MIAMI-DADE COUNTY EMERGENCY ORDER 29-20
Share:
WHEREAS, section 252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes, gives political subdivisions the authority to declare and enact a State of Local Emergency for a period of up to seven days, thereby waiving the procedures and formalities otherwise required of the political subdivision by law; and
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, the Governor of Florida issued Executive Order Number 20-51, directing the State Health Officer and Surgeon General to declare a Public Health Emergency related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Florida; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order Number 20-52, declaring a State of Emergency for the State of Florida related to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, the County Mayor declared a State of Emergency for all of Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, it is important for the physical and mental health of the community that outdoor recreation be allowed to the extent it is safe to do so; and
WHEREAS, the County, in consultation with medical experts, industry experts, and municipalities within Miami-Dade County, has determined that it is possible to open, with restrictions, parks, golf courses, marinas and boat ramps, and other outdoor spaces; and
WHEREAS, the County Mayor issued Emergency Order 21-20 on April 27, 2020, 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
WHEREAS, this emergency order cancels Emergency Order 21-20 as amended, and restates rules for operations of parks and other recreational spaces, boats, and golf courses; and
WHEREAS, this emergency order allows parks to stay open until 10:00 p.m., and allows for limited competitive play, but not organized inter-team sports or league games; and
WHEREAS, this emergency order provides standards for tour boats and other non-fishing charter vessels, and provides for revised maximum occupancy standards for vessels larger than 36 feet; and
WHEREAS, this emergency order also allows operation of outdoor amusement and outdoor recreational facilities, with restrictions,
THEREFORE, as County Mayor of Miami-Dade County, I hereby order:
1. Effective as of 6:00 a.m. on September 14, 2020, Emergency Orders 05-20 and 21-20, as amended, are cancelled.
2. Defined terms:
As used herein, the term:
• “CDC” shall mean United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
• “facial covering” shall mean a facial covering as described in Emergency Order 20-20, as amended;
• “household” shall mean people who reside together in the same housing unit, regardless of relation;
• “parks” shall mean parks and recreational facilities, but shall not include beaches; and
• “social distancing” shall mean a minimum of six feet distance between persons.
3. If the CDC issues guidelines that are more restrictive than is provided for in this order, persons shall comply with the CDC guidelines.
4. The following guidelines shall apply to all parks in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County:
• All parks may be open only from the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Within this time period, a park or recreational facility may be open for a shorter time period if prescribed by their normal operating hours or, with respect to parks operated by municipalities, by municipal regulation.
• Use of parks and recreational facilities shall be for limited active and passive uses by individuals and families, as permitted by this order and following current CDC and State Health Department guidelines.
• No groups of 10 or more persons shall congregate together in parks or recreational facilities. All persons, except for members of the same household, shall observe social distancing, both within groups and with others.
• Concessions and food trucks may operate in parks and marina parking lots as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.
• Limited active uses are allowed, including organized sports team activities, but competitions and league play are not permitted, except in the case of tennis, racquetball, softball and baseball, and if masks are worn by all players. 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.
• 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.
• Sports equipment shall not be shared. This does not apply to balls, and does not apply as between members of a household.
• Passive uses of parks are allowed if social distancing is maintained, provided, however, that table games and parties are prohibited.
• Selected park trails and walkways shall be one-way flow only, except where the existing configuration does not allow such flow. Where designated for one-way flow, persons shall only move in the designated direction.
• Facial coverings shall be worn at all times, in accordance with Emergency Order 20-20, as amended, except where an exception to Emergency Order 20-20 applies.
• An attendant shall be provided for each restroom. Restrooms shall be cleaned no less than once every two hours with CDC approved products. Restroom use shall be one person or one household at a time.
• Vehicle parking capacity in parks shall be reduced by no less than 25 percent when practicable.
• Use of the following amenities is prohibited:
o playgrounds and exercise equipment;
o shelters;
o splashpads; and
o mechanical attractions.
5. The following guidelines shall apply to all marinas, boat launches, docking, fueling, marine supply, and other marina services in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County:
BOAT RAMP PROTOCOL:
• Ramps may be open between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
• Facial coverings shall be worn while on shore and until such time as the vessel is fully loaded and has departed the marina.
• Multiple boats, depending upon the size of the vessels, may be allowed simultaneously on launch ramps, provided social distancing is enforced; vessels shall be prepared in advance to launch, such as plug secured, dock lines tied, and safety equipment and provisions already onboard; all passengers shall board the vessel once it is launched.
• Upon returning to the dock, all passengers shall remain on the vessel until the boat is ready to be loaded onto the trailer.
FISH CLEANING STATIONS:
• One person per station at a time. Fish cleaning stations shall be cleaned with soap and water or a disinfecting agent between each use.
• Social distancing shall be maintained, except for members of the same household.
FISHING PIERS:
• A minimum of 10 feet between persons fishing shall be maintained, with the exception of members of the same household.
• Persons shall wear facial coverings while fishing.
PUBLIC RESTROOMS/SHIP STORES:
• Access to public restrooms shall be available. Restrooms shall be cleaned no less than once every two hours using CDC approved products.
• Those entering ship or bait and tackle stores shall be required to practice social distancing and wear facial coverings.
• Floor markings shall be used to assist customers in observing social distancing.
• Concessions and food trucks may operate in marina parking lots as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.
CHARTER VESSELS AND TOUR BOATS:
• Captain, crew and patrons shall wear facial coverings and practice social distancing both on shore and on the vessel.
• Tour boats and non-fishing charter vessels shall be limited to 50 percent of vessel capacity and, if serving food or alcohol, comply with the provisions of the New Normal Handbook relevant to such service. Tour boats shall provide for social distancing, except as between members of the same household, which shall include delineating safe social distancing positions, including, but not limited to, tape or markings for patrons on seats, vessel railings and the deck.
• Drift fishing and other charter fishing vessels shall provide for social distancing, except as between members of the same household, which shall include delineating safe social distancing positions, including, but not limited to, tape or markings for patrons on seats, vessel railings and the deck. All persons fishing shall have his or her own fishing poles and tackle. Equipment rental is prohibited.
• CDC cleanliness guidelines shall be posted in restrooms/heads; restrooms shall be sanitized and disinfected at least hourly and after each trip, or more frequently as needed; and water and soap, hand sanitizer, or both, shall be provided for patrons.
• Fish cleaning and bait table stations shall be limited to one person per station at a time. Fish cleaning and bait table stations shall be cleaned with soap and water or a disinfecting agent between each charter.
• If crew members are filleting fish a patron caught, only one person per table.
• All persons shall practice social distancing and utilize facial coverings at landside and including check-in locations.
• Vessels shall delineate safe social distancing positions for those waiting in line to check in or out with tape or other markings.
• Vessels shall not exceed capacity limits, inclusive of crew, as applicable based on the size of such charter vessel below.
ON-WATER ACTIVITY:*
• Boats shall remain 50 feet apart at all times.
• Tying up to posts or structures that are condemned or unoccupied in Stiltsville is
prohibited.
• Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited.
• Rafting up or beaching of boats is prohibited.
• Landings and anchoring at sandbars are prohibited.
• Capacity of boats:
o Boats less than 25 feet: 4 adults maximum, plus children 17 and under. Maximum of 8 people on the boat.
o Boats 25 feet to 36 feet: 6 adults maximum, plus children 17 and under. Maximum of 10 people on the boat.
o Boats greater than 36 feet: 8 adults maximum, plus children 17 and under, to a maximum of 10 people on the boat, or fifty percent of the rated capacity, whichever is greater.
o No boat shall exceed the maximum persons capacity per “maximum capacity label.”
o Jet ski rental operations shall be single riders only. Jet skis shall be sanitized on return with CDC approved products.
*Limitations on use of vessels on-water shall be enforced as permitted by Florida Law by any law enforcement entity having jurisdiction.
6. The following guidelines shall apply to all golf courses, public and private, in Miami-Dade County:
ON-COURSE FACILITY
• Staff and players shall practice social distancing, except as between members of the same household, 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 activities may be open, 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.
o Payment shall be made observing social distancing.
o Glass or plastic screens shall be installed between pro-shop staff and customers.
o Staff shall wear facial coverings at all times.
o 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.
• Hand sanitizer shall be provided in restrooms and payment areas.
• Restroom use shall be one person or one household at a time, with appropriate signage to be provided.
• Each cart and any rental equipment shall be cleaned and disinfected prior to players’ use.
o 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.
GOLF-COURSE PREPARATION
• Cup Modifications:
o 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.
o Alternatively, an E-Z lyft touchless golf ball retrieval system or similar touchless system may be used.
• Rakes in all bunkers shall be removed:
o 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.
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.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
• Beverage carts on the golf course are permitted under the following circumstances:
o Beverage cart staff shall wear facial coverings at all times.
o Beverage carts shall bear signage stating that players are prohibited from touching anything on the beverage cart.
o 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.
o Players shall be encouraged to pay with credit card and cart attendants shall wipe down the credit card machine after each use.
STAFF
• Facial coverings shall be worn by all staff at all times.
• Shaking hands is prohibited.
8. This order shall apply to both publicly-owned and privately-owned parks, marinas and boat landings, golf courses and recreational facilities. This order does not apply to parks, marinas and boat landings, or golf courses under the jurisdiction of the State of Florida or the federal government.
9. This order allows for operations of outdoor amusement and other outdoor recreational facilities and events at 50 percent capacity so long as the facility complies with the relevant portions of this order. Playgrounds and mechanical attractions are not permitted. Equestrian shows shall be limited to 100 horses or fewer, utilizing every other stall. Outdoor amusement and outdoor recreational facilities with ancillary indoor attractions shall not operate such indoor attractions, except that such facilities may open restaurant, office, and arts and cultural spaces in accordance with the New Normal Handbook.
10. This order allows for operations of common used moped, motorized scooter, bicycle or motorized bicycle, or micromobility device in accordance with the New Normal Handbook.
11. The provisions in this order shall serve as minimum standards. Municipalities may impose more stringent standards within their jurisdictions as may be authorized by law.
12. Parks, golf courses, marinas, and outdoor amusement facilities and other outdoor recreational facilities may require persons to execute a waiver or consent prior to utilizing such park or facility, in the discretion of the owner.
13. This order shall expire upon the expiration of the existing Miami-Dade County State of Local Emergency, except that if such State of Local Emergency is extended, this order shall also be deemed to extend for the duration of such extension. This order may be cancelled at an earlier date and time by action of the County Mayor.
14. This order shall be provided to all appropriate media consistent with the requirements of section 8B-7(2)(n) of the Code of Miami-Dade County.
