HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2485 - Authorizing the Mayor and City Council Members to Attend City Council Meetings Remotely During the COVID-19 Public Health EmergencyCITY OF MARYSVILLE
Marysville, Washington
RESOLUTION NO . 2.4 ~5
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE,
WASHINGTON, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO ATTEND CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS REMOTELY DURJNG
THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEAL TH EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Hea lth and Human
Services secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergen cy for COVID-19, beginning
January 27, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Washington State Governor Jay Ins lee proclaimed a
public health emergency for COVI0-19, beginning February 29, 2020, and issued an additional
proclamation on March 16, 2020, further limiting public gatherin gs; and
WHEREAS, Snohomish County a nd the Snohomish H ealth District have a lso issued
proclamations of emergency and activated their emergency operations centers to deal with this
cris is ; and
WHEREAS, City of Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring is s ued a local proclamation of
emergency related to COVID-1 9 for the C it y of Marysville under MMC 2.12.040 and RCW
38.52.070(2). This authorized necessary acti ons by the Chief Administrative Officer and city
staff to protect pub! ic health ; and; and
WHEREAS , public health officials have implemented protocols for quarantining
individuals who may have been exposed to COV ID-1 9 regardless of whether they a re displaying
symptoms and for those who have been infected, and further have discouraged anyone with any
type of respiratory illness from attending public gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19;
and
WHEREAS, if four city counci l members were unable to attend a counci l meeting in
person, there would be no quorum and the remaining council members could not attend to public
business ; and
WHEREAS , authorizing the mayor and city council members to attend council meetings
remotely if they do become ill or are quarantined , w hil e maintaining the ability of the public to
observe the proceedings, during this public health emergency will enhance public health and help
reduce the spread of COVID-19, whi le ensuring that the City Counci l will have a quorum to
attend to public business.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF MARYSVILLE that the Mayor or a C it y Council Member who is quarantined or
experiencing a respiratory illness may notify the Council President, the Mayor, or the City Clerk
that he or she desires to attend a specific council meeting te lephoni cally.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MARYSVILLE that if th e Governor or o th e r government official with the authority to do so
issues an order and that order imposes a hardship on the Mayor or a City Council Member to
attend a meeting, the Mayor or Council Member may notify th e Council President, the Mayor, or
the C ity C lerk that he o r she desires to attend a spec ifi c council meeting telephonically .
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNC IL OF THE CITY OF
MARYSVILLE that if a Council Member reques ts to attend telephonically the Mayor will take
steps to provide for a speakerphone to be set up in the City Co uncil Chambers at 1049 State
Avenu e to permit other Council Members and members of the public to hear the comments and
votes of any Council Member attending telephonically and the Mayor will determine if other
means of trans mitting the meeting to members of the public is technologically practical and
imp lement any such means that he in his so le di scretion believes appropriate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNC IL OF THE CITY OF
MARYSVILLE that telephonic attendance at Counci l Meetings is a temporary expedient to
respond to the current public health emergency and is not a permanent policy or procedure of the
City Council of Marysville.
ADOPTED by t he City Counci l at an open public meeting this z '1 ~ day of
UA v«J., , 2020.
CITY OF MARYSVILLE
Attest:
Approved as to form:
By-------"""--&"""-----lU:..___"'l-____ &~~---'~'-------'-£_,, . -
J ON WALKER, CITY ATTORNEY