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City Council <br />Meeting Minutes <br />May 26, 2020 <br />Page 7 of 11 <br />Councilmember Lipton noted petition circulation is not prohibited; however, it is not <br />recommended due to health issues. He asked if municipal initiatives could move forward <br />electronically as the governor has allowed state ones to. City Attorney Kelly stated that <br />the City's home rule charter does not allow for electronic circulation unless or until the <br />General Assembly changes those regulations in Title 31. <br />Councilmember Lipton stated the Council can't indefinitely postpone land use hearings <br />that are subject to referendum. <br />Councilmember Leh stated the Council needs to address public meetings for non -quasi- <br />judicial items first and then address those subject to referendum. <br />Mayor Stolzmann suggested having in -person meetings for all public hearings and for all <br />other items continue to meet electronically. <br />Councilmember Lipton asked what exactly is included in public hearings. City Attorney <br />Kelly stated generally it is those items that require prior notice to the public, it is mostly <br />land use, historic preservation items, and ordinances. <br />Councilmember Lipton stated unless there is a real urgency he is very reluctant to meet in <br />person. He is concerned about inadvertent exposure to the virus. He would like to wait <br />and see what happens over the next 30-60 days. Any item that can be addressed <br />electronically should be. <br />Councilmember Dickinson stated he supports finding a way to have having in -person <br />meetings when needed. <br />Mayor Pro Tern Maloney stated he wants to see City business continue; but we can't rush <br />the process back to in -person meetings until the referendum question is settled. <br />Councilmember Brown stated we need to find a way forward for in -person meetings when <br />necessary. <br />Public Comments <br />Mark Cathcart, 1763 Sweet Clover Lane, stated he is a person with underlying conditions <br />and he has concerns about attending an in -person meeting, but he also has a great issue <br />with the electronic meetings and feels there is no meaningful participation for the public <br />that way. <br />John Leary, 1116 LaFarge Avenue, stated he is concerned about those items subject to <br />referendum. While signature gathering is not prohibited it is highly discouraged for health <br />reasons. He stated the right to referendum is constitutional. He noted that property rights <br />