Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Districts
Authorize the temporary suspension of the start time of the Night Committee of the Whole Meetings for the October 20, 2020 Committee of the Whole Meeting and modify timing for public comment at such meeting.
Body
Information Contact: Stephen R. Bradshaw, Presiding Officer
Phone Number: 404-371-4749
PURPOSE:
Because of the COVID- 19 crisis, this Item seeks to temporarily suspend the provision in the Standing Procedural Rules requiring a 5:30 p.m. October 20, 2020 Night Committee of the Whole Meeting.
NEED/IMPACT:
To suspend the 5:30 pm start time of the October 20, 2020 Night Committee of the Whole Meeting. Night Committee of the Whole Meetings are to be held at three (3) different locations around the County to allow more citizen involvement. During these night meetings, a public comment section normally starts at 6:30 pm. Due to the Board of Commissioners' remote operations and the prevalence of citizens working from home due to the COVID- 19 Pandemic, Night Committee of the Whole Meetings at different locations are not needed and a 9:00 am start time seems to make more sense at this juncture.
With the timing of the Night Committee of the Whole Meeting suspended, the October 20, 2020 Committee of the Whole meeting shall commence at 9:00 AM with email public comments accepted between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM on the date of such meeting. Such public comments shall be read into the record at the conclusion of the COW Meeting. While the Standing Procedural Rules do not directly address temporary suspension, the County Attorney has suggested that five votes be obtained to allow this temporary suspension as five votes is the number required to amend the BOC's Standing Procedural Rules.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact caused by the suspension of the start time of the October 20, 2020 Night Committee of the Whole Meeting.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
Temporarily suspend Article I., Section 8 of the Commission's Standing Procedural Rules to allow a 9:00 am start time of the October 20, 2020 Committee of the Whole Meeting and a modified start time for public comment.