Keeping your Property Safe

UPDATED SERVICE HOURS

Effective immediately, our field services teams will deploy on a modified schedule,               8 a.m. – 6 p.m. 7 days per week, focusing on litter removal and sanitization of high-traffic areas, including handrails, trash receptacles, non-removable public furniture, and door handles. We remain diligent in monitoring storefront safety working closely with the Sacramento Police patrol officers to proactively check on downtown properties. Similarly, we are working closely with the City of Sacramento Office of Emergency Management and homeless service providers to share resources and self-care direction to homeless individuals. Please maintain safe distances between each other and our staff if you see them out in the field. They are working for all of us.

Whenever federal, state, or local authorities declare a state of emergency, the criminal penalties for common shoplifting and theft are greatly enhanced under California’s looting law. California Penal Code section 463 makes violations of this law punishable criminally by incarceration in county jail prison for up to three years and a fine of up to $10,000, with a mandatory minimum sentence of six months in county jail. The statute applies to any person entering any building or structure with the intent to steal any property, no matter its value. Learn more here.

Join the weekly downtown storefront safety webinar featuring representatives from the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and safety professionals. This open panel provides a chance for you to voice your concerns and ask questions regarding the downtown core. Email [email protected] to sign up!

PLANNING FOR THE UNEXPECTED

Be prepared: If a demonstration is occurring in the immediate proximity to your business, and you experience any safety concerns, have a plan to close or lock your doors and stay inside. Communicate this plan with your team and make sure all staff is aware of the situation and what their role will be, so they are prepared as well.

Be calm: Please understand and respect an individual’s right to exercise their first amendment right. If a demonstration is in your area, monitor from inside your business and respectfully allow participants their right to peacefully express their views in public spaces. Do not engage with them. This applies to staff and guests too.

Be protected: Follow best practices for property management, including a well-lit building with standard security measures in place such as functioning door looks and cameras. Ensure large items like patio furniture, planters, etc. are secured. Consider protecting any glass, windows and fragile areas.

Take Action: If your business is breached, or your staff, employees or guests feel threatened for their personal safety, call 911. Be prepared to give the dispatchers a description of the threat and how many employees or staff you have at your location. To report all non-threatening issues, previous vandalism or request an officer to do a report, call the police non-emergency line at 916-264-5471.

PROPERTY LOSS & DAMAGE

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS

With many tenants and property management firms encouraging people to work from home, it’s critical for property managers and owners to have the proper precautions and procedures in place.

• We strongly encourage you to download and read the Pandemic Guide for Real Estate Managers from the Institute of Real Estate Management.
• Apartment owners and operators should visit the National Multifamily Housing Council for a list of go-to resources to mitigate and educate residents on potential exposure.

Downtown Sacramento Partnership has also developed a toolkit with helpful resources, tips, and digital assets. Download the Property Manager Toolkit here.

BEST PRACTICES

• If you don’t already have a detailed response plan, now is the time to create one. It’s critical to formulate an actionable, specific plan that can be enacted at your buildings.
• Communicate regularly with tenants, vendors, and staff.
• Provide virtual support via virtual portals, phone, email, and text.
• Give all tenants phone numbers for all essential services like maintenance and main office numbers.
• Go virtual. If you don’t already, consider letting tenants make online rent payments, submit questions electronically, etc.
• Communication information about safety measures being taken in the building and any developments that might be taking place.
• Be sure to provide appropriate notice if there is any contamination or contact in the building so tenants can plan appropriately.
• Request tenants let you know ASAP if they know that someone in their household or space has contracted the virus so that any outside vendors or staff can plan accordingly and safely before entering the premises.

MAINTAIN YOUR PROPERTY

• Make sure your HVAC system is running properly. Example: make sure your outside air and exhaust fans are running to keep the air circulating.
• Make sure building systems (pumps, motors, elevators, etc.) are exercised/run on a schedule.
• Someone should be running the water through the system every day to avoid plumbing system issues.
• Put water n the “p-traps” – particularly in sinks and floor drains – to keep sewer gases from backing up into space.
• Don’t forget about janitorial sinks, bathroom floor drains, etc.
• Work with your tenants to shut off equipment that is not in use.
• Equipment (like a copier) is still drawing power even when it is not in the power-saving mode.
• Encourage lowering above ground floor tenants to lower blinds and/or angling them to minimize solar gain (which will reduce energy consumption).

Guidelines for Making Sure Water Is Safe When Reopening Buildings

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) have issued guidance for reopening facilities closed for a prolonged period of time during COVID-19 to help ensure the safety of building water systems and devices.

The CDC recommends that facility owners and managers create a comprehensive water management program and offers specific guidelines for hotels and public hot tubs and spas, as well as recommendations for flushing water systems and maintaining water heaters, decorative water fountains, cooling towers and safety equipment such as fire sprinkler systems. Learn more.

TENANT SAFETY

The top priority is the safety of your tenants, their employees and visitors, and the staff that maintain your properties. While this may mean there are fewer tenants in your building(s), there is still much you can do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

BEST PRACTICES

• Keep your working environment healthy by establishing hygiene protocols such as providing easily accessible hand sanitizers, ensuring adequate air circulation, and frequent sanitization.
• Increase the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing per CDC Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection guidance of all hard surfaces, including tables and countertops, elevator buttons, door handles, etc.
• Encourage employees to continue best hygiene practices, including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Provide information to residents and tenants about the common sense actions they can take to prevent the spread of infection.
• Post resources around buildings to help educate tenants, employees, and visitors about correct hygiene and all suggested and instructed “social distancing” measures.
• Many owners are considering closing or have already temporarily closed their amenity spaces.
• For additional information on protecting employees from COVID-19, refer to Cal/OSHA.