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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01. 20-104 MARCH 24, 2020 20-104 ORDINANCE FIRST READING (CARRIED 7-0 LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN ) PURPOSE: TEMPORARILY AMEND COUNCIL RULES PERTAINING TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND TO APPEARANCE AT COUNCIL, BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY INITIATED BY: CITY ADMINISTRATION Whereas, a novel strain of the coronavirus, named COVID-19 has spread throughout numerous countries including the United States; and Whereas, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has declared a Public Health Emergency; and Whereas, the State of Wisconsin has declared a Public Health Emergency; and Whereas, the Common Council for the City of Oshkosh ratified the Declaration of Emergency for the City of Oshkosh on March 18, 2020; and Whereas, the City of Oshkosh in cooperation with the local, state and federal governmental entities desires to take action to prevent exposure to and spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus and has directed staff to bring forward temporary changes to current rules governing public meetings contained in the City Code of Ordinances as well as the Council and Board and Commission Rules to maximize social distancing during this period. The Common Council of the City of Oshkosh do ordain as follows: Notwithstanding any provision contained within the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code, Council Rules or Oshkosh Board and Commission General Rules of Order, during the period of emergency in response to COVID-19 Coronavirus, the Council adopts the following rules and procedures: Board and Commission meetings will be postponed or cancelled unless in the determination of the City Manager, there are matters requiring immediate action. MARCH 24, 2020 20-104 ORDINANCE FIRST READING CONT'D Agendas for Council, Board and Commission meetings will be limited to matters requiring action reasonably necessary for response to the emergency or reasonably necessary for continuity of services. There will be no general Citizen Statement or general Public Comment Period at Council Meetings, Board and Commission Meetings. In-person statements or comments are permitted for Public Hearings and other agenda items where public participation is mandated by Statute, Rule or Order. For all other agenda items, persons will not be permitted within buildings or meeting rooms and any comments must be submitted in writing. Written comments may be sent via mail addressed to the City Manager, placed in the City Hall dropbox, or sent by email prior to the Council Meeting to citymgr@ci.oshkosh.wi.us;written comments will be distributed to the Council and made part of the public record of the meeting. All public meetings which are conducted under these rules will be made available live on Channel 10 in the City of Oshkosh, live streamed on oshkoshmedia.org, live on WOCT radio station 101.9 fm, live through Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire Stick. Persons requiring other reasonable accommodations, may contact the office of the City Manager at citymgr@ci.oshkosh.wi.us, phone 920-236-5002. Staff shall work with members of the Council, Boards and Commissions during this period to facilitate appearance by telephone,video or other means when necessary consistent with the following: o Members must contact the staff liaison (or City Manager for Council Members) to inform the staff liaison of the need for remote participation in a meeting as soon as practicable to assure that remote participation may be facilitated o Except for Council members, if a quorum of members will be physically present, no remote participation will be permitted. MARCH 24, 2020 20-104 ORDINANCE FIRST READING CONT'D o Recognizing that remote participation provides challenges in terms of efficiency,technology, and re-transmission for public viewing, if remote participation of Board or Commission members is required to reach a quorum, remote participation will be offered to regular members first, followed by alternate members sufficient to reach a quorum only. Staff shall offer participation based upon time of request, seniority or any other reasonably non-preferential manner. o Any Council member requesting to participate remotely will be accommodated regardless of whether a quorum is physically or otherwise remotely present at the meeting. o Members participating remotely must be audible through clear telephone line or computer connections. If a connection is not clear or causes disruption of the meeting the connection may be terminated. If a connection is terminated and this causes the loss of a quorum, the meeting shall be adjourned and rescheduled to another date to permit consideration by a quorum. o All votes shall require a roll call vote -no "all in favor' o Each person speaking must introduce themselves to provide clarity to those listening as to who is speaking All provisions of the City Ordinances, Council Rules and Commission General Rules of Order not specifically altered by these temporary rules shall remain in effect. This ordinance shall take effect immediately. Publication Notice Please take notice that the City of Oshkosh enacted ordinance #20-105 TEMPORARILY AMEND COUNCIL RULES PERTAINING TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND TO APPEARANCE AT COUNCIL, BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY on March 24,2020. The ordinance modifies ordinances and council, board and commission rules pertaining to agenda items; public comment; as well as rules pertaining to appearances at council, board and commission meetings in response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Public Health Emergency and extends for the period of emergency as determined by Council. MARCH 24, 2020 20-104 ORDINANCE FIRST READING CONT'D The full text of the ordinance may be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk, 215 Church Avenue and through the City's website at www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. Clerk's phone: 920/236-5011. MARCH 24, 2020 20-104 ORDINANCE FIRST READING (CARRIED LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN ) PURPOSE: TEMPORARILY AMEND COUNCIL RULES PERTAINING TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND TO APPEARANCE AT COUNCIL, BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY INITIATED BY: CITY ADMINISTRATION Whereas, a novel strain of the coronavirus, named COVID-19 has spread throughout numerous countries including the United States; and Whereas, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has declared a Public Health Emergency; and Whereas, the State of Wisconsin has declared a Public Health Emergency; and Whereas, the Common Council for the City of Oshkosh ratified the Declaration of Emergency for the City of Oshkosh on March 18, 2020; and Whereas, the City of Oshkosh in cooperation with the local, state and federal governmental entities desires to take action to prevent exposure to and spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus and has directed staff to bring forward temporary changes to current rules governing public meetings contained in the City Code of Ordinances as well as the Council and Board and Commission Rules to maximize social distancing during this period. The Common Council of the City of Oshkosh do ordain as follows: Notwithstanding any provision contained within the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code, Council Rules or Oshkosh Board and Commission General Rules of Order, during the period of emergency in response to COVID-19 Coronavirus, the Council adopts the following rules and procedures: Board and Commission meetings will be postponed or cancelled unless in the determination of the City Manager, there are matters requiring immediate action. MARCH 24, 2020 20-104 ORDINANCE FIRST READING CONT'D Agendas for Council, Board and Commission meetings will be limited to matters requiring action reasonably necessary for response to the emergency or reasonably necessary for continuity of services. There will be no general Citizen Statement or general Public Comment Period at Council Meetings, Board and Commission Meetings. In-person statements or comments are permitted for Public Hearings and other agenda items where public participation is mandated by Statute, Rule or Order. For all other agenda items, persons will not be permitted within buildings or meeting rooms and any comments must be submitted in writing. Written comments may be sent via mail addressed to the City Manager, placed in the City Hall dropbox, or sent by email prior to the Council Meeting to citymgr@ci.oshkosh.wi.us;written comments will be distributed to the Council and made part of the public record of the meeting. All public meetings which are conducted under these rules will be made available live on Channel 10 in the City of Oshkosh, live streamed on oshkoshmedia.org, live on WOCT radio station 101.9 fm, live through Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire Stick. Persons requiring other reasonable accommodations, may contact the office of the City Manager at citymgr@ci.oshkosh.wi.us, phone 920-236-5002. Staff shall work with members of the Council, Boards and Commissions during this period to facilitate appearance by telephone,video or other means when necessary consistent with the following: o Members must contact the staff liaison (or City Manager for Council Members) to inform the staff liaison of the need for remote participation in a meeting as soon as practicable to assure that remote participation may be facilitated o Except for Council members, if a quorum of members will be physically present, no remote participation will be permitted. MARCH 24, 2020 20-104 ORDINANCE FIRST READING CONT'D o Recognizing that remote participation provides challenges in terms of efficiency,technology, and re-transmission for public viewing, if remote participation of Board or Commission members is required to reach a quorum, remote participation will be offered to regular members first, followed by alternate members sufficient to reach a quorum only. Staff shall offer participation based upon time of request, seniority or any other reasonably non-preferential manner. o Any Council member requesting to participate remotely will be accommodated regardless of whether a quorum is physically or otherwise remotely present at the meeting. o Members participating remotely must be audible through clear telephone line or computer connections. If a connection is not clear or causes disruption of the meeting the connection may be terminated. If a connection is terminated and this causes the loss of a quorum, the meeting shall be adjourned and rescheduled to another date to permit consideration by a quorum. o All votes shall require a roll call vote -no "all in favor' o Each person speaking must introduce themselves to provide clarity to those listening as to who is speaking All provisions of the City Ordinances, Council Rules and Commission General Rules of Order not specifically altered by these temporary rules shall remain in effect. This ordinance shall take effect immediately. Publication Notice Please take notice that the City of Oshkosh enacted ordinance #20-105 TEMPORARILY AMEND COUNCIL RULES PERTAINING TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND TO APPEARANCE AT COUNCIL, BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY on March 24,2020. The ordinance modifies ordinances and council, board and commission rules pertaining to agenda items; public comment; as well as rules pertaining to appearances at council, board and commission meetings in response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Public Health Emergency and extends for the period of emergency as determined by Council. MARCH 24, 2020 20-104 ORDINANCE FIRST READING CONT'D The full text of the ordinance may be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk, 215 Church Avenue and through the City's website at www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. Clerk's phone: 920/236-5011.