City of Scotts Valley Business Update
I
n these COVID-19 times, information is moving swiftly. The City of Scotts Valley knows that businesses are stretched to keep their operations up and running while conforming with the latest rules and staying on top of new topics. The City is keenly attuned to our business community and appreciates the great partnership with the Chamber of Commerce to share some pertinent City updates with you: • Business License Deadline and Renewals Extended. The City extended its business license and renewal deadline through October 1, 2020, a 90-day extension. The City is also moving to an online business license administration platform that will go live this cycle. Renewal notices will be mailed out in mid-August. • Local Sales Tax Rate Change. In March
2020, voters approved an increase to the local City of Scotts Valley Transactions and Use Tax (Measure Z). This change went into effect on July 1, 2020. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration mailed notices to all registered retailers in the spring. • Temporary Outdoor Dining Permitting in Parking Lots, Sidewalks and Common Areas. To expand outdoor seating capacity and flexibility, the City instituted a new emergency permitting program for restaurants. • Fitness Uses in City Parks. The City is finalizing a program to allow our gyms and fitness studios to conduct classes in select City parks. • COVID-19 Local Business Recovery Committee. The City established a specific Council subcommittee to focus on support, advocacy and information for local businesses. This committee is active with rapid information sharing, informational webinars, coordination
and advocacy, and providing needed resources such as hand sanitizer and masks. We want to hear from you about your
ideas and needs. Please connect with us at cityhall@scottsvalley.org. We thank you for your remarkable creativity and resilience during these challenging times
Santa Cruz County Placed on Monitoring List; Modifications & Closures in Certain Sectors
B
ased on increased spread of COVID-19 and in order to protect the health and safety of residents, the California Department of Public Health has added Santa Cruz County to the order modifying or closing operations in several sectors. The orders go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2020. They include modifications for: • Gyms and fitness centers • Personal care services • Places of worship and cultural ceremonies
• Offices for non-critical infrastructure sectors • Indoor shopping malls Retail and existing outdoor restaurant operations are unaffected by the orders and may continue operating under state guidelines for their respective sectors. Additionally, hair salons and personal services (including skin care, cosmetology, nail services, and massage therapy but not electrology, tattooing and piercing services) may continue operations outdoors under state guidelines. • Hair Salon guidance: https://files.
c o v i d 1 9 . c a . g o v / p d f / g u i d a n c e - to close operations but must continue outdoor-hair-salons-en.pdf following state guidance for safe • Personal Services operations. Places of worship guidance: https://files. may continue outdoor operacovid19.ca.gov/pdf/ tions in accordance with state guidance-outdoor-perguidance. sonalcare--en.pdf Indoor dining, bars, winNon-critical infraeries and tasting rooms, movie structure sectors are defined theaters, family entertainment by the Department of Homeland centers, zoos and museums and Security and are available at cardrooms were closed throughout www.cisa.gov/identifying-critical-infra- California on July 13, 2020. structure-during-COVID-19. Any removal from the list would Offices on this list are not required require further state action.
Stay Safe — Wear a Mask!
Call the Chamber Today or Visit www.scottsvalleychamber.com
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / August 2020 / 11