Agenda - Council Work Session - 06/22/2021

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CC Work Session 2.5. Meeting Date: 06/22/2021 By: Colleen Lasher, Administrative Services Information Title: Review and Discuss the Remote Attendance Policy Purpose/Background: The purpose of this discussion is to review the Remote Attendance Policy and consider changes based on the March 9, 2021 discussions, along with any new ideas. Consider Updates to the Remote Attendance Policy The most recent discussion occurred on March 9, 2021. It was requested to bring this discussion back to the City Council in 3 months. An excerpt of the March 9th minutes are shown below and the official minutes are attached. Status of the Peacetime Emergency and Other Factors The Peacetime Emergency is still in place; however, effective May 28th, businesses will no longer be subject to occupancy limits, distancing or other sector -specific requirements, which may be a factor in the City Council's discussions. Applicable State Statutes governing remote attendance. 1. Chapter 13D.02 (regular remote attendance standards) 2. Chapter 13D.021 (emergency and pandemic -time guidance) Current 'Interim' Policy Currently, Ramsey continues to operate under Chapter 13D.021 which allows a less restrictive use of remote meetings. Looking Forward: Post -Pandemic Remote Attendance The 'interim' policy was approved due to the pandemic. The purpose now is to reconsider the number of meetings a Councilmember or Commissioner would be permitted to attend remotely in a calendar year. The current 'interim' policy provides for unlimited remote attendance. The standards for remote meeting attendance as provided by state law are included in the attached City Attorney's memo. However, since the time of the City Attorney's memo, Section 13D.02 was amended twice (2019 and 2020). It should be noted that all recent and future changes in the law will supersede the policy. The amendments changed the following: 1. Roll call votes are now required anytime a member of a board attends remotely. Previously, regular voice votes were sufficient. 2. Previously, it was required that the public official who is attending remotely had to allow the public to participate from that remote location, wherever that is. Now, the location does not have to be public IF the member is in the military and is at a required drill, deployed or on active duty, OR the member has been advised by a health care professional to not be in a public place and a state of emergency exists (or did exist within 60 days). These two exceptions can only be used up to three times in a calendar year. If those exceptions do not apply, the regular rule requiring public access at the remote location still applies. The remaining provisions of section 13D.02 remain in place. Under all circumstances, the Remote Attendance Policy will follow state law.