City Of Bartow issued the following announcement on Oct. 24.
Halloween Trick or Treating
RESOLUTION NO. 21-4093-R
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BARTOW, FLORIDA, SETTING THE OFFICIAL DATE AND TIME FOR HALLOWEEN TRICK-OR-TREATING TO BE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2021, FROM 6:00 P.M. TO 8:30 P.M. IN THE CITY OF BARTOW, FLORIDA; ENCOURAGING CITIZENS TO ADHERE TO SAFETY PROTOCOLS; RECOMMENDING THE USE OF PORCHLIGHTS AND OUTDOOR LIGHTING TO INDICATE PARTICIPATION; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Halloween occurs this year on Sunday, October 31, 2021; and
WHEREAS, many citizens in the City of Bartow may elect to participate in traditional Halloween activities, including Trick-or-Treating; and
WHEREAS, the health and safety if its citizens, and especially its children, are of paramount concern to the City of Bartow, and
WHEREAS, Coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”), influenza, and other communicable diseases can be spread through close contact from person to person; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) and the Florida Department of Health (“FDOH”) have published safety protocols for reducing the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the CDC has published Holiday Celebrations recommendations for reducing the spread of COVID-19, including recommendations regarding Halloween celebrations; and
WHEREAS, the risk of spreading COVID-19, influenza, and other communicable diseases through Trick-or-Treating and other traditional Halloween activities can be reduced, though not eliminated, if participants follow safety protocols published by the CDC and FDOH; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission is mindful that an increased number of citizens may elect not to participate in traditional Halloween activities this year for many reasons, including health concerns relating to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, reasonable precautions during Trick-or-Treating greatly reduce the risk of injury; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Bartow wishes its citizens a safe and healthy Halloween;
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF BARTOW, FLORIDA:
SECTION 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The foregoing recitals are incorporated herein and are true and correct statements of fact.
SECTION 2. Halloween Trick-or-Treating. The date and time for the official Halloween Trick-or-Treating in the City of Bartow is Saturday, October 30, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
SECTION 3. Face Coverings Encouraged to Be Worn During Trick-or-Treating When Social Distancing Cannot Be Maintained. In accordance with the June 22, 2020, FDOH Public Health Advisory, the City of Bartow strongly advises, urges and advocates that those who elect to participate in Trick-or-Treating and other traditional Halloween activities to wear a face covering, both indoors and outdoors, when unable to maintain proper social distancing.
SECTION 4. Social Distancing During Trick-or-Treating. The City of Bartow strongly encourages all persons who elect to participate in Trick-or-Treating and other traditional Halloween activities to protect the health of the community by strictly adhering to appropriate social distancing and safety protocols published by the CDC and FDOH, particularly the Holiday Celebrations recommendations.
SECTION 5. Use Porchlights and Outdoor Lighting to Indicate Participation. The City of Bartow recommends that citizens who elect to participate in Trick-or-Treating turn on their porchlights and other outdoor lighting to indicate their participation. The City of Bartow further recommends that those who elect not to participate in Trick-or-Treating turn off their porchlights and other outdoor lighting to indicate that they do not intend to participate.
SECTION 6. Additional Trick-or-Treating Precautions. The City of Bartow strongly encourages its citizens to take additional precautions for safe Trick-or-Treating on Halloween, including, but not limited to, the following:
a. Wear reflective clothing;
b. Carry flashlights or glow sticks;
c. Young children should be accompanied by an adult at all times;
d. Use all available sidewalks and crosswalks;
e. Obey all traffic laws;
f. Drivers should drive slowly and be on the lookout for Trick-or-Treaters; and
g. An adult should inspect all candy before consumption.
SECTION 7. Effective Date. This Resolution shall be effective as of the date of adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BARTOW THIS 4th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2021.
Mayor
/s/ Scott Sjoblom
Original source can be found here.
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