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HomeMy Public PortalAboutORD16154BILL NO. 2021-030 SUBSTITUTE SPONSORED BY Councilmember Wiseman ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSON, MISSOURI AMENDING THE CITY CODE REGARDING ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION FOR MEETINGS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSON, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 7 (BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS), Section 7 (ESTABLISHING QUORUM; ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION) of the Jefferson City Code is amended by amending Section 7-7 to read as follows: A. Intent. It is the expectation of the Mayor and City Council that persons who have accepted the responsibility of serving on a City board or commission will attend all meetings in person unless extraordinary circumstances make an individual's in-person attendance at a meeting not possible, as the purposes of public debate and providing information to the public are best served when meetings are held in person with all participating members in attendance. However, it is recognized that such participation is not always possible, and this section is intended to provide a means for remote participation when necessary. B. Generally. It shall be necessary at any meeting of any board or commission of the City that a quorum be established by counting only voting members who are physically present at such meeting, except as provided by subsection C below. Any member of a board or commission of the City who is not physically present at a meeting may participate in discussion by electronic means, provided only members who are physically present may vote at such meeting unless voting by electronic means is conducted in a manner consistent with subsection (C) below. n b r -din C. Electronic Participation. Pursuant to the terms provided herein, an board, commission, or committee of the City is allowed to meet hy electronic means utilizing videoconference technology in accordance with the provisions of this Subsection and Chapter 610, RSMo. as may be amended. 1. Authoritv to Conduct Meetings Partially by Videoconference. The chair of any board, commission, or committee, or a maiority of an such body, may permit individual members to appear by videoconference at an meeting upon such member's request and for good cause shown, provided that no more than half of the board, commission, or committee members participating in a particular meeting may do so by videoconference. "Appearing by videoconference" shall mean that a member's face is visible on the videoconference platform being utilized to conduct the meeting, excluding brief presentations or informational graphics. 2.Quorum. Quorum shall be established only b A members appearing b videoconference, or a combination of members physicallyrp esent and appearing by videoconference. Editor's note: Deleted language shown thus. Added language shown thus. 3. Voting. Only members physicallyrp esent or appearing by videoconference shall participate in roll call votes. 4. Limitation on Meetings Conducted Fully by Videoconference. No board, commission, or committee may conduct any meeting fully byvideoconference without first receiving written permission to do so from the City Administrator, who shall consider such requests and, in his or her discretion, grant permission if good cause is shown. Denials of such requests may be appealed to the Committee on Administration. Any such request that would result in a board, commission, or committee meeting fully by videoconference more than once per quarter, or that would result in a board, commission, or committee conducting more than half of its meetings in a calendar year fully by videoconference, shall bypass the Committee on Administration and must be approved by the City Council. 5. Public Hearings. No public hearing shall be conducted fully hy videoconference. Public hearings are hearings in front of a board, commission, or committee which are required to be conducted under City Code or state law and at which any interestedep rson is entitled to address the board, commission, or committee. Nothing herein shall prevent interested parties from appearing by electronic means if such means are provided by the board, commission, or committee. 6. Emergency. Nothing herein shall limit any board, commission, or committee of the City to conduct a meeting with electronic participation by members or conduct public hearings during an emergency in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 610 RSMo., as may be amended. Section 2. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its passage and approval. Passed: J/,jj I j q, 10 2 Presiding Officer ATTEST: City Clerk r / Mayor Carrie Tergin, APPROVED AS TO FORM: Cit torney Editor's note: Deleted language shown t#4s. Added language shown thus.