City of Southfield declares continued State of Emergency
April 17, 2021
City offices and facilities remain closed to public until June 1 and City Council and Boards & Commission Meetings will continue remotely until September 5
Mayor Dr. Ken Siver declared a continued State of Emergency on April 1, 2021 for the purpose of permitting the City Council and Boards & Commissions to continue to meet remotely by electronic and telephonic means until September 5, 2021.
All City of Southfield offices and facilities will remain closed to the public until at least Tuesday, June 1, 2021 or further notice as positive COVID-19 cases continue to rise throughout Southfield and the state. All essential public safety and public works services and departments continue to function as normal. Residents can still conduct most city business online and through City Hall’s main drop box 24/7 as well as via phone during the City Hall regular business hours, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the City of Southfield has implemented numerous new public safety protocols, procedures and social distancing barriers, including safe social distancing floor stickers installed throughout all public areas as well as floor tape directing foot traffic and interaction. Safety glass partitions have been installed in all public buildings throughout the Donald F. Fracassi Municipal Campus to reduce exposure and contact while providing a safer customer service interaction for both residents and city staff.
“The health, safety and welfare of the community is of the utmost importance,” added City Administrator Fred Zorn. “We have taken every measure available to help ensure the safety of both the public and staff, including more than $300,000 in facility upgrades and improvements designed to provide that level of protection. Moreover, every City department has prepared and activated Resumption of In-Person Service and Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs) which have been integrated into the City’s overall COVID-19 Response and Operations Resumption Plan.”
As part of the new guidelines, all individuals are required to wear face masks and to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) before entering any city office or facility. If anyone is symptomatic, they are prohibited from entering city buildings. Vented face masks are prohibited.
All essential public safety and public works services and departments continue to function as normal. The City’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) has been activated and City Hall will continue operating during regular business hours Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Non-essential city departments and staff will work remotely when and where possible. Residents will still be able to conduct most city business online and through City Hall’s main drop box 24/7 as well as via phone during the City Hall regular business hours.
Ascension Michigan Southfield Community Vaccine Clinic
Ascension Michigan, in partnership with the City of Southfield, has launched a Southfield Community Vaccine Clinic, in the Southfield Pavilion located at the Southfield Municipal Campus, 26000 Evergreen Road. To register for a vaccine appointment, visit https://ascensionhealth.inquicker.com/vaccine. Walk-in appointments will not be accepted. Individuals who are 16-17 years of ages must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and will need to select "Pfizer vaccine" when setting up their appointment online. For all vaccine related question, contact Ascension Health Connect at 1-866-501-DOCS (3627).
Southfield COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline
The city of Southfield has launched a COVID Vaccine Hotline at (248) 796-4529 to assist seniors and other residents without Internet access to register for eligible vaccination appointments. Staff from the City’s Human Services Department will register callers for Ascension Michigan's Southfield Community Vaccine Clinic or Oakland County’s “Save Your Spot” for COVID vaccinations. Please note: Ascension Michigan and Oakland County are the responsible authorities for coordinating appointments and administering vaccinations.
To participate, callers should leave their name and telephone number and staff will return calls as received to get more information to register residents for the first available vaccine appointment for which they are eligible. The hotline is open 24-hours; however, staff will return calls Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Other Local Vaccination Providers
For more information on where to get a vaccine locally, contact Oakland County:
- Nurse-on-call: 800-848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com
- Oakland County Vaccine Hub: https://oaklandcountyvaccine.com/appointments/
- Who is Currently Eligible to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine? https://oaklandcountyvaccine.com/eligibility/
- State of Michigan Vaccine Hub: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_103214_104822---,00.html#comp_121341
City of Southfield COVID-19 Memorial & Visual Tribute May 10-28
The City of Southfield will install memorial flags as a tribute to residents who lost their lives to COVID-19 on the front lawn of the Southfield Municipal Campus from May 10-28 in addition to a candlelight vigil that will take place on May 11 at 8 p.m.
“With so many Southfield lives lost to COVID-19, we felt it was vitally important to pay tribute to these cherished friends and family members,” commented Mayor Dr. Ken Siver. “We hope that this memorial tribute provides some comfort to the many families who have lost loved ones as we remember these individuals and share how they inspired us and contributed to our community.”
The City of Southfield is inviting residents to honor lost loved ones by submitting their names, a brief bio (350 character limit) and a photo (optional) to be included in an online memorial at www.cityofsouthfield.com/covid19communitymemorial as well as at the candlelight vigil. Submissions should be e-mailed to kbryant@cityofsouthfield.com by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 3 to be included. To date, 270 Southfield residents have succumbed due to the COVID-19 virus.
Building, Planning and Engineering Department Operations
The Building, Planning and Engineering Departments will remain fully operational during regular business via a self-service station located in the vestibule of the Public Services Building. Important information, permits and forms can all be accessed online and staff can assist callers by phone and through processing permits by mail. Payments can be made by dropping off checks in the vestibule drop box or by making credit card payments online or by phone. Processed permits will then be available for pick-up in the vestibule.
Field inspections and single-family rental inspections will continue as usual and will be monitored daily. Multi-family inspections of apartments will be suspended until further notice. For more information, contact the Building Department at (248) 796-4100, the Planning Department at (248) 796-4150, the Engineering Department at (248) 796-4810 or the Code Enforcement Department at (248) 796-4140.
Southfield City Council and Other Public Meetings
The Southfield City Council will continue to meet on scheduled Mondays via secure public teleconference. Residents can listen to the council meetings live on City Cable 15 and through the City's website at https://bit.ly/Cable15. Residents may also call in at +1-415-655-0001 US Toll with a unique event access code posted for each meeting to make public comment. Meetings of the city council and city boards and commissions will continue to be conducted virtually as scheduled until further notice. The City Council agendas and meeting schedule are available on the city’s website at www.cityofsouthfield.com.
Southfield Parks & Recreation Operations
All P&R facilities, including the Southfield Sports Arena and Beech Woods Recreation Center, will be closed to the public until at least Tuesday, June 1, 2021 or further notice. The P&R Information Desk (248-796-4620) and the Beech Woods Recreation Center (248-796-4670) front desk will answer phones and accept registrations for virtual programs by phone only Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Online registration will remain available 24/7 at https://apm.activecommunities.com/southfieldparks/.
The Evergreen Hills Golf Course is now open daily, weather permitting, for the 2021 season. Golfers can book tee times online via GolfNow at https://www.cityofsouthfield.com/departments/parks-recreation/golf or call (248) 796-4666. The Beech Woods Driving Range will open for the season on May 1.
All Southfield parks remain open from dawn to dusk; however, outdoor restrooms and water access at Beech Woods Park, Civic Center Park, Inglenook Park, Pebble Creek Park and the Mary Thompson House and Farm are closed for the season through May 1, 2021. Park visitors are reminded to continue to follow CDC’s safety guidelines by wearing masks, practicing social distancing of at least 6 feet from other individuals at all times and washing your hands following your visit. For more information, continue to check www.cityofsouthfield.com or call Southfield Parks & Recreation at (248) 796-4620.
The TOSS (Transportation of Southfield Seniors) program will continue to take reservations and provide transportation for medical appointments and limited grocery trips. Appointments must be made at least 48 hours in advance and riders will receive a health screening call the day prior to their appointment between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Masks are required for all riders and drivers and buses are cleaned after each rider. Call (248) 796-4658 with questions or to schedule an appointment.
Southfield Public Library Operations
Patrons can access e-books and magazines, audiobooks, movies, music, children’s resources, and research tools and more 24/7 with their library card at www.southfieldlibrary.org. Contactless service will also continue at the drive-up window to pick up library materials Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. as well as Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, continue to visit www.southfieldlibrary.org, check in on social media or call Southfield Public Library at (248) 796-4200.