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Discussion of In-Person Meetings.
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Meeting Date: September 1, 2021
Contact Person/Dept: Walter Castillo / Administrative Services
Phone Number: (310) 253-5640
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas (08/26/21); (Email) All City Staff (08/26/21)
Department Approval: Serena Wright-Black, Assistant City Manager, (08/26/2021)
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RECOMMENDATION
This item was placed on the Commission agenda at the request of Chair Kuechle. In light of the Commission action at its August 4, 2021 meeting to resume in-person meetings as soon as permitted, Staff has no recommendation regarding this item.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On March 14, 2020 the City proclaimed a local emergency to combat the spread of Covid-19 and issued subsequent public orders beginning March 16, 2020. In adherence to such orders and to protect the health, safety and welfare of Council Members, Commission, Committee and Board (CBC) members, City staff and the public, the City discontinued in-person City Council and CBC meetings until further notice. All meetings are held remotely through “WebEx” or similar video-based programs.
Following the universal mask mandate for indoor settings regardless of vaccination status, issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Officer in July 2021, as a result of the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County, the City Manager determined that all City Council and Commission, Boards, and Committees (CBCs) meetings will continue to be held virtually, until further notice. The City Council will discuss in-person versus virtual meetings at its September 13, 2021 regular public meeting. Once the City Manager or City Council authorizes in-person meetings, the meetings will be held as follows:
• City Council and Planning Commission meetings will be held in a hybrid fashion, allowing the public to attend in-person or virtually.
• All CBCs, including the Civil Service Commission, may choose, as a CBC body, to meet either virtually or in-person, including meetings held jointly with another CBC and CBC subcommittee meetings. There will be no hybrid option for CBCs.
At the Commission’s August 4, 2021, regular meeting, the Commission, by a vote of 4-0 with one member being absent, agreed to hold in-person meetings once permitted by the City.
The purpose of this agenda item is to allow for the Commission to further discuss in-person meetings as needed.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact associated with the discussion of this item.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
MOTION
No action is necessary, since the Commission has already determined to resume in-person meetings once permitted to do so by the City Manager, or by City Council.