizations working to serve residents during this emergency.

March 20, 2020

The Washoe County School District, in partnership with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, is providing free meals to any child aged 18 and under. Families are not asked to provide identification or information in order to receive free meals. The Food Bank and District will be providing multi-day meals at more than 20 schools and community sites at varying times and dates next week. Log onto www.washoeschools.net for more information about a variety of community resources for food, and this information will be updated as needed. In addition, you may call 2-1-1 for a list of schools, dates, and times for food distribution.

Click here for the Regional Response Team message and follow us on Twitter @COVID19Washoe.

City of Sparks message, March 20, 2020

University suspending non-essential operations and services for at least 30 days: https://www.unr.edu/president

FEMA rumor control page: https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control

March 19, 2020

The Public Information Offices in the region are collaborating to create a COVID-19 Regional Messaging Team to deliver COVID-19 updates in a unified manner. Please click here for this evening’s information: https://cityofsparks.us/news/28276/

Available programs and resources:

• A regional COVID-19 Business Operations Guide has been established to be implemented in Reno, Sparks and unincorporated Washoe County. Please be advised, this document may be updated as the COVID-19 situation changes
• FEMA rumor control page: https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control
• Application for artists to apply for funds to assist with artists that have lost revenue due to event cancellations: https://sierraarts.org/event/washoe-county-artist-relief-fund-covid-19/
• “Virtual Visits” now available at Nevada State Veterans Homes: http://gov.nv.gov/News/Press/2020/ICYMI__%E2%80%9CVirtual_Visits%E2%80%9D_Now_Available_at_Nevada_State_Veterans_Homes/
• United Way is assisting with finding food, housing bills, childcare and other resources. http://www.211.org/services/covid19
• Foreclosures and evictions suspended for vast majority of Nevada homeowners: https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Foreclosures-and-evictions-suspended-for-vast-majority-of-Nevada-homeowners.-3.18.pdf
• Governor Sisolak message: If you are affected by the nonessential business closure across the state of Nevada, you are encouraged to apply to unemployment. Watch his video here: https://www.facebook.com/GovSisolak/videos/842361522911357/
• Governor Sisolak’s Health Response Mitigation Initiative, including information on essential/non essential business information:  https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NV-Health-Response-COVID19.pdf.
• Washoe County Health District Website: https://www.washoecounty.us/health/programs-and-services/communicable-diseases-and-epidemiology/educational_materials/COVID-19.php
• Getting tested for COVID-19:  https://www.washoecounty.us/health/files/ephp/communicable-diseases/COVID19-SymptomsV2.pdf
• Healthy Response Nevada website:  https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/
• Information on business assistance: https://www.diversifynevada.com/sba-offers-disaster-assistance-to-nevada-small-businesses-economically-impacted-by-the-coronavirus-covid-19/
• https://www.diversifynevada.com/small-business-administration-sba-disaster-assistance-in-response-to-the-coronavirus/
• NV Energy Assistance. The company is offering energy bill assistance in northern Nevada through its Special Assistance Fund for Energy (SAFE) program. SAFE currently helps any customer who demonstrates economic hardship to pay their energy bill, including those struggling due to COVID-19. nvenergy.com/assistance
• The Washoe County School District is working with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada to bring meals to 10 schools and the Evelyn Mount Community Center. Here are the locations and times: https://www.washoeschools.net/cms/lib/NV01912265/Centricity/Domain/152/2020%20Kids%20Cafe%20Spring%20Break.pdf

Messages from Mayor Ron Smith:

March 17, 2020 7:00 pm –

This evening, Governor Steve Sisolak requested statewide closures of non-essential businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Sparks fully supports the Governor’s decision and thanks him for his leadership.

Casinos, bars, gyms, salons and malls will be affected by the closure directive. Restaurants will be able to provide takeout and delivery service, but no in-restaurant dining is allowed. Essential businesses, including grocery stores, will remain open.

The directive is for 30 days starting at noon tomorrow and will be reevaluated after the 30-day period.

___________

To facilitate community-wide restocking and delivery of goods  and supplies in the Truckee Meadows in response to a recent spike in consumer demand driven by the COVID-19 pandemic event, the City of Sparks is temporarily suspending restrictions on delivery hours to local businesses. Through at least April 30, 2020, the City is encouraging local retailers, suppliers, vendors and logistics companies to use this operational flexibility to replenish their respective inventories as best they can. “Our goal is to help businesses in Sparks receive deliveries as quickly and efficiently as they can, reduce detention time for shipping companies so that they can get on to their next stop, and get shelves in Sparks filled with the products on which our citizens rely,” said Mayor Ron Smith.” Combatting COVID-19 is a community-wide effort; making proactive temporary adjustments to the way we do business to better facilitate the well-being of individuals and businesses makes sense.”

Update: March 17, 2020

We have suspended all in-person services through at least April 30.

• Sewer payments can be completed by mail, by phone or online at www.cityofsparks.us/customer-service
• Business license applications and renewals can be completed by mail or online – www.onenv.us
• Passport Services can be obtained at the US Postal Service – 750 4th Street, Sparks.
• Building Permits and Development Applications are being processed by appointment only. Please call 353-2306 or email permitdesk@cityofsparks.us.
• All planning and development related meetings should be coordinated through the planner assigned to your case. Please call 775-353-2300 or email msmith@cityofsparks.us.
• Public Records requests can be made online at www.cityofsparks.us/records-request. Please call the CityClerks office at 775-353-2350 or email cityclerk@cityofsparks.us with any questions.
• For all other inquires, please contact customer service at 775-353-5555 or customerservice@cityofsparks.us

Update: March 16, 2020 COVID-19 Cancellation/Refund/Credit Request

All recreation programs are cancelled from March 16th – April 5th. Parents, guardians and participants, please fill out this  Cancellation Form COVID-19 to request a refund or credit and return it by email to recinfo@cityofsparks.us. Please note, no processing fee will be charged.

The safety and well-being of our employees, residents and visitors is of the upmost importance to us. We are actively monitoring information from Governor Sisolak, the Washoe County Health District, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are working with our regional partners to bring you up to date information concerning COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus).

We strongly urge the public to practice good hygiene, stay home when feeling unwell, and call your health practitioner if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (fever, fatigue, cough, and aches).

Update: March 15, 2020

Sparks Mayor Ron Smith has declared a State of Emergency in response to COVID-19. Please read the official media release here: https://cityofsparks.us/news/city-of-sparks-mayor-declares-state-of-emergency-in-response-to-covid-19/

Important notice to parents of Washoe County school age children. In conjunction with the state’s decision to close all Nevada K-12 schools until at least April 6, the City will be closing spring break and before and after school programming scheduled through City of Sparks Parks and Recreation. Parents and guardians will need to make alternative arrangements for the care of their children.

Kid Konnection
Spring Vacation Fun
SVF2
Small Wonders Learning Center

Parents and guardians will need to make alternative arrangements for the care of their children.

Additionally, all City of Sparks community centers will be closed at least until April 6 including the Larry D. Johnson and Alf Sorensen Community Centers and the City Recreation Center. All programs, classes and lessons scheduled at these facilities are also cancelled. Parents, guardians and participants can expect a household credit or refund and will receive more detailed communication from City of Sparks Parks and Recreation in the coming week.

All youth and adult leagues have also been cancelled until at least April 6 as well.

The City has also cancelled all tournaments and special events through Thursday, April 30, 2020, including but not limited to this weekend’s Dublin Dirty adult softball tournament and the following:

Tournaments

• All World Sports Youth Baseball, March 21-22, Golden Eagle Regional Park
• Reed High Varsity Softball Tournament, March 27-28, Shadow Mountain Park
• NSA Girls Fast Pitch, March 28-29, Golden Eagle Regional Park
• Down & Dirty, April 4-5, Golden Eagle Regional Park
• USA Softball State, April 11-12, Golden Eagle Regional Park

• All World, April 18-19, Shadow Mountain Park and Golden Eagle Regional Park
• All American Athletics, April 25-26, Golden Eagle Regional Park
• Capital Sports, April 25-26, Golden Eagle Regional Park

Special Events

• 3rd Thursday, March 19 and April 16, Victorian Square
• Out of the Darkness Walk, April 18, Sparks Marina

Please go to https://www.washoecounty.us/health for important updates, information and resources from the Washoe County Health District.

For City of Reno updates, please click here: https://www.reno.gov/community/emergency-preparedness/covid-19