City Council Minutes 2020 07 14 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Meeting Minutes July 14, 2020 Page 6 of 11 gatherers/circulators as a Critical Government Function and give specific advice on how to do this as safely as possible. Public Comments — None Mayor Pro Tern Maloney stated it is important that City business continue and we have sworn to do this. He noted the original plan to not hold quasi-judicial hearings was approved in March when we thought it would only be a few months before we could safely meet in -person again. That is not the case and we do not know when we will be able to do that again. For those of us in a high risk category we need an option where we don't have to meet in -person until there is a vaccine. While option two may be feasible, it does not allow for everyone to participate on the same level. He supports option three. Other cities are doing this and it is working. Mayor Pro Tern Maloney moved to approve Resolution No. 38; seconded by Councilmember Lipton. Councilmember Lipton supports option three to have the least amount of risk for all attending. He does not feel option two would put everyone on the same playing field. He noted the Planning Commission has shown complicated and highly attended hearings can happen electronically. He feels strongly things are going to get worse before they get better and we should be as conservative as possible while still moving projects through the process. We can reevaluate in a few months if things change with the pandemic. Councilmember Dickinson agreed this is going to be around for a long time and we need a way to move forward. He could support either option two or three. Councilmember Leh noted quasi-judicial hearings are very serious as is public health so we need a balance. He feels option two is workable and could be done in a way to make everyone feel comfortable. He noted there is no legal impediment from having these meetings in -person but feels option two balances the safety concerns while allowing people the option to attend in person. He supports option two. Councilmember Brown stated he supports option two as it is important to allow people to participate in -person. He stated having an in -person option is important for our citizens. He does not think it is appropriate for the Council to say it is too dangerous to hold an in - person meeting but it is ok for people to be put at risk collecting signatures for a petition. He feels that would be unethical. Councilmember Fahey supports option three as case numbers are rising and the latest information is the spread of the disease can happen easily in a closed space like a meeting room. As a person in a high risk category she does not want to attend in -person. She feels there are ways to collect signatures safely if people follow proper procedures. She stated until a meeting can happen safely in -person she supports option three.