A summary of the different actions that Council could take this evening. Boards and commissions could also decide for themselves what rules they want around remote participation.
Conversation
Mayor Robinson notes that mobility & childcare concerns have limited some people's participation on boards & commissions. Supports option 3 above in leaving it up to individual boards. DM Nieuwenhuis supports flexibility for boards, but wants to implement previous rules for CMs.
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CM Lee appreciates the convenience of remote meetings, but says that being together is "the most important thing because [with remote meetings] you miss a lot of intangibles." Seems mixed on allowing boards & commissions to have remote participation of members.
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CM Barksdale is curious how the rules were arrived at before. "We're all adults...we can leave that flexibility. What matters more is that people are participating, instead of stipulating how they participate." Notes barriers that expectations for in-person can create.
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CM Zahn says it's about creating a space for inclusion & flexibility. Has concerns about leaving it to boards & commissions to decide if those values aren't driving the conversation.
CM Stokes would want it to be consistent across all boards and commissions.
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CM Robertson again says that hybrid meetings are difficult to manage, with people not knowing when they should speak or interrupting. Boards and commissions have a lot to deliver on, she says. "If we're going back in person, we're going back in person."
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She's also framing it as an issue of accountability and effectiveness, saying people on the phone might not be looking at the presentation or feel as accountable to their colleagues or the public. Would only support exceptions to that for medical exceptions w/ Council approval.
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Mayor Robinson says the technology has improved to where it won't be like previous phone meetings that were difficult to manage. Thinks the city is missing out on a lot of people from applying to serve by not enabling remote participation.
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DM Nieuwenhuis believes it needs to be consistent across boards & commissions, but agrees with Mayor that barriers prevent some people from even applying to positions. Seems to want in-person to be the default, but allowing flexibility for remote participation.
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CM Lee echoes CM Robertson comments around accountability. Supports her proposal but also wants to involve boards & commissions in the decision-making process.
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CM Zahn: "I think about focusing on outcomes and not butts in seats." Says establishing expectations for what city needs from boardmembers does not preclude allowing for flexible participation. "I believe we can figure this out and create space for inclusion that hybrid allows."
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City Clerk says that staff have been working "for months" on implementing the technology to allow for hybrid participation of the public and is confident it could work for CMs and boardmembers. So yeah, this should be a no-brainer.
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CM Stokes questions the optics of Council participating remotely right now and making a decision to not allow boards and commissioners to do the same. Says that not allowing remote participation would shut out so many people and that the city isn't "walking the talk."
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Importantly, CM Robertson, who is most strongly in support of mandating a strict return to in-person with only case-by-case exceptions, has herself had her video off this whole meeting because she's feeling under the weather.
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CM Robertson brings it back to accountability and her support for allowing for medical exceptions. But it's important to note that when the default is for in-person meetings, that's going to make it so a lot of people don't even *apply* to the positions.
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Now citing how when she was on the planning commission, she brought her baby and young children to the meeting, "because it was really important that I was accountable to staff, my colleagues, and the public."
Again, not seeing how remote == unaccountable.
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CM Zahn wants to make sure Council is looking at accountability "not as showing up in person, but at participation & engagement." CM Stokes noting it's not just about people already on a body, but about people who might be good on a commission that have a situation hindering them
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CM Lee seems to be saying that he supports the city living its values, but wants to make sure it's doing so in the way that's getting the most bang for the buck, doesn't know if devoting this much time to this one small issue is worthwhile to larger goals of equity & inclusion.
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Final motion is for Council to allow for up to 3 boardmembers & commissioners to participate remotely at a given meeting, with a lookback in a year to gauge effectiveness. 6 supporters, CM Lee abstains, which counts as a yes vote.
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With that, meeting adjourns! Certainly an interesting discussion to cap off the night. Again, can't get past the irony of the CM with her video off being the one to strongly push for all-return to all-in person w/ exceptions, instead of allowing flexibility be the default.
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CM Stokes sought clarification from Mayor, who confirmed that ability to participate in-person shouldn't be looked at as a criterion for acceptance onto a board or commission. Guess we'll see how that works out in practice. Cause with the limit of 3/meeting, what if
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there's a commission that already has 3 members that have to participate remotely? Would a qualified candidate who could only participate remotely be denied onto the commission? That doesn't really seem fair.