Coronavirus – Latest Updates from the City of Ridgefield

The City of Ridgefield does not have a health department. Clark County Public Health manages public health for the county.

• COVID-19 Data

• COVID-19 Testing

• COVID-19 Vaccine

• COVID-19 Recommendations

Ridgefield School District

• Community Updates from Superintendent Nathan Mccann

• Ridgefield School District News

Who should I follow for updates about COVID-19?

• Clark County Public Health: Website | Facebook

• Washington State Coronavirus Response: Website

• Washington State Department of Health: Website | Facebook

• Governor Jay Inslee: Website | Facebook | Twitter

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Website

City Facilities

City Offices are open to the public, but some services require an appointment.

Online services will remain available and phones are answered during normal business hours. 

City Services

City services are modified as follows: 

CITY HALL

• Ridgefield City Hall is open to the public during business hours, Monday-Friday 7:30AM-4:30PM. 

• Notary service ($5) is available by appointment only.

• Park Reservations: We are now accepting Park Reservations for Abrams and Overlook Park through Facilitron. You can reserve Bennett Hall, Abrams sports and grassy fields, and Overlook Park for available dates after June 1, 2021. Standard reservation guidelines and additional COVID-19 guidelines must be strictly followed. For additional details, please visit our Event Planning & Permits page.

• Utility Billing Practices: Normal billing operations have resumed. If you are having difficulty paying your bill, please contact us at 360-887-3557 or utilities@ridgefieldwa.us to discuss payment arrangements and avoid possible late fees or service disconnections. 

• Utility payments can be made 24/7 online, by phone (360)887-3557, by mail or by drop box in front of City Hall. Payments will also be accepted in person Monday-Friday 7:30AM-4:30PM.

CITY OFFICES AT RIDGEFIELD ADMINISTRATIVE AND CIVIC CENTER

• Community Development is open to the public during business hours, Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM. Appointments are strongly recommended, see “Information for Builders and Developers.” 

POLICE

• Police Department Lobby is open 8:30AM-5PM, Concealed Weapons Permits and Fingerprint services available by appointment only. Please call 360-887-3556 to make an appointment.

City Public Meetings

To assure the health and safety of the general public during this COVID pandemic, and compliance with Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 20-28.14, the City of Ridgefield will conduct public meetings in person with full online access through webinar. Public meetings include City Council meetings, Planning Commission and Parks Board.

MEETING PROCEDURES:
The meeting will be conducted via Zoom and in person consistent with COVID guidelines. Instructions to attend the meeting virtually will be provided the day prior to the meeting on the Boards and Commissions webpage. (for City Council access visit the City Council page) 

Any person wishing to attend the meeting in-person will be able to do so in the Council Chambers (Columbia Assembly Room) at the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center.

If at any time during the meeting the in-person component cannot comply with the State requirements, the meeting will be recessed until compliance is restored or if compliance cannot be restored then adjourned to a later date.

PUBLIC HEARING:
Members of the public may provide testimony during a Public Hearing listed on the agenda in two ways:

Live comments. If possible, notify the Clerk that you would like to make comments during the public hearing no later than 3PM the day of the meeting. Provide your full name and phone number. When your name is called during the meeting, please state your comment at the podium if attending in-person or the Clerk will unmute your microphone if the meeting is attended via Zoom.

If notification is not provided in advance, state your comment at the podium if attending in person or use the “raise your hand” feature during the public hearing if attending via Zoom. When your name is called, the Clerk will unmute your microphone so you are able to make your comments.

For City Council meetings, provide notification to City Clerk, city.clerk@ridgefieldwa.us
For Planning Commission meetings, provide notification to dorothy.harrington@ridgefieldwa.us
For Parks Board meetings, provide notification to lisa.blake@ridgefieldwa.us

All comments will be limited to 3 minutes.

Written comments may be submitted to the Clerk via email or be placed in the drop box in front of City Hall no later than 3PM on the day of the scheduled public meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Members of the public wishing to address items not on the agenda can email the comments to the Clerk no later than 3PM on the day of the scheduled public meeting or comments may be given in person during a Public Comment section of the meeting.

As usual, an audio recording of all public meetings will be made available on the City website the day after the meeting at 

City Council: https://ridgefieldwa.us/government/city-council-meeting-audio-files/
Planning Commission: https://ridgefieldwa.us/government/planning-commision-meeting-audio-files/
Parks Board: https://ridgefieldwa.us/government/parks-board-meeting-audio-files/

PROCEDURES

The Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center (RACC, 510-B Pioneer St) is open to the public from 8:00am to 5:00pm M-F. 

Appointments are strongly encouraged to reduce wait times and to allow staff to prepare for your visit. If you visit the RACC without an appointment and staff are available, they will assist you. If no staff are available, you will be asked to schedule an appointment for a later time.

Appointments may be scheduled by email, or by phone.

To schedule a permit appointment by email contact our permit technicians at permits@ridgefieldwa.us.

To schedule an appointment by phone call 360-887-3908 and select one of the options.

LIMITATIONS

Applicants should limit single-family residential permit submittals and pick-ups to five per builder per week. Email an electronic version of the building permit application materials to staff by 1:00pm on Monday to receive an invoice and schedule a hard-copy submittal during the same week.

Unemployment Questions?

Please visit Washington State Employment Security Division

Business Loans and Assistance

Federal

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Coronavirus relief options, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) & Advance, SBA Express Bridge Loan and SBA Debt Relief

  • SBA Coronavirus Business Assistance Loans Comparison Guide
  • SBA-approved alternative online lenders for Paycheck Protection Program applications

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce 

  • 10 Commonly Asked Coronavirus Small Business Loan Questions 

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

  • Resources for Businesses and Employers

State

• Washington Small Business Development Center (WSBDC) Coronavirus News and Resources, including assistance applying for U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan financial assistance.

  • To assist with the large demand, WSBDC has distributed a list of alternative online lenders that are now U.S. Small Business Administration-approved to handle Paycheck Protection Program applications

• Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD)

  • Information for workers | COVID-19 Scenarios & Benefits Available Chart

  • Information for employers and businesses

  • For businesses considering employee lay-offs or terminations, ESD has enacted emergency rules to relieve the burden of temporary layoffs, isolation and quarantine for workers and businesses. Learn more.

• WorkSource and Workforce Southwest Washington have several programs that can help businesses affected by COVID-19, including layoff aversion programs.

• Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s Office

• StartUp Washington (Washington State Department of Commerce)

• Washington Retail Association Resource Guide for Retailers & Employees

Local

• Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce

• Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) 

• Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber (en Español)

• Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce

• Visit Vancouver USA

• Greater Portland Inc. (GPI)

• TheLocalYou (promotes local businesses and how the community can support them – apply to add your business)

COVID-19 Signage

• Open With Care – Clark County Sign 
• CDC Stop the Spread of Germs Poster
• Washington State Business Signage Toolkit
• Free Printable Coronavirus Signage

Free At Home COVID-19 Tests

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 test. The tests are completely free, all you need to submit is your name and shipping address: click here to order a test through the federal government site.

Rental Assistance

Emergency Rental Assistance – Clark County Council for the Homeless

COVID-19 Rent Assistance and Housing Information – Washington State Department of Commerce

Utilities – City of Ridgefield Water and Stormwater Service

• Online Utility services are available 24 hours a day. Payments may be made 24/7 online, by phone, or by drop box.
• Utility Billing Practices: Normal billing operations resumed October 1, 2021. If you are having difficulty paying your bill, please contact us at 360-887-3557 or utilities@ridgefieldwa.us to discuss payment arrangements and avoid possible late fees or service disconnections. 
• Start/Stop/Move Utility services may be completed online or by phone at (360) 887-3557.

Parks, Trails, and Sports Fields

• Public parks, trails, play structures, and restrooms are open. Please follow social distancing protocols and do not recreate if you are feeling ill.

Food Resources

Ridgefield Family Resource Center

Location: We are located in Portables C and D between the Ridgefield Administrative & Civic Center (RACC) and Union Ridge Elementary School.  Take Pioneer Street into downtown Ridgefield and park in the RACC parking lot at 510 Pioneer Street.  We are in the portable to the right of the RACC building, outside of the fencing.

Hours: The Ridgefield Family Resource Center is open to serve Ridgefield School District’s students, families, and staff on the following days and times:

Monday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Thursday 1:00 pm – 6:30 pm

For resource needs and to make an appointment outside of these house, please contact Chris Poppert at 360-619-1412 or via email at christine.poppert@ridgefieldsd.org.

To learn more about the services we provide and the resources available to you and your family, visit the Ridgefield Family Resource Center website at http://rsdfamilyresourcecenter.weebly.com/ 

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

21814 NW 11th Avenue, Ridgefield, WA 98642
Handing out food boxes on Tuesdays, 10-12:30.

Compassion 360

Local non-profit providing food boxes and additional support. Pop Up food closet open every Thursday from 9-5 at the Church of the Nazarene open to all public. 

Clark County Food Bank

Food pantry sites: https://www.clarkcountyfoodbank.org/get-food-covid19
Prepared meal sites: https://www.clarkcountyfoodbank.org/preparedmealsites

Goods and Services:

• Ridgefield Helping Facebook Group – A Facebook group resource for local people who are looking for items and services.
• To connect with more resources, visit WA211.org
• Internet Connectivity
  • Washington State Drive-In Wifi Hot Spot Locator
  • Free and Low Cost Internet Options
  • Homelessness and the Digital Divide, article with list of support programs.

• Online AA Meetings
• Free Online Mental Health Support Group meetings and other resources at NAMI SW WA.

Finances

• If you are having trouble paying your City of Ridgefield utility bill, please call us at (360) 887-3557 to make payment arrangements.
• Financial Resources for Washington Residents Impacted by COVID-19

Recreational Activities

Fitness Activities

• Take a walk around downtown – learn more about Downtown buildings and art by downloading the Distrx app or do the Historic Downtown Walking Tour.
  • Do this printable Downtown Art Scavenger Hunt! When you are done, check the answers with this KEY.
• Go for a walk or bike ride on neighborhood trails or walk through Abrams Park. 
• Check out a Ridgefield Day-cation! Many can meet the requirements of physical distancing with slight modifications.
• Practice your favorite sport or work out at home with SportsEngine At-Home Workouts
• P.E. with Joe has exercises for all ages
• Check out Fitness Blender for free workout videos and healthy living information
• Download the Nike Training Club app to access free workouts and fitness information
• Set up an Obstacle Course or Relay Race

Indoor Activities

• Have a library card? Check out FVRL’s “What to do while you’re stuck at home” page!
• Check out the PBS Parent Resource page for endless ideas based on age and skill level.
• Go on a virtual field trip
• Visit a Museum, Zoo or Amusement Park
• Join a Virtual Marine Biology Camp with Oceans Initiative
• Make a Plant Rubbing Collage with crayons and plants from your yard
• Color to your heart’s content
• Plan an indoor scavenger hunt
• Get creative with these arts and craft ideas using items in your house
• Explore science, technology, engineering, and math with Simple STEM Activities To Do At Home

Outdoor Activities

• Visit a local U-Pick Farm!
• Complete a Nature Scavenger Hunt
• Put down a picnic blanket and share a meal outdoors
• Organize a Backyard Olympics day
• Get nostalgic with classic outdoor games
• Go camping in your backyard (or living room!)
• Set up outdoor science experiments and sensory play