With City Hall shuttered to all but essential personnel and the coronavirus emergency leading local governments to call on residents to stay home, Palm Coast government will hold its first-ever virtual town hall on Wednesday, April 1, at noon. The town hall will kick off a weekly series that will take place each Wednesday, presumably through the duration of the emergency.
Registration for the Virtual Town Hall is available now. Residents must first sign up for a free account on palmcoastconnect.com and then register for the event at palmcoastconnect.com/s/virtual-town-hall.
The event will be hosted by Mayor Milissa Holland and City Manager Matthew Morton on Palm Coast Connect. The duo will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and residents will have the opportunity to submit questions in real time.
“In a time of crisis, it’s important to maintain connections,” Holland said in a release. “We have to remember none of us [is] alone. Your city is still here serving and listening to you. This virtual town hall is an incredible way for us to engage with our residents while they stay safe and comfortable in their own homes.”
The town hall was compelled by Holland’s signing the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” emergency proclamation on March 22. The proclamation urges all residents who can stay home to not leave unless absolutely necessary. Flagler County government has since urged all residents 65 and older to stay home. Almost 31 percent of Flagler-Palm Coast’s population is in that category.
“It’s important that we show our community that its leaders are not going anywhere,” Holland said. “We are right here managing this crisis each and every day. And we’re going to show you how we’re doing it with transparency, accountability and efficiency.”
Most city workers have been allowed to work from home. Morton has been reporting to work at City Hall, however. Speaking from his office Friday, he said it was important for him to be in the building as a matter of principle.
In the coming weeks, City Department Directors will be featured with Holland to highlight how they are stepping up in response to COVID-19 and keeping their departments running smoothly.
“This dialogue will allow us to address critical focus areas and better serve our residents,” Morton said. “We’ve already seen unbelievable improvement in expedited customer service case resolution through Palm Coast Connect. Now we can focus that functionality on directly engaging with our residents and following up on the concerns that they voice to us.”
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lou says
Palm Coast closed down all the recreational facilities for the citizens of Palm Coast. I presume it was done for the safety of citizens of Palm Coast.
Gated communities seem to be exempt. Tennis golf etc. being practiced there.
Do peple in gated communities have special protection from the propagation of the COVID-19 virus?
What’s up?
Vincent Anelli says
There are hundreds of small businesses closed and thousands of people practicing social destining It seems reckless to me when recreational boating is allowed with up to 10 people on a boar there is no way you can have social destining on a small boat I called a local course when I noticed two people in a cart again no social destining and they could careless thatI called Other businesses are closed and sacrificing thru lost of business for the good of all Now we are faced with social destining Tru the month of April Those not following the rules should be closed and fined.
We need to work together to get Tru this and we will succeed
Pete says
Does anyone else think it is sort of strange that Holland’s name is attached to every news story coming from the city during this disaster? . It appears that she is using this disaster for face time for her campaign. She really should step back and let the city of palm Coast handle this. Where is the communications director?
Bill Nelson says
As dangerous as Coronavirus is, it seems to me that this “don’t tell names” makes it twice as risky. Example: I have neighbors whose children were in school not that long ago. A young lady now has tested positive and these kids have no way of telling if they have had exposure or not. Not very fair in my opinion.
lou says
Pete, would you say the same thing about Trump, DeSantis, Como and other people in elected office?
Ld says
Meal distribution for kids in virtual school is missing lots of children because they have to be present for meal pickup during time of virtual,school. Some parents have to work at the hospital and those at home working have children in our case in 3 different schools so different schedules and no chance to make multiple trips to get meals with kids on lunch break. Volusia is doing a bus route where kids can meet at their normal bus stop and collect meals and still be at their home on time for virtual school and get their normal school meals. Flagler can do this. Social distancing can happen.