Title
Consideration of Change in Format for In-Person Meetings for County Council and Board/Commissions
Recommended Action
I move that Council direct staff to plan and execute a change in meeting format to include public attendance in-person starting at July 6, 2021 meeting, and that staff work with the County's Boards/Commissions to phase in similar in-person meetings by July 30, 2021.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council consider changing format of in-person meetings.
Body
The County discontinued in-person meetings in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing virtual meeting options since that time. With the observed reduction in the number of new cases reported in numerous jurisdictions (local, state, and national), as well as Los Alamos' current "turquoise" status within the state's reopening framework, Council took action to resume in-person meetings starting with the June 8th meeting. Although Councilors and County staff are in Council Chambers for the meeting, public is still utilizing the remote method of Zoom to watch and participate. The purpose of this agenda item is to allow Council to discuss whether and when they may direct staff to alter the format of future Council and Board/Commission meetings to include in-person public attendance.
Alternatives
Council could either postpone the implementation of this format change to in-person meetings or postpone a decision on the subject until a later time.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The County normally plans for any costs associated with in-person meetings and has already invested in the creation of plexiglas dividers and related PPE, therefore there are no anticipated additional expenditures related to this decision.