Hold discussion on returning to Council Chambers for in person meetings, and provide direction to the City Manager.
Item 43: Returning to Council Chambers
- Thread starter COSM_Admin
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JHughson
CoSM Members
Need new or existing plan for citizen comment and/or public hearing, when people want to come to chambers.
Need new or existing plan for seating people in chambers.
Need information about staff plans to attend in person or use online technology. If so, will need more video equipment in chambers.
Need new or existing plan for seating people in chambers.
Need information about staff plans to attend in person or use online technology. If so, will need more video equipment in chambers.
MDerrick
CoSM Members
The municipal court has used Zoom to aid those with disabilities or those who have moved to another city, to make it easier for them to "appear" in court. Is there any reason the city would not be able to do the same for citizen comment, including citizens who don't feel comfortable in our small, enclosed chambers due to health/Covid concerns?
Is there any reason the city would not be able to permit employees to who have health concerns to join by Zoom instead of appearing in person, including core staff who have seats on the dais and our ACM's.
Is there any reason that staff who usually wait in the chambers to give their presentations, would not be permitted to give their presentations via Zoom if they have health concerns? This could aid in reducing the volume of persons in the chambers to make room for citizens on a regular basis whether they have health concerns or not. Due to social distancing we will have a huge decrease in the number of seats available in the chambers.
I know we can't require masks, but with the Delta variant increasing in the U.S. and our inability to ask fellow CC members and core staff in chambers whether they've been vaccinated or not, could we post a sign at the entrance to chambers and include in our agendas (for the public) a request to wear masks? The World Health Organization now advises that masks be worn indoors, and the CDC has indicated if the variant becomes a larger issue in the U.S. that they may need to advise the same in the near future.
Is it possible that CC members and core staff in chambers could spread out in different rooms of City Hall for our meetings, so we aren't elbow to elbow? The plexiglass partition's we have, have now been found to trap airborne viruses more than protect in close quarters. We have 3 conference rooms that we may be able to use, but that depends upon whether we have the technology to make this work.
Thanks!
Is there any reason the city would not be able to permit employees to who have health concerns to join by Zoom instead of appearing in person, including core staff who have seats on the dais and our ACM's.
Is there any reason that staff who usually wait in the chambers to give their presentations, would not be permitted to give their presentations via Zoom if they have health concerns? This could aid in reducing the volume of persons in the chambers to make room for citizens on a regular basis whether they have health concerns or not. Due to social distancing we will have a huge decrease in the number of seats available in the chambers.
I know we can't require masks, but with the Delta variant increasing in the U.S. and our inability to ask fellow CC members and core staff in chambers whether they've been vaccinated or not, could we post a sign at the entrance to chambers and include in our agendas (for the public) a request to wear masks? The World Health Organization now advises that masks be worn indoors, and the CDC has indicated if the variant becomes a larger issue in the U.S. that they may need to advise the same in the near future.
Is it possible that CC members and core staff in chambers could spread out in different rooms of City Hall for our meetings, so we aren't elbow to elbow? The plexiglass partition's we have, have now been found to trap airborne viruses more than protect in close quarters. We have 3 conference rooms that we may be able to use, but that depends upon whether we have the technology to make this work.
Thanks!
Response provided by Tammy Cook, Interim City Clerk:
This is all something the City Clerk/Communications will work on. It will be set up similar to how we did the Budget Public Hearings last year.
Still need to iron out some details with communications, but I know there will be a hybrid type option allowed. But apparently the AG will be removing the TOMA provisions September 1st. So not sure any of this will be relevant beyond this time.
This is all something the City Clerk/Communications will work on. It will be set up similar to how we did the Budget Public Hearings last year.
Still need to iron out some details with communications, but I know there will be a hybrid type option allowed. But apparently the AG will be removing the TOMA provisions September 1st. So not sure any of this will be relevant beyond this time.
Additional response provided by Dan Robertson, Video Production Specialist:
Yes. We can we have a ZOOM picture in picture on our usual system of video where we use the wide shot of the entire council.
Yes. We can we have a ZOOM picture in picture on our usual system of video where we use the wide shot of the entire council.
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