Council gets update on city's efforts to ease pandemic
As its own employees and facilities deal with the impact of COVID-19, the City of Regina is also considering the plight of local businesses during the pandemic.
During discussion on a COVID-19 report at the first meeting of Regina's new city council on Wednesday, Coun. Cheryl Stadnichuk ( Ward 1) asked city administration what kind of effect the pandemic has had on local businesses.
She shared that one businesses owner told her that the new restrictions are “bleeding them dry,” and that several others are facing financial hardship.
City manager Chris Holden said there was not any hard data on business closures right now, but a report will be provided to executive committee.
When questioned about what the city can do to help businesses adapt Holden said there's a fine line to be walked. The city is offering the Regina Economic Recovery Grant to businesses in the city. City administration said 127 grants, just under $300,000, has been sent out to businesses.
“We're making sure we're protecting the health and safety of everyone involved,” said Holden. But, he said businesses are getting innovative when it comes to staying open during COVID.
The city itself has had to be innovative as well.
City employees are heading back to their home offices as cases surge in the city, and they won't back in the office until Jan. 21 at the earliest. Earlier in the pandemic 27.5 per cent of the city's workforce — 770 people — worked from home.
And indoor recreation centres are facing restrictions as the pandemic worsens. All adult recreation activities — think pick-up leagues and intramural sports — have been spiked at the Fieldhouse, all arenas, pools and neighbourhood centres. That came into effect Nov. 27 following new public health orders from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
But some outdoor activities are going ahead. The city is offering a grant program called the Winter Programming Initiative which was developed to create new programs focused on being outdoors during the winter.
The city is trying to organize no contact geocaching, snowshoeing and story times in the winter.
Holden said the city has held off on making announcements as to when this programs will be rolled out, citing the possibility of walking them back should COVID-19 cases get further out of hand.
As well, community hockey and skating rinks are open in the city. There are 34 rinks open with a minimum 15 hours of supervision from city staff each week.
The city also noted Wednesday that community associations will get money from the city to pay for increased supervision and new cleaning protocols.
Kim Onrait, executive director of citizen services, said the uptake in mask use across Regina has been encouraging.
According to the report, transit staff said 99 per cent of passengers are complying with the mandatory mask mandate for all passengers.
“We've only had one case where we've had a rider refuse to wear a mask,” said Onrait.
The city said that additional staff was hired on Oct. 28 “to support enforcement measures to ensure all passengers are wearing masks.”
There has been a drop in ridership of about 18 per cent over the past two-and-a-half weeks, according to Onrait.
Staff randomly check buses throughout the day. Passengers without a mask are offered one for free. If they refuse, without a valid medical reason, they are removed from the bus.