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Home My WebLink About20-017 Authorizing Temporary Changes to City Meeting Procedures (OPMA) Resolution 20-017 Page I of 3 RESOLUTION NO. 20-017 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, AUTHORIZING TEMPORARY CHANGES TO CITY MEETING PROCEDURES AND CONFIRMING THE PROCLAMATION MADE BY THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER ON MARCH 25, 2020 WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend (City) is a non-charter code city organized under Title 35A RCW; and WHEREAS, RCW 38.52.070 has authorized the creation of local organizations for emergency management and authorizes the use of emergency powers to combat disasters and protect health and safety of persons and property; and WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Public Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public emergency for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) beginning on January 27, 2020; and WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed a Proclamation declaring a State of Emergency exists in all counties in the State of Washington due to the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state and directed that the plans and procedures of the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan be implemented; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the Port Townsend Municipal Code 9.40.030, the Port Townsend Police Chief(or Emergency Manager as designee) is designated to administer the Emergency Management Organization; and WHEREAS, the City Manager and City Emergency Manager have reported to the Mayor of the City of Port Townsend that a state of emergency exists within the City of Port Townsend based upon the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Washington State; and WHEREAS, the Port Townsend City Manager and Mayor jointly signed a proclamation declaring an emergency on March 13, 2020 that was ratified by the Port Townsend City Council on March 16, 2020; and WHEREAS, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies the potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 as high, and has advised that person-to-person spread of COVID-19 will continue to occur; and WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Health has confirmed localized person-to-person spread of COVID-19 in Washington State, significantly increasing the risk of exposure and infection to the general public, and creating an extreme public health risk that may spread quickly; and Resolution 20-017 Page 2 of 3 WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation by the Governor 20-25 "Stay Home— Stay Healthy"that ordered residents to remain home unless engaging in essential services or working in essential businesses or services; and WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020, Governor Inslee issued Proclamation by the Governor 20-28 "Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act"that modifies the City's meeting procedures and public records procedures; and WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020, the City Manager and the Mayor jointly signed a proclamation to implement temporary City policy changes in order to comply with Governor Inslee's "Stay Home— Stay Safe" Proclamation and his "Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act"proclamation; and WHEREAS, in the judgment of the undersigned, extraordinary measures are required to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of Port Townsend's residents and may go beyond the capability of local resources. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend: 1. In compliance with Governor's Proclamation 20-28, the City of Port Townsend will conduct all meetings via tele- or videoconferencing. The City will not hold in-person meetings nor provide a physical location for the public to listen to or observe the meeting but will provide other means for the public to attend the meeting. 2. The City will provide a telephone number for residents to call into to listen to the meeting. The telephonic access will be limited to listen-only mode. The City will also live-stream meetings on the City's website for the public to view. 3. Members of the public wishing to comment on agenda items or other matters may submit those comments to the City at p�ik Nicco liT )Icity (AIS. City staff will read the comments for up to three minutes per person. 4. The City will not provide facilities for the public to review or copy public records nor accept public records requests in person. In lieu of providing in-person records review, the City will provide physical copies of records via the US mail or electronic copies. Alternatively, the City will arrange for in-person record requests and review after April 23, 2020 or when allowed by Governor Inslee. 5. The Proclamation by the City Manager and Mayor on March 25, 2020 on the same topic is confirmed and ratified. Resolution 20-017 Page 3 of 3 ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regular meeting thereof, held this 6t" day of April 2020. )II I Michelle Sa t oo^ i',l Mayor Attest: Approved as to form: m._............. --------------------- Joanna .___Joanna Sanders, MMC 1 Ceic.i Crreeh )od City Clerk City Attorney Attachment 2 Page 1 of 2 Proclamation of the City of Port Townsend, Washi��~y�K�� K��~|^�� ^� ��^�� u��^�� ngton ^o�~.~' ' �~~�.~°."..o� Changes ... ^�n�� nrn.~^~w..��~~ .~..�� ~U~� �� F�� ~� �� Public �,.��UU~ /x..~..|K�~n...~~.~~,~..�.. nx....n~....�� K|�� wK��i�K~ ��|�� '''�~-'~'' ^—''^~~^u�`�''�v WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend (City) is a non -charter code city organized under Title 35A RCVV and WHEREAS, RCVV 38.52.070 has authorized the creation of local organizations for emergency management and authorizes the use of emergency powers to combat disasters and protect health and safety ofpersons and property; and WHEREAS, mnJanuary 31, 2020l the United States Department of Public Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public emergency for the novel coronavirus (COV|D-19) beginning onJanuary 27,2O2O;and WHEREAS, onFebruary 29,2O2O Governor Jay |nsleesigned aProclamation declaring aState of Emergency exists in all counties in the State of Washington due to the number of confirmed cases of COV|D-19 in the state and directed that the plans and procedures of the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan beimplemented; and WHEREAS, pursuant tothe Port Townsend Municipal Code 9.40]}30, the Port Townsend Police Chief (or Emergency Manager as designee) is designated to administer the Emergency Management Organization; and WHEREAS, the City Manager and City Emergency Manager have reported tothe Mayor ofthe City ofPort Townsend that a state ofemergency exists within the City ofPort Townsend based upon the spread ofthe novel coronavirus (COV|D-19)inWashington State; and WHEREAS, the Port Townsend City Manager and Mayor jointly signed a proclamation declaring an emergency on March 13, 2020 that was ratified by the Port Townsend City Council on March 16,2020;and WHEREAS, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies the potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 as high, and has advised that person-to-person spread of COV|D-19vvi|| continue to occur; and WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Health has confirmed localized person-to-person spread of [0V|D'19 in Washington State, significantly increasing the risk of exposure and infection to the general public, and creating an extreme public health riskthat may spread quickly; and Attachment 2 Page 2 of 2 WHEREAS, on March 22' 2020' Governor |nslee ordered all non-essential employees to "stay home; stay safe" and all non-essential businesses toclose; and WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020Governor |ns|ee issued Proclamation by the Governor 20-28 "Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act" that modifies the City's meeting procedures and public records procedures; and WHEREAS, the Port Townsend City Council bscheduled tomeet onApril 6,2020 inorder tpratify actions taken to combat the public health emergency; and WHEREAS, in the judgment of the undersigned, extraordinary measures are required to protect the public health, safety, and welfare ofPort Tovvnsend's residents and may go beyond the capability oflocal resources. NOW, THEREFORE, [Ty9HEREBY PROCLAIMED 4SFOLLOWS: 1. In compliance with Governor's Proclamation 20-28, the City of Port Townsend will conduct all meetings via tele- orvideoconferencing. The City will not hold in-person meetings nor provide a physical location for the public to listen to or observe the meeting but will provide other means for the public to attend the meeting. 2. The City will provide a telephone number for residents to call into to listen to the meeting. The telephonic access will belimited tolisten-only mode. The City will also live -stream meetings on the City's website for the public to view. 3. Members of the public wishing to comment on agenda hems or other matters may submit those comments to the City at City staff will read the comments for up to three minutes per person. 4. The [hv will not provide facilities for the public to review or copy public records nor accept public records requests in person. In lieu of providing in-person records review, the City will provide physical copies ofrecords via the US mail mrelectronic copies. Alternatively, the City will arrange for in-person record requests and review after April 23, 2020 or when allowed by Governor Inslee. Dated this 'Z5'day ofMarch 202O Mauro, City Manager Michelle Sandoval, Mayor