Minutes-02-07-2023-Business Meeting

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27 Commissioner Fowler said it is interesting that they added that any proclamation should end five days later"or extended" and that previously that did not exist. John Roberts said it did exist in the current ordinance but is not specific. He said that the addition of"or extended" is his recommendation to make it clear. Commissioner Fowler said this could be cumbersome. She asked if there could be an update each month instead. Chair Bedford said in the first year, they received a weekly email, and still got updates, just not as frequently thereafter. She said what they really want is criteria for what will end the declaration, which they will not be able to put in writing for an unknown emergency. Vice Chair McKee said politics will be involved in this if it is implemented or not. He said to leave it as is is even more political to him. He said that staff would continue their work until the declaration is ended. He said that what this does for him is codifies the Board's responsibility. He said it does not allow an ad hoc decision by four members. He said it codifies it every 30 days. He said that when it comes to something as serious as the past shut down was, then the Board is required to publicly state their support or lack thereof for the declaration. Commissioner Richards said it seems like the problem was communication and asked if they need an ordinance. Vice Chair McKee said he thinks they do need something because during the pandemic, it wasn't that they couldn't do it, but they did not do it. He said this would make the Board make a public decision. Chair Bedford said the school boards went through this and a lot of people showed up. She said that she does not think if someone had brought it forward that it would not have been on the agenda. A motion was made by Vice Chair McKee, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, to approve the first reading of the proposed ordinance amendments to Chapter 14 (Emergency Management and Emergency Services) of the Code of Ordinances. VOTE: Ayes, 2 (Vice Chair McKee and Commissioner Hamilton); Nays, 5 (Chair Bedford, Commissioner Greene, Commissioner Richards, and Commissioner Fowler) MOTION FAILS A motion was made by Commissioner Greene, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to approve addition of the recommended language in 14-40. VOTE: UNANIMOUS John Roberts asked if the Board is looking for additional language that would require reports or if they are done with this. He read his draft language requiring the Chair to provide information to the Board. Chair Bedford asked for the proposed language to be brought back for another first reading at their next meeting. Commissioner Hamilton asked about a time rather than a "reasonable" time. John Roberts said there could be a disruption in communication and that is why he used the language reasonable. Commissioner Greene said she agrees with John Roberts's recommendation. 7. Reports None.