Village & OBA Update 5/5/2020
May 5, 2020
To: All Ocean Beach Residents
With so much still unknown and with our recent realization that the Downstate region, Long Island in particular, will most likely NOT be re-opening on May 15th, we thought it would be helpful to share with you some of the complex issues and potential solutions being discussed. Many of these decision points will be determined by Governor Cuomo and Suffolk County Steve Bellone. With that said, there will of course be some level of interpretation for Fire Island, and for Ocean Beach. Ocean Beach is working with all of the other communities on Fire Island to ensure a consistent response.
WE REALIZE THESE ARE NOT ANSWERS, BUT WANTED YOU TO KNOW THE MAGNITUDE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE DECISIONS TO BE MADE.
Here are the key categories of consideration:
1. We must ensure a consistent response across Fire Island to optimize our health and safety.
2. Beach Access – can we/should we limit access to our beaches to residents/taxpayers/business employees? Can we/should we limit activities? Will lifeguards be in place? Enforcement of social distancing? Hours of beach access?
3. Short term (weekly) rentals and AirBnB rentals – should we consider a longer minimum rental? Prohibit AirBnB and VRBO? Should we consider further limiting the number of unrelated people in a group house?
4. Bar/Restaurant Occupancy – will occupancy levels be reduced to allow for social distancing? What additional sanitizing/cleaning will be required? If restaurants are allowed to serve customers, will alcohol takeout be eliminated? What happens if an employee contracts Covid 19?
5. Ferry access/capacity/schedule – boarding/unboarding process to ensure social distancing, boat capacity, passenger baggage, schedule, additional freight services
6. Summer camp/ OBYG / other activities – will we have camps this summer? Any restrictions on age groups or activities? What about other planned activities such as softball and basketball leagues, concerts, etc?
7. Streets – how to ensure social distancing on our narrow streets? Weekends are major concern. Minimize cart use, eliminate trailer use
As decisions are made, and policy developed, we will communicate widely. We are all participating on multiple calls daily and working on many committees and task forces to strategize and resolve these urgent and very important issues.
Our absolute focus is on health and safety; we are also trying to balance the needs and concerns of our many stakeholders which are varied and often in conflict with each other.
Thank you for your patience during these turbulent times, and please stay safe.
Ocean Beach Mayor , Jimmy Mallott
Ocean Beach Association, President Maria Silsdorf
OBFD Chief, Ian Levine
OBPD Chief, George Hesse
EMS Captain, Dale Wyckoff