ORDER AND SUPPLEMENT TO DECLARATION OF
STATE OF EMERGENCY
(Order Number 17)
AMENDED ACCESS TO PARKS, GOLF COURSES, AND MARINAS
WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, I, as City Manager of the City of Aventura, promulgated a Declaration of Emergency (the "Declaration"), due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus health emergency within the jurisdictional limits of the City of Aventura ("City"), pursuant to Section 2-404 of the City of Aventura Code of Ordinances; and
WHEREAS, Section 2-404 of the City’s Code of Ordinances authorizes the City Manager, to adopt emergency orders which may include, but are not limited to, curfews, declaration of certain areas being off limits, and other matters related to the Declaration; and
WHEREAS, on April 3, 2020, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") recommended that persons wear masks, including cloth masks or other facial coverings, while in public to help control the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2020, in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Aventura, I entered City of Aventura Emergency Order 12 requiring individuals to use a face covering in certain circumstances; and
WHEREAS, on April 27, 2020, Miami-Dade County Mayor Gimenez entered Emergency Order 21-20 governing the opening, with restrictions, of parks, golf courses, marinas, and boat ramps, which was amended on May 27, 2020, June 4, 2020, June 7, 2020 and August 5, 2020, and September 11, 2020; and
WHEREAS, after further analysis of the Declaration, and the CDC’s recommendation, and in order to further protect individuals from COVID-19/Coronavirus, I am issuing this Supplement to Declaration to the State of Emergency to modify City Emergency Order 8, dated April 28, 2020, in order to authorize the further re-opening of parks and golf courses within the City.
THEREFORE, as City Manager for the City of Aventura, Florida, and pursuant to the authority vested in me under Section 2-404 of the City of Aventura Code of Ordinances (the "City Code"), as well as that certain City of Aventura Declaration of State of Emergency, dated March 12, 2020, I hereby ORDER and PROMULGATE the following additional emergency measures:
Section 1. Declaration Supplemented.
In accordance with City Code Section 2-404, and Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, the Declaration of the State of Emergency within the City of Aventura, dated March 12, 2020, and City Emergency Order 8, dated April 28, 2020, are hereby re-affirmed, remain in full force and effect, except as expressly modified herein, and are further supplemented pursuant to this Order, as provided herein:
Section 2. Findings.
(A) The detailed findings of Governor DeSantis’ Executive Orders Number 20-52, Number 20-68, Number 20-82, 20-83, 20-91, 20-92, and 20-233 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
(B) The detailed findings of Miami-Dade County Mayor Gimenez as contained in Miami-Dade County Emergency Order 29-20, dated September 11, 2020 is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 3. Order: Limited Access to Marinas, Golf Courses, Tennis Facilities, and City Parks
(A) Specified City owned parks shall provide limited access, subject to the following conditions:
- LIMITED ACCESS TO CITY PARKS
(1) City of Aventura residents shall have limited access to the parks identified in this Order, while adhering to social distancing guidelines, and the use of facial coverings where social distancing cannot be accomplished.
(2) Founders Park shall be open only to senior citizens starting at 8:00 a.m.
(3) Veterans Park and Founders Park shall be open to all City residents from 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., except on Tuesdays when the parks are closed.
(4) Waterways Park and Peace Park remain closed.
(5) Waterways Dog Park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except Wednesdays when the park is closed.
(6) Park Amenities and Features:
a. All tennis courts are open. The online reservation system will accept reservations. Residents should visit the City’s Online Registration System ("ORS") at www.cityofaventura.com/ors to make a tennis court reservation.
b. Selected park trails and walkways shall be one-way flow only, except where the existing configurations does not allow such flow. Where designated for one-way flow, persons shall only move in the designated direction.
c. All playgrounds, exercise equipment, drinking fountains, recreation buildings, picnic shelters, and the Founders Park SplashPad will remain closed.
d. Table games, picnics, and parties are prohibited.
(7) Rules Regarding Use of Parks:
a. All residents are required to check in with City employees upon entrance.
b. All persons over the age of (2) are required to wear face coverings if social distancing cannot be maintained. The term "facial covering" shall refer to a facial covering as described in Emergency Order Number 7 dated April 8, 2020.
c. All individuals entering the park shall maintain social distancing in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control ("CDC") and the Florida Department of Health ("DOH") guidelines. The term "social distancing" shall mean a minimum of six feet distance between persons. Social distancing, where required herein, shall not apply to family members residing in the same dwelling solely with respect to other such family members. The term "family" shall mean an individual and spouse, domestic partner, parents, children, or legal guardians who reside in the same household, and inclusive of children whose custody is shared between two parents in different households. If the CDC issues guidelines that are more restrictive than is provided for in this order, persons shall comply with the CDC guidelines.
d. To ensure that social distancing is maintained and to ensure access to facilities by patrons, parks staff may limit the number of persons using trails, paths, fields, or courts, and may limit the time any person spends on such trail, path, field, or court.
e. Limited active uses are allowed, including City organized sports activities, but competitions and league play are not permitted, except in the case of tennis, racquetball, softball, and baseball. Other organized sports team competitions, league play and scrimmages are not permitted. Bleachers shall not be open to spectators where organized sports team competitions and league play is permitted.
f. Unless participating in an organized sports activity, groups of ten (10) or more individuals shall not be permitted to congregate at any time while in the park.
(8) This order allows for operations of common used bicycle or motorized bicycles in accordance with the Miami-Dade County New Normal Handbook
(B) Marinas, tennis facilities, and golf courses may open subject to the conditions contained herein.
(1) LIMITED ACCESS TO MARINAS
All marinas located in the City may be open, subject to the provisions of Miami-Dade County Order 21-20, as amended by Miami-Dade County Order 29-20.
(2) LIMITED ACCESS TO TENNIS FACILITIES
Private tennis facilities may open, if the following conditions are met:
- All water stations/fountains shall be removed/closed.
- Shaking hands is prohibited.
- Staff and players shall practice social distancing and wear facial coverings while inside the facility.
- No equipment shall be transported by facility staff. Players shall be responsible for bringing their own equipment to designated areas prior to play.
- Designated signage shall be placed outside the pro-shop outlining the required social distancing and facial covering guidelines.
- Designated signage shall be placed around the facility with the phone number to call for staff
- Indoor events shall be permitted, limited to 50 percent capacity of the facility, following the guidelines of the New Normal Handbook.
- Pro-shop patrons may be allowed to purchase goods and supplies at the pro-shop, subject to patrons and staff practicing social distancing.
- Glass or plastic screens shall be installed between pro-shop staff and customers.
- Staff shall wear facial coverings at all times.
- Where possible, separate entry and exit doors shall be designated.
- Usage of locker room is prohibited.
- For all pro-shop lines, markers shall be placed on the floor to assist patrons to comply with social distancing guidelines.
- Hand sanitizer shall be provided in restrooms and payment areas.
- Restroom use shall be one person or one family at a time, with appropriate signage to be provided.
(3) LIMITED ACCESS TO GOLF COURSES
Golf courses may open, if the following conditions are met:
a. ON-COURSE FACILITY
- Staff and players shall practice social distancing and wear facial coverings while inside the facility.
- No clubs or other equipment shall be transported by golf course staff. Players shall be responsible for bringing their own golf equipment to designated areas prior to play.
- Designated signage shall be placed outside the pro-shop and clubhouse outlining the required social distancing and facial covering guidelines.
- Designated signage shall be placed on carts and around the clubhouse with the phone number to call for food orders and an explanation of how to pay.
- Indoor events shall be permitted, limited to 50 percent capacity of the facility, following the guidelines of the New Normal Handbook.
- Pro-shop patrons may be allowed to purchase goods and supplies at the pro-shop, subject to patrons and staff practicing social distancing.
- Glass or plastic screens shall be installed between pro-shop staff and customers.
- Staff shall wear facial coverings at all times.
- Where possible, separate entry and exit doors shall be designated.
- Usage of locker rooms and bag storage areas is prohibited.
- For all pro-shop lines, markers shall be placed on the floor to assist patrons to comply with social distancing guidelines.
- Hand sanitizer shall be provided in restrooms and payment areas.
- Restroom use shall be one person or one family at a time, with appropriate signage to be provided.
- Each cart and any rental equipment shall be cleaned and disinfected prior to players’ use.
- All sand containers, scorecards, pencils, tees, towels, coolers or other shared materials shall be removed from golf carts.
- All restrooms and touch-point areas shall be disinfected no less than every two hours with CDC approved products.
- Driving-range hitting areas shall be spaced at least 10 feet apart.
- Scorecard, pencil and tees shall only be issued to individuals when requested from starter, and then discarded after their initial use.
b. GOLF-COURSE PREPARATION
- Cup Modifications:
• A pool noodle or other blocking mechanism shall be used to fill the hole, or the cup shall be raised an inch above ground to prevent the ball from going in the hole.
• Alternatively, an E-Z lyft touchless golf ball retrieval system or similar touchless system may be used.
- Rakes in all bunkers shall be removed:
- United States Golf Association recommendations shall be followed on bunker play depending on the course and its resources.
- All water stations shall be removed.
- All ball wash units shall be removed or locked down.
- All practice facility bag stands, chairs and PVC pipes for picking up balls shall be removed.
- All range-balls shall be cleaned, with water and soap, after every pick-up prior to making them available for golfers.
- Where possible, clientele 60 years of age and older shall be separated from younger clientele.
c. PLAYING
- Players shall not touch or remove the flagstick from the cup.
- All players shall stay at minimum six feet apart at all times, and a course ranger or other staff member shall monitor player compliance on the course.
- Up to four people from the same household are permitted to ride in carts.
- Walking is allowed while maintaining social distancing.
- To eliminate congestion and gathering on the property or in the parking lot, each golfer shall leave the golf course immediately after playing.
d. FOOD AND BEVERAGE
- Beverage carts on the golf course are permitted under the following circumstances:
- Beverage cart staff shall wear facial coverings at all times.
- Beverage carts shall bear signage stating that players are prohibited from touching anything on the beverage cart.
- Only a cart attendant shall distribute items from the cart. To ensure social distancing:
- Beverage cart attendant shall place purchased items on opposite side of the players golf cart; and
- For players that are walking, the beverage cart attendant shall place the purchased items on the ground for the player to pick it up.
- Players shall be encouraged to pay with credit card and cart attendants shall wipe down the credit card machine after each use.
e. STAFF
- Facial coverings shall be worn by all staff at all times.
- Shaking hands is prohibited.
Section 4. Enforcement
Any person, firm, or corporation who violates any provision of the Declaration of the State of Emergency, and any Supplemental Order, any Amended Supplemental Order, including this Order, shall be subject to such fine or imprisonment or both as provided by Sections 1-14 and 2-333 of the City Code, or any other applicable penalty provision. Each day that a violation shall continue to exist shall constitute a separate offense.
Section 5. Effective Date.
This Order and Supplement to Declaration shall be effective as of 12:01 a.m., September 16, 2020, and may be further supplemented from time to time in accordance with Article VIII of Chapter 2 of the City Code. This document shall be posted and distributed as provided by City Code Section 2-404(f).
Executed this 15th day of September, 2020.