HomeMy Public PortalAbout05312022 Local EmergencyPage 1 of 3
PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY DECLARING
NECESSITY OF CONTINUED REMOTE MEETINGS
WHEREAS, Section 2.27.060 of the Bothell Municipal Code authorizes the Mayor of the
City of Bothell to issue proclamations of local emergency; and
WHEREAS, on March 5, 2020, former Mayor Liam Olsen issued a Proclamation of
Local Emergency proclaiming that, due to COVID-19, a local emergency exists in the City of
Bothell; and
WHEREAS, new subvariants of COVID-19, such as BA.2 continue to be detected in
Washington State; and
WHEREAS, newer subvariants have caused multiple surges in case counts and
hospitalizations throughout the Puget Sound region; and
WHEREAS, the Public Health: Seattle and King County has confirmed COVID-19
subvariants within the Bothell City Limits; and
WHEREAS, both King and Snohomish Counties continue to identify persons testing
positive for and dying from COVID-19 subvariants; and
WHEREAS, the surge in cases reduces the ability for City staff and members of the
public to attend in-person meetings safely, and
WHEREAS, the City of Bothell is committed to safely providing access to vital City
services and public meetings; and
WHEREAS, on May 17, 2022, the City Council discussed whether, if held in-person,
meetings of the City Council and meetings of City Advisory Groups would be reasonably safe
for attendees given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on May 17, 2022, a majority of the City Council indicated that they had
insufficient information regarding whether such in-person meetings would be reasonably safe
and directed the City Manager to solicit feedback from each City Advisory Group such that the
City Council would then have more complete information to act on; and
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WHEREAS, on May 17, 2022, a majority of the City Council determined that, based on
the information available on May 17, 2022, continuing to hold meetings of the City Council and
of City Advisory Groups remotely through June 30, 2022, was the best way to ensure that each
meeting was reasonably safe for attendees.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
BOTHELL that an emergency continues to exist in the City of Bothell as a result of the
aforementioned conditions and, therefore:
Section 1. As used in this Proclamation, the terms listed in this section shall have the
meanings indicated below:
A. “City Advisory Group” means the Arts Commission, the Civil Service
Commission, the Council Salary Commission, the Landmark Preservation Board,
the LEOFF 1 Disability Board, the Library Board, the Lodging Tax Advisory
Committee, the Parks & Recreation Board, the Planning Commission, the
Shorelines Board, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, and
any other board, committee, or commission convened, formed, or established by
action of the City Council subsequent to the date of this Proclamation.
B. “Meeting” shall have the same meaning as provided for the term in RCW
42.30.020.
B. “OPMA” means the Washington State Open Public Meetings Act as codified in
Chapter 42.30 RCW.
C. “Remotely” means that the meeting will be held without a physical location and
with members of the City Council, City Advisory Group, or the public attending
via phone or other some other electronic means allowing real-time verbal
communication without being in the same physical location, in the manner
allowed under Section 5 of ESHB 1329, Chapter 115, Laws of 2022.
Section 2. All meetings of the City Council held from the date of this Proclamation
through June 30, 2022, shall be held remotely in a manner that complies with the requirements of
the OPMA.
Section 3. All meetings of every City Advisory Group held from the date of this
Proclamation through June 30, 2022, shall be held remotely in a manner that complies with the
requirements of the OPMA.
Section 4. Nothing in this Proclamation affects the continued validity of the March 5,
2020 Proclamation of Local Emergency issued by former Mayor Liam Olsen, which shall
continue to remain in full force and effect until terminated.
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Section 5. A copy of this proclamation, to the extent practicable, shall be posted at the
City’s regular locations for official notices and shall be made available to members of the local
news media and general public.
Dated this 31st day of May, 2022.
Signed:____________________________________
MASON THOMPSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BOTHELL
Mason Thompson (May 31, 2022 16:08 PDT)
Mason Thompson