Bishop Ranch Unveils Public Safety Measures

SAN RAMON, CA—With offices and retail slowly reopening throughout the Bay Area, management companies are introducing a wide variety of plans to ensure employee, visitor and public safety. Sunset Development Company recently announced its public health safety measures as it prepares to gradually welcome employees and visitors back to Bishop Ranch’s office properties and City Center Bishop Ranch.

As stay-at-home directives are gradually lifted and tenants look towards returning to Bishop Ranch, Sunset is partnering with John Muir Health and Contra Costa Health Services to implement the safety measures which include daily temperature checks and brief question-and-answer screenings at individual office buildings. City Center is currently open for in-store retail with modifications, curbside pick-up, to-go services, and plans to reopen more broadly pending further guidance from Contra Costa County.

The measures have all been developed in accordance with the standards and guidelines for managing the COVID-19 response established by the Centers for Disease Control, the state and Contra Costa County. These guidelines will be updated as necessary as the situation evolves.

“This program was created with one goal in mind: to protect the health and safety of all Bishop Ranch tenants and their employees as we begin the important task of reopening our local economy,” said Alex Mehran Jr., president and CEO of Sunset Development Company. “We’re committed to operating safely, transparently and efficiently, and just as important, compassionately. The measures we’re implementing will help ensure their safety while at Bishop Ranch, and enable us to monitor and adapt our practices as necessary as the COVID-19 crisis evolves.”

San Ramon mayor Bill Clarkson lauded Sunset’s plans.

“This is a very welcome and encouraging step as we seek to restore our community’s social, economic and recreational activities,” he said. “The safety measures being put in place will let businesses and their employees return to Bishop Ranch with confidence, once permitted.”

The safety program encourages companies to continue to allow telework arrangements with their employees as feasible and welcome employees back to their offices gradually, in phases. The program also encourages companies to close common areas or if they remain open, enforce strict social distancing protocols.

“Our county and the city of San Ramon are fortunate to have a strong economic engine like we have in Bishop Ranch,” says Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County supervisor, whose District 2 includes Bishop Ranch. “I’m optimistic that as businesses and their employees begin to return to their offices, our economies will recover quickly.”

As Bishop Ranch office buildings reopen, arriving employees and visitors will be asked to visit health-check stations that will be located at each property. Staff at screening and temperature check stations will have undergone a training developed with John Muir healthcare professionals who will take employees’ and guests’ temperatures using non-touch thermometers. Stations have been available at select Bishop Ranch office buildings since May 18, with the remainder being rolled out in June.

Employees and visitors will also be asked five brief questions to ascertain whether they are experiencing any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 such as shortness of breath, fever, new cough or sore throat. Those with normal-range temperatures who answer “no” to all four questions will receive a dated temperature and screening sticker to wear throughout the day. Anyone with temperatures 100 and above or who answer “yes” to any of the screening questions will be encouraged to visit a drive-through COVID-19 testing site at Bishop Ranch that Sunset is establishing through a partnership with Contra Costa Health Services. In addition, Sunset has partnered with DiaCarta, a Bay Area genomics and diagnostics company, to provide fast turnaround bulk testing at discounted rates for Bishop Ranch companies and their employees.

Bishop Ranch office tenants said the phased reopening plans were the correct approach as California businesses and employees begin returning to workplaces.

“Our entire team is eager to resume operations at our Bishop Ranch offices and Sunset’s careful approach will make it possible for us to do so while being mindful of everyone’s safety,” said Diane Dietz, president and chief executive officer of Rodan + Fields, a premium skincare company. “We appreciate the measured customer-centric focus of the plans for Bishop Ranch and their overarching goal to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.”

As of late last week, City Center Bishop Ranch is welcoming visitors back in full compliance with the Contra Costa County Health ordinance that permits in store shopping and dining with modifications.

City Center guests won’t be required to visit a health station to enter the center. However, individual merchants have the option of mandating health checks before guests are allowed inside their stores or restaurants.

Sunset officials have shared the program plans with Bishop Ranch office tenants and City Center merchants.

“They’re on board and excited at the prospect of welcoming their employees and customers back to Bishop Ranch,” Mehran said.

Sunset is taking additional measures at individual buildings throughout Bishop Ranch including:

• Increased janitorial services for high-touch services
• A rapid response team for disinfection of any exposed spaces
• Individually packaged in-office meal delivery service prepared by screened staff and distance dining in Bishop Ranch cafes
• Signage outlining social distancing guidelines
• Extending office cubicle partitions where needed
• Daily disposable covers for desks, conference room and dining tables

“We are acknowledging and embracing the fact that our tenants will return–slowly–to a changed workplace with new safety protocols and procedures, and making sure they have support and help implementing initiatives that include social-distancing guidelines, enhanced cleaning and new access protocols,” Mehran tells GlobeSt.com. “Our tenants are eager to get back to work and our priority right now is on their health and safety.”

Contra Costa County has made significant headway in meeting its five indicators for reopening, according to the county’s latest report. Aside from no increase in new cases and hospitalizations, all eight hospitals have attested having a 30-day supply of personal protective equipment, one of the five reopening indicators. Hospitals also have sufficient capacity to handle more patients. While progress has been made in testing, the county still needs to triple the amount of tests being done to reach its goal.