Blog Posts

Public Service Announcement: Tap Water Safety

3/22/2020

In light of the unique situation that our country is currently experiencing, there are a lot of questions out there and one that is starting to pop up is: How safe is our water supply?

We want to assure everyone that there is no issue with the City of Vero Beach Municipal water supply during these unique times of the COVID-19 outbreak. Every day, the water is processed through filtration and disinfectant procedures to ensure the highest quality for our residents.

For more information about Drinking Water, Recreational Water and Wastewater you can read the CDC FAQ here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html

If you would like to learn more, you can contact the City of Vero Beach Water & Sewer Administration at: [email protected] Please visit our department page here: https://www.covb.org/159/Water-Sewer-Administration

F.A.Q. - Executive Order 20-68

3/20/2020

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
RELATED TO RESTAURANTS, BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS
PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-68 AS ISSUED MARCH 17, 2020

Source: http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/emergency/
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
RESTAURANTS

How will food service establishments determine “50% occupancy”?
Building occupancy is established by the local building authority and/or the local fire authority. A Certificate of Occupancy is a document provided to each business by the local authority that establishes a maximum limit on the number of people – staff and customers combined - who can occupy the space simultaneously. Dividing this number (maximum occupancy) by half will provide the number of people who can congregate within the space simultaneously while Executive Order 20-68 is in effect.

How will food service establishments keep patrons 6 feet apart and limit parties to no more than 10 individuals?
1. Patrons seated at a bar or counter: DBPR advises that the seating of patrons at bars or counters regularly brings groups of patrons within six feet of each other and within six feet of restaurant employees. For this reason, the Division instructs all restaurants to limit seating of patrons to tables. Drinks may continue to be prepared at the bar for table service.
2. Patrons seated at adjacent or adjoining tables: DBPR interprets Executive Order 20-68 to prohibit seating at consecutive tables or booths abutting one another or that have less than six feet of space between the edge of one table or booth and the next. Each establishment is responsible for configuring its dining area, by either removing tables or blocking the seating of patrons at consecutive or close tables, in order to comply with Executive Order 20-68.
3. Patrons waiting in or near the entrance to the restaurant: DBPR strongly discourages any waiting areas at restaurants, either for seating availability or for picking up take-out orders. Restaurants should request a patron’s cell phone number to inform him or her when either a table is ready or the take-out order is ready, and ask the patron to wait in his or her vehicle or another safe location until called.

How will food service establishments screen their employees for illness?
Managers/supervisors should instruct their employees to notify them if they are diagnosed with COVID-19. Employees diagnosed with COVID-19 may not return to work until they have had two consecutive negative test results separated by 24 hours. Managers/supervisors should continue to instruct their employees to notify them if they are experiencing symptoms of illness, as is required by the 2017 FDA Food Code. Employees who report symptoms of an illness should follow established restriction and exclusion protocols. Managers/supervisors should meet each employee outside the establishment upon an employee’s arrival for a work shift. The manager should evaluate the employee for obvious signs of illness and send the employee home if symptoms such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, or signs of a respiratory infection, are observed.

How will food service establishments screen their employees for contact with others who may be ill? Managers/supervisors should instruct all employees to notify them immediately if they have been in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, or with anyone who has traveled through an airport or onboard a cruise ship within the past 14 days. Managers/supervisors should routinely ask their employees, upon an employee’s arrival for work, whether they have been in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, or with anyone who has traveled through an airport or onboard a cruise ship within the past 14 days. Employees who respond affirmatively should be prohibited from working in the establishment until a period of at least 14 days has elapsed (from the time the contact occurred).

BARS, PUBS, AND NIGHTCLUBS
Does Executive Order 20-68 apply to licenses such as Series 11C, Series SBX, hotels, and other special license types?
Yes. Any licensee authorized to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises that derives more than 50% of its gross revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages must suspend all sales of alcoholic beverages for thirty days, beginning at 5 p.m. on March 17, 2020.

How can a licensee determine whether it derives more than 50% of its gross revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages for the purpose of the Executive Order?
The revenue percentage is determined by the location's sales made in the 12 months prior to the issuance of Executive Order 20-68.

What conduct will indicate to the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco that a location may be selling more than 50% of its gross food and beverage revenue as sales of alcoholic beverages?
1. Patrons standing and drinking. The Division will have reason to believe that a location may be operating as a bar, not a restaurant, if patrons are standing near the bar.
2. Serving drinks to patrons at the bar. The Division advises locations to stop selling drinks directly from the bar but to sell drinks exclusively to patrons seated at tables. Drinks may continue to be prepared at the bar for table service.

May a licensee that holds both a food service license and an alcoholic beverage license continue to make food service sales if alcohol sales have been suspended pursuant to the executive order?
Yes, they may. The prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages applies to all establishments licensed by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco that fall within the scope of the Executive Order, regardless of license type, business name, location, or business model. The prohibition does not prevent sales of other products which the licensees are otherwise lawfully allowed to sell.

May an alcoholic beverage manufacturer that holds a vendor license for an adjacent tasting room allow only package sales of alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption if the licensee is unable to continue with consumption on the premises pursuant to the restrictions of the order?
Yes. A manufacturer of alcoholic beverages may allow package sales in its adjacent vendor-licensed tasting room, even if sales for consumption on the premises have been suspended pursuant to the executive order.

What are the potential consequences for failing to abide by the terms and conditions of Executive Order 20-68?
Failure to comply with Executive Order 20-68 may result in administrative action being taken by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation against your license, including the issuance of an Emergency Suspension Order pursuant to section 120.60(6), Florida Statutes. Failure to comply with the provisions of the order may also subject persons or entities to additional enforcement action by other state or local law enforcement agencies.

What records may the Division request to determine compliance with Executive Order 20-68?
Pursuant to section 561.55, Florida Statutes, each vendor shall keep records of all sales, purchases, or other acquisitions of alcoholic beverages. Additionally, pursuant to section 561.29(2), Florida Statutes, the Division shall have the power and authority to examine into the business, books, records, and accounts of any licensee. The Division may examine these records if necessary to determine compliance with the Executive Order.

Can a licensee voluntarily relinquish its smoking designation (SS or SSF), start making food sales and begin operating in a manner consistent with a public food service establishment in order to continue to sell alcoholic beverages?
No.

COVID-19 Updates

3/13/2020

The City of Vero Beach is following the CDC guidelines regarding community actions designed to limit the exposure to COVID-19. As such, certain events where mass gatherings occur within the City limits of Vero Beach have been or may be canceled in the coming days. A mass gathering is defined as a planned or spontaneous event with a larger number of people in attendance that could strain the planning and response resources of the community hosting the event, such as concerts, festivals, conferences, worship services, and sporting events. Please visit the City of Vero Beach website: www.COVB.org or the Vero Beach Police Department website www.VBPD.org for updates regarding cancellations. The following events have been cancelled to date:

3/14 - 3/15             Vero Beach Art Club “Under the Oaks”
3/14                           Oceanside Business Association Farmers Market
3/14                           Sunset Saturday
3/15 - 3/17             Pickelball Tournament

COVID-19 Information from Florida Dept. of Health

Traffic Advisory - 2/23/2020

2/21/2020

Please be aware! On Sunday, 2/23/2020 work will performed at the intersection of Indian River BLVD and Merrill P. Barber bridge.

Beginning at 7:00AM and lasting until 1:00PM the RIGHT-HAND lanes, both NORTH & SOUTH bound, will be CLOSED as work is done to replace the traffic control systems.

The LIGHTS at the intersection will also be OFF, and Officers from the Vero Beach Police Department will be performing traffic control and flow for the intersection.

In addition to this work, there will be a brief 1-hour job on MONDAY 2/24/2020 starting at 11:00AM where the lights will once again be OFF, with officers directing traffic. There will NOT be lane closures on Monday.

If you can AVOID this area during this times, please do so!

PRESS RELEASE: CIRCLE Special Needs Registry

11/8/2019

(clic Mental disorders are very common in the United States. Statistics show that every year, 1 in 5 people reported having a mental disorder. A national survey of Americans found that 18.5 percent of adults (18 or older) have experienced or have been diagnosed with a mental illness. That’s equivalent to 43.8 million people. These numbers do not even include the people afflicted by Alzheimer’s and dementia, the broad spectrum of Autism, or even those who suffer from physical or mental handicaps.

In addition, statistics show that a person suffering from a mental illness has a 7 times greater rate of contact with Law Enforcement. This is in part due to the fact that we as Law Enforcement Officers are usually the first ones called when there is an issue or someone is acting out or has an episode due to their mental or physical problems.

These are just a few of the reasons for the creation of the Combined Indian River County Law Enforcement (C.I.R.C.L.E.) Special Needs Registry.

Chief David Currey of the Vero Beach Police Department, Sheriff Deryl Loar of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Chief Michelle Morris of the Sebastian Police Department, Chief Rich Rosell of the Indian River Shores Public Safety Department, and Chief Keith Touchberry of the Fellsmere Police Department collectively worked together to have all of the agencies in Indian River County become active participants in this program in order to afford the entire county an opportunity to register their loved ones with the C.I.R.C.L.E. Special Needs Registry and to have the ability to share this vital information across all lines of jurisdiction.

Please see the complete Press Release attached. (click 'Read More')

More info can be found here: www.vbpd.org/CIRCLE

Vero Beach Centennial Parade

10/25/2019

TRAFFIC INFORMATION
Tomorrow 10/26 the City will be celebrating our 100yr anniversary, so this is a big event! @VeroBeachCentennial. Also our very own Halloween parade that is put on by the City of Vero Beach Recreation Department is also happening!

PARADE TRAFFIC 10:00am - 12:00pm
The roads along the route of the parade will be TEMPORARILY CLOSED as the parade moves through.

This will BEGIN at 17th Ave & 16th St. (Vero Beach High School) promptly at 10am, move EAST down 16th St, then NORTH along 14th Avenue until 23-25th St. where it will end.

SR60 Eastbound will be detoured to 12th St @ 20th Ave; SR60 Westbound will be detoured to Aviation Blvd @ 11th Ave. This will OPEN after the parade passes through.

Once the parade concludes, 14th Avenue between 21st & 23rd St will remain CLOSED (Pocahontas Park & Old Courthouse area!

The attached image illustrates the route, and the finale schedule!
#traffic #verobeach #parade #centennial

2019 Tactical 10k & 2 Mile - Sponsorship Opportunities

8/26/2019

The Tactical 10K & 2Mile race was created to help purchase lifesaving equipment for members of the Vero Beach Police Department Critical Response Team. The first year we were able to raise money to purchase a pole camera system, which allows the team to locate and identify potential armed suspects prior to entering dangerous environments. Since the inaugural event in 2015, we have outfitted members of the team with additional equipment needed in their operations. While our mission remains the same, this year, part of the proceeds raised will be used to assist our agency in its efforts to make improvements to the Vero Beach Police Department Firearms Facility.

Visit our page on the 10k & 2 Mile Tactical Run for more information and forms!

Hidden in Plain Sight

2/22/2019

Human Trafficking in Indian River County

The Vero Beach Police Department Special Investigations Unit, Sebastian Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit, and Indian River County Sheriff's Office Vice Unit has been conducting a criminal investigation into multiple massage parlor locations within Indian River County. This six-month investigation involving multiple jurisdictions has culminated by charging nearly two hundred subjects with over two hundred counts of solicitation. Additionally, the main targets of the investigation were also charged with various counts of law violations to include the following: Racketeering, deriving support from prostitution, engaging in prostitution, and transportation for prostitution. This combined effort included assistance from other jurisdictions including Orange County Sheriff's Office, Florida, Orlando Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, and the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida State Attorney’s Office.

Click "Read More" to see additional information

School Resource Officer Program

8/13/2018

As we embark onto the new school year we are reminded of the lives that were lost in Parkland, Florida last year. As a result of the tragedy, Florida enacted a new law requiring law enforcement to be present at all public schools in the capacity as School Resource Officers. Due to this new law we are assigning three of our law enforcement officers to the following schools: Beachland Elementary, Rosewood Magnet, and Saint Helen’s Catholic School. We have personally hand selected each officer based on their experience, education, and certifications to not only protect the students but to also continue to create/ maintain relationships within the community. The following is a small biography for each officer along with their assignment:

Firework Safety Tips for 2018

7/3/2018

We have a lot of tips to help keep everyone safe this Fourth of July! Please check out the info-graphics below on tips to stay safe, to keep your pets safe and for everyone to have a good time!

There were an estimated 12,900 fireworks-related, emergency department-treated injuries in 2017. Moreover, about 67 percent of the estimated annual fireworks-related, emergency department-treated injuries for 2017 occurred during the month surrounding the Fourth of July holiday, between June 16, 2017 and July 16, 2017. During this one month period, sparklers were the number one cause of injuries, accounting for 14 percent of the estimated injuries.

Además, se calcula que hubo unas 12,900 lesiones vinculadas a los fuegos artificiales que fueron tratadas en emergencias en 2017. Asimismo, alrededor de 67% de las lesiones vinculadas con fuegos artificiales que fueron tratadas en emergencias en el año 2017 tuvieron lugar en el mes alrededor del 4 de julio, es decir, entre el 16 de junio y el 16 de julio de 2017. En ese período de un mes, los dispositivos que lanzan bengalas (conocidos como estrellitas o luces de bengala) fueron la principal causa de lesiones al representar 14% de las lesiones estimadas.