City of Lakeland Facilities Social Distancing Closures & Procedures
LAKELAND, FL (March 24, 2020) - During a specially-called City Commission meeting on Monday, March 23rd, the City Commission agreed to limit public access to City buildings during the coronavirus pandemic. In an effort to implement social distancing and minimize human contact during this crisis, City facilities are closed to the public for 30-days or until further notice effective March 24th. Many City Departments have established online services and in-person appointments are available in advance for some business functions.
Signage has been placed at City facilities that reads:
This facility is closed for 30-days or until further notice effective March 24th due to the recommended Social Distancing Requirements associated with the Coronavirus. Please call 863.834.6000 to reach City Departments. Many business functions are being done online, for a complete list of closings, contacts and online business functions, please visit LakelandGov.net/covid19. We apologize for any inconvenience and the City of Lakeland thanks you for practicing the recommended preventative measures to help curb the spread of the virus. Wash your hands, disinfect surfaces and please practice social distancing so we can all get back to normal operations in the near future.
- Open for business but the lobby and drop-box are closed until April 30th
- Customer service is available at (863) 834-9535 (M-F 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.) or customerservice@lakelandelectric.com
- Disconnects are temporarily suspended for non-payment until further notice
- Customers can access their accounts from home 24/7 at lakelandelectric.com
- LPD patrols are working 24/7 with no interruptions of service
- Records Counter is closed to walk-in customers but available by phone 863.834.6936
- 911 Dispatchers are asking screening questions when calls are received to identify possible viral alerts. This information is being relayed to first-responders so that they can take additional steps in protecting themselves when assisting patients.
- The Lakeland Fire Department is operating 24/7. There have not been any interruptions in service and there will be none.
- The department’s first-responders are taking additional precautions to protect themselves on calls, including the use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
- 911 Dispatchers are asking screening questions when calls are received to identify possible viral alerts. This information is being relayed to first-responders so that they can take additional steps in protecting themselves when assisting patients
- Recreation and Community Centers, as well as libraries, are closed. Closures also include:
- Gated park spaces and gated trails
- Parks spaces with picnic pavilions, playgrounds and/or bathrooms
- Cleveland Heights Golf Course, including parking lot
- Tennis and pickleball courts
- Basketball courts
- Dog parks
- Boat ramps
- Full Parks & Recreation Closures List
Community & Economic Development
- Building Inspection: By appointment only, phone and online. Field inspections continue as normal
- Business Tax Office: By appointment only, phone and email
- Code Enforcement: By appointment only, phone and email. On-site inspections continue as normal with new enforcement actions limited to citizen complaints only
- Community Redevelopment Agency (LakelandCRA): By appointment only, phone and email
- Business Development: By appointment only, phone and email
- Development Review: By appointment only, phone and email
- Historic Preservation: By appointment only, phone and email
- Housing: By appointment only, phone and email
- Neighborhood Outreach: By appointment only, phone and email
- Planning: By appointment only, phone and email
- Real Estate & Property Information: By appointment only, phone and email
For a full list of important phone numbers and contacts with the City of Lakeland visit: LakelandGov.net/Directory.
City Manager Tony Delgado said, “The safety and well-being of the community is the City’s primary concern as we all work together to help deter the spread of COVID-19. As a City, there are a number of measures we’re taking to ensure we manage to safely get through this situation while continuing to serve our community and the citizens of Lakeland effectively.” He added, “We certainly apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our citizens but we must all do our part to help make sure the coronavirus does not spread throughout the community.”
The City of Lakeland encourages the public to follow the recommendations for social distancing and hygiene when participating in outdoor activities. The City of Lakeland has developed a dedicated webpage with a number of resources to help the community stay informed. You can find this site by visiting LakelandGov.net/covid19.
Contact
About Lakeland
The City of Lakeland was incorporated in January 1885 and has grown to become one of the largest inland communities in Florida. With a current population of over 100,000, Lakeland continues to grow. It has been designated a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area by the US Census Bureau for over 30 years. With tourist attractions and gulf beaches only an hour away, Lakeland continues to capitalize on its ideal central Florida location along the I-4 corridor. The City owns and operates Lakeland Electric, the third-largest publicly owned utility in Florida and it was one of the first to offer power in the Sunshine State over 110 years ago.
For additional information about the City of Lakeland, please explore lakelandgov.net.
Citizens are also invited to follow the City on social media.