Agenda Date: 08/17/2021
Subject:
Title
Motion to approve amendments to city council's Legislative Rules
Body
Prepared by:
Mark Relph, City Manager
PURPOSE:
To approve amendments regarding the continued use of electronic or telephonic meeting formats in specific circumstances.
PRESENTATIONS:
Staff Presenter(s): Mark Relph, City Manager
Reid Betzing, City Attorney
Additional Presenter(s): N/A
SUMMARY:
The city council has adopted legislative rules (Rules) that in part ". . . , shall govern all meetings and proceedings of the city council, boards, commissions, and authorities and the order of business, and the conduct of the mayor, city council and board and commission members and persons in attendance at such meetings."
PRIOR ACTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:
On March 20, 2020 city council amended the Rules to allow for city council to appear electronically and telephonically in the event of a public emergency and to limit public comment.
On July 20, 2021 council received a staff briefing on the possible continued use of electronic or telephonic meetings (e.g. Zoom, TEAMS, or hybrid meetings) and provided direction to make appropriate amendments to the Legislative Rules to retain the use of these formats under the following circumstances:
* Weather conditions deemed unsafe by the City Manager, or their designee, at least 24 hours prior the meeting.
* For public health circumstances deemed unsafe by the City Manager, or their designee, at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.
* For city consultants participating in city meetings as approved by the City Manager, or their designee.
ANALYSIS:
Staff Analysis
The city council amended the Legislative Rules in March of 2020 to allow for electronic meetings and thereby maintain continuous operations of the city during the COVID-19 pandemic. While all state-wide COVID Emergency Orders have been lifted and council has approved to rescind the city manager's State of Local Emergency, there remains benefit to having a cont...
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