City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 20, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
City Council, Board and Commission Meetings Format During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
BODY
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ISSUE: What City business to conduct, and in what form to conduct the business, of City
Council, Boards and Commissions while the COVID-19 crisis remains a threat?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Hold its June 9 Legislative meeting and June 20 Public Hearing meeting in an electronic format with a widening of docket subject matters to be considered;
2. Determine at a later date in June in what form to hold Council's June 23 Legislative meeting and July 7 Public Hearing meeting; and
3. Provide continued guidance to City Boards and Commissions that they not meet until September, 2020 unless considering COVID-19 matters or matters that relate to the continuity of government.
BACKGROUND: With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the City of Alexandria and its residents in March, City Council started meeting on March 18 in a fully electronic format as now permitted by State law. The City Council has held its Legislative meetings and Work sessions since then in electronic format using the Zoom platform. This has included the provision of public electronic input during several of these meetings. During the last month, in order to deal with the continuity of government operations, a few boards and commissions have met to deal with matters that could not be deferred or have been long planned to be considered by Council in June (such as the North Potomac Yard /Virginia Tech plans). This has included meetings in May of the Board of Architectural Review, the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee, and Potomac Yard Development Advisory Committee. The Planning Commission meeting and public hearing...
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