Agenda No. 7.
CITY COUNCIL MEMORANDUM
| City Council Meeting: | October 17, 2023 |
| Department: | City Secretary |
| Subject: | Ordinance 23-M-28 - Amending the Code of Conduct and Procedures on Videoconferencing and Hearing of Residents:Written Statements. First Reading (S.Edmondson) |
BACKGROUND
At the September 19, 2023, City Council meeting under the Workshop agenda item, (A) Videoconferencing and (B) Hearing of Residents-Written Communications was discussed.
(A) Videoconferencing: Councilmember Allison Heyward asked for this item to be on the agenda for discussion. Videoconferencing is not mandated by the State, but if you allow it, you must follow certain guidelines. Several Councilmembers expressed difficulty participating in a Council meeting via videoconferencing. After much discussion, Council decided that videoconferencing would not be allowed and the Councilmember who cannot attend the City Council meetings in person because of work or illness would have an excused absence.
(B) Hearing of Residents-Written Communication: Councilmember Jill Whittaker asked for this to be added to the agenda for discussion. Councilmember Heyward referenced Ordinance 21-M-28 which reflects the City Council's Rules and Procedures does not say that written communications will be read but rather distributed to Council. State law does not require resident statements to be read by staff during City Council meetings. Council decided that written communications received from residents as part of the Hearing of Residents will only be provided to Council and not read at the Council meeting.
(A) Videoconferencing: Councilmember Allison Heyward asked for this item to be on the agenda for discussion. Videoconferencing is not mandated by the State, but if you allow it, you must follow certain guidelines. Several Councilmembers expressed difficulty participating in a Council meeting via videoconferencing. After much discussion, Council decided that videoconferencing would not be allowed and the Councilmember who cannot attend the City Council meetings in person because of work or illness would have an excused absence.
(B) Hearing of Residents-Written Communication: Councilmember Jill Whittaker asked for this to be added to the agenda for discussion. Councilmember Heyward referenced Ordinance 21-M-28 which reflects the City Council's Rules and Procedures does not say that written communications will be read but rather distributed to Council. State law does not require resident statements to be read by staff during City Council meetings. Council decided that written communications received from residents as part of the Hearing of Residents will only be provided to Council and not read at the Council meeting.