Peoria City Buildings To Reopen Jan. 25 With Safety Measures

Press release from the City of Peoria:

Jan. 21, 2021

City Hall will reopen to residents on Monday, January 25 with COVID-19 compliant operating procedures in place. Operating hours of City Hall are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Residents are still encouraged to conduct any business with the City electronically at www.peoriagov.org or via the phone 309-494-2273, if possible. These modifications are in place to ensure a safe and healthy reopening of City Hall and the region.

City Hall Occupancy Limitations:

• City Hall will be limited to seven visitors at a time, unless appointments are made.
• Meetings may be held if social distancing measures are taken and the room capacity is not more than 25%.
• Public access will be restricted to the first and second floors of City Hall.
• Public restrooms will be available on the first floor.
• Elevators are limited to one household unit at a time.

Social distancing measures:

• All employees and visitors must wear a face covering at all times unless there is a documented medical reason where they are unable to wear a face covering.
• All employees and visitors must maintain a minimum of 6 feet from others wherever possible.
• Individuals who are considered part of a vulnerable population due to age, comorbidities, or a compromised immune system are encouraged to contact the City electronically or remotely.

Health checks:

• Employees and visitors will have their temperatures taken upon entering City Hall.
• All visitors must share their name and contact information for the purposes of the Peoria City/County Health Department to conduct contact tracing in the event of an outbreak.

City staff look forward to assisting customers in person and will continue to provide services to the public via phone and email during this time.

Peoria Fire Department Reopening Information

Effective Monday, January 25th, the lobby at Peoria Central Fire Station lobby will be open to the public to conduct business. Hours of operation are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday.

Everyone entering the building will be required to wear a mask for the duration of their visit. Temperatures will be taken and detailed symptom screening will be conducted on anyone who is attending a meeting with fire/rescue personnel. A maximum of four people will be allowed in the lobby at one time.

Peoria Police Department Reopening Information

Effective Monday, January 25, the Information Office will reopen for citizens needing to conduct business with the police department. The Information Office is staffed from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, with limited service available 24 hours a day.

All citizens entering the building shall wear a mask when inside the building for the duration of their stay, unless there is a documented medical reason. Temperatures and detailed screening will still be required for all persons entering the secure areas of the building. Citizens only using the lobby will not need to be screened. Persons entering the building must be actively conducting legitimate business within the police station.

Public Works Public Reopening Guidelines

City of Peoria Public Works Department administrative offices will reopen to the public effective Monday, January 25, with normal business hours, Monday – Friday 7:30 AM to 4:30 pm. In the interest of public health and safety, there will be some limitations. Whenever possible, public interaction should be conducted with the Department via email, online, virtually, or over the phone.

Walk-in customers will be allowed; however, it is recommended that visitors contact the Department at (309) 494-8800 and schedule a meeting to ensure the appropriate staff contact is available and onsite prior to arriving.

Due to the 6-feet social distancing guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only two visitors will be permitted in the waiting room area at a time. Additional visitors will need to wait in their vehicles. The visitor’s contact information will be noted, and staff will notify the visitor once they may enter. For safety reasons, children unable to wear a face covering will not be allowed to enter the facility.

Visiting Public Works Guidelines:

• Visitors may only enter the main public entrance and use the white phone located in the foyer to identify themselves and notify staff they have arrived.
• Sanitizing stations are available near the entrance for incoming visitors to use.
• Visitors must identify themselves and state the purpose of the visit. They will then be directed to the proper staff member. If the staff member is unavailable, or working remotely, contact information will be provided.
• Visitors are required to wear a face covering and sanitize their hands prior to entering the building beyond the foyer. Visitors will be responsible for bringing their own face covering.
• Staff is required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves and face covering) when greeting the visitor at the entrance and taking their temperature. Gloves will be discarded after each use in accordance to CDC guidelines.
• If the visitor’s temperature exceeds 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or they are experiencing any symptoms, they may not enter the facility.
• Visitors will be escorted to the conference room by staff. Conference room chairs will be distanced in accordance to the CDC’s 6-feet social distancing guidelines.
• Following the meeting, visitors will be escorted out of the facility.
• The conference room, entrance, and white phone will be sanitized after each use/meeting.

All other protocols regarding shipping and receiving, mail, staff self-monitoring, and remote working will remain in place.

This press release was produced by the City of Peoria. The views expressed here are the author’s own.