Title
Virtual Meeting Provisions
Action
Action:
Adopt the following Budget and Effectiveness Council Committee's recommendations:
A. Regarding City Council's October 12, 2020, action to continue indefinitely Council's options for virtual participation in official meetings by amending it to end upon the termination of the statewide declaration of emergency.
B. Update the current Rule 28 in the Rules and Procedure for the Charlotte City Council to broaden the circumstances for Council members to participate virtually.
C. Update the current Rule 5 in the Rules and Procedure for the Charlotte City Council to add a provision to specify that when City Council is meeting in person that any members of the public who plan to address Council during the meeting also be present in person.
Body
Committee Chair:
Ed Driggs, Budget and Effectiveness
Staff Resource(s):
Patrick Baker, City Attorney
Explanation
* Effective March 10, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order declaring a statewide state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Following the issuance of the executive order and due to public safety concerns and the risks to public health that would arise from in-person City Council meetings, the city moved to a remote meetings format, as authorized by law.
* North Carolina law previously authorized public bodies to hold official meetings by electronic means, and as a result of the pandemic, the legislature authorized remote meetings for public bodies during statewide declarations of emergencies.
* On October 12, 2020, City Council voted seven to four to continue indefinitely the option for virtual participation by Council for all official meetings. (YEAS: Council members Winston, Watlington, Newton, Mitchell, Johnson, Ajmera, and Eiselt. NAYS: Council members Graham, Egleston, Driggs, and Bokhari.)
* Following the approval of the motion, Mayor Lyles referred further consideration of virtual meetings to the Budget and Effectiveness Co...
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