Minutes 10-19-2021 Virtual Business meeting

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16 December 2021 Meetings December 6 BOCC Virtual Business Meeting — 7:00 pm December 14 BOCC Virtual Business Meeting — 7:00 pm Chair Price said there was discussion on moving the November 2 meeting to November 4, due to municipal Election Day. She said she talked to Manager, and there are not many agenda items for this meeting, so the Board could possibly cancel the meeting, or even have a regular meeting before work session on November 11. Commissioner Fowler asked if the second option could potentially impact meeting in person on November 11, since business meetings allow public comment. Chair Price said the Native American Month Proclamation could be passed onto November 16. She said other items could be approved on November 11. Laura Jensen said the Rules of Procedure indicate that the Board does not take action at work sessions, but could vote to suspend the rules in order to approve a proclamation at their November 11 work session and it would not be considered a business meeting. Chair Price said there are options to make it work. She said the question is whether to come together on November 4 for a short meeting or not. Commissioner Fowler asked if the Board would need to vote to cancel the meeting. Chair Price said yes. Commissioner McKee said he is not in favor of cancelling the November 4 meeting, and thinks the Board should stay with its precedent of meeting on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. He said because of continuing virtual meetings through the end of the year, with exception of the November 11 work session, he will vote against this as a sign of protest. He said public business needs to happen in public. He said children are back at school with masks, the public is back at work, and people are interacting more and more and going to restaurants and social events. He said it is time for the Board to go back to in person meetings, and the Whitted meeting room can be configured safely. Commissioner Hamilton said the Board should hold the November 4 meeting. She said she wants more information on safety of the November 11 meeting. She said she is open to going back in person, but wants to make sure all possibilities and risks have been thought through. Chair Price said the first issue is whether to move November 2 meeting to November 4, and then to determine whether to meet in person through December. Commissioner Greene said she is in favor of meeting virtually on November 4. She joked it might be nice for new members to experience a short meeting. She agreed with Commissioner McKee about keeping the meeting schedule consistent. Chair Price said in the past meetings have been cancelled due to lack of agenda items in order to save time and money; however, she is fine with the meeting being held. She asked the Board for its thoughts on meeting in person for the remainder of the 2021 meetings. Commissioner Hamilton said she thinks the December schedule should be decided after the in person work session on November 11, depending on how the meeting goes. Laura Jensen showed a diagram of the proposed configuration of the Whitted meeting room for the November 11 work session. Commissioner McKee said this diagram is consistent with his vision for the room. Laura Jensen explained the diagram, noting appropriate spacing between attendees. Commissioner Fowler asked if there is a plan for overflow and if all those in attendance will be required to wear masks. Laura Jensen said Quintana Stewart, Public Health Director, advised that all in attendance for meeting wear masks. Chair Price said all Commissioners and guests will be able to be six feet apart.