Legal Review Committee Agenda and Packet 2020 09 02

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City Council Legal Review Committee Meeting Minutes July 7, 2020 Page 2 of 4 comfortable to attend in -person while those not comfortable doing so may join electronically from home. This option would allow people to attend in -person however the number of attendees would be very limited due to social distancing requirements. This allows for people at home to watch the meeting multiple ways including on Comcast Channel 8, via Zoom, and streaming through the City's website on YouTube. Alternatively, Council could consider allowing electronic meetings for all public hearings including land use applications the final decision of which is subject to referendum. For electronic meetings staff is continuing to make the meetings more accessible. Towards that end, staff is now providing a toll free option for people to use to phone into the meeting, closed captioning is being worked out, and the call in number is being run on Channel 8 during the live meetings so people may call in at the appropriate public comment period. Should Council want to allow for quasi-judicial hearings for items subject to referenda to be heard at an electronic or hybrid meeting, Council would have to specifically allow that with a new Resolution that would supersede Resolution No. 38 passed in June. Council would also have to amend its Rules of Procedure to allow for a hybrid electronic/in-person meeting. Councilmember Brown noted the science is changing rapidly around how best to avoid contagions of COVID. At this time, masks and social distancing are very important. He stated there doesn't seem to be one specific metric to look at to decide when to meet in -person again. There are many factors we will have to take into consideration. We will have to make a decision based on what information is available and how comfortable people feel. Councilmember Leh asked if Councilmember Brown thought in 30 days we will be better or worse off than we are now. Councilmember Brown stated Louisville is responding well and adhering to the public health guidance. He said as a State we will probably be worse off but perhaps we would be ok as a town. Councilmember Fahey moved for quasi-judicial hearings subject to referendum be held in an all -electronic meetings and to allow Council to determine when meeting in person would be safe. Councilmember Leh seconded the motion for purposes of discussion. Brown stated he is comfortable with the hybrid meeting option and supports giving people the option to come in -person or attend electronically.