Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout040620_ca01 Consent Agenda Commissioners Office JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Philip Morley, County Administrator DATE: April 6, 2020 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION re: Adopting a Temporary County Policy for Remote Access to Open Public Meetings and Access to Public Records STATEMENT OF ISSUE: As a temporary measure to protect public health and County employees under the Governor's declared State of Emergency for COVID-19 and declaration that portions of RCW 42.30 and RCW 42.56 that require in- person meetings or contact be waived and suspended until midnight on April 23, 2020, the proposed resolution adopts a temporary County policy for remote access to Open Public Meetings and access to Public Records during the COVID-19 Pandemic. ANALYSIS: The proposed resolution establishes a temporary County policy for remote access to Open Public Meetings and access to Public Records during the COVID-19 Pandemic. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the proposed resolution adopting a temporary County policy for Remote Access to Open Public Meetings and Access to Public Records. RE i u WED BY: /411F , A/ 117 7->-62e ' ip Mor - o - ty Administrator Date COUNTY OF JEFFERSON State of Washington In the Matter of Adopting a Temporary } County Policy for Remote Access to Open } RESOLUTION NO. Public Meetings and Access to Public } Records } WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed a proclamation declaring a State of Emergency in all Counties in Washington State to due to the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus; and WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, the Jefferson County Health Officer issued a Public Health Order to control and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus; and WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a pandemic; and WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved a Declaration of Emergency due to the COVID-19 Pandemic; and WHERAS, on March 23, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed a proclamation(20-25) declaring that a State of Emergency continues to exist in all Counties in Washington State due to COVID-19; and that his prior proclamations are amended and superseded by a Proclamation to impose a Stay Home — Stay Healthy Order throughout Washington State, which prohibits all people in Washington State from leaving their homes or participating in social, spiritual and recreational gatherings of any kind regardless of the number of participants, and all non-essential businesses in Washington State from conducting business, within the limitations provided in Proclamation 20-25; and WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed a proclamation (20- 28) declaring that a State of Emergency continues to exist in all Counties in Washington State due to COVID-19; and that portions of RCW 42.30 and RCW 42.56 that require in-person meetings or contact are waived and suspended until midnight on April 23, 2020; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners that the procedures for the public to attend Open Public Meetings remotely as outlined in Attachment "A" will be in place until midnight on April 23, 2020 as directed by the Governor, or for as long as may be extended by the Governor. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2020. SEAL: JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Greg Brotherton, Chair David Sullivan, Member ATTEST: Kate Dean, Member Carolyn Gallaway, CMC Deputy Clerk of the Board ATTACHMENT "A" JEFFERSON COUNTY'S EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION 20-28 TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY FOR THE COVID-19 VIRUS FOR THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT (OPMA)AND PUBLIC RECORDS ACT (PRA) EMERGENCY OPMA PROCEDURES 1. In compliance with the Governor's proclamation 20-28, Jefferson County will conduct all public meetings subject to the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 42.30 RCW, via teleconferencing and/or video conferencing as outlined in this document. 2. Jefferson County will not hold in-person public meetings nor provide a physical location for the public to listen to or observe the meeting, but will provide public access via telephone, and other electronic, internet or other means of remote access that will provide the ability for all persons attending the meeting to hear each other at the same time. 3. Jefferson County will live-stream the Board of County Commissioner meetings when possible, and possibly other County committee meetings to which OPMA applies, for the public to view via AVCaptureAll which may be accessed on the County's website at wvvw-.co jefferson.wa.us. 4. Jefferson County will provide a telephone number for individuals to call, which will allow them to listen to open public meetings and may, at its discretion, allow public comments either verbally and/or by email or other written form for those open public meetings. 5. As a means for taking public comments, when allowed, during meetings of the Board of County Commissioners, individuals may submit public comments to Jefferson County via email at publiccomments@co jefferson.wa.us prior to the start of the meeting. County staff will read the comments for up to the time limit per person established by the Commissioners. EMERGENCY PRA PROCEDURES 6. The procedures below apply to Jefferson County's provision of public records to requestors pursuant to the Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW. 7. Jefferson County will not provide facilities for the public to review or copy public records nor accept public records requests in person. 8. In lieu of providing in-person records review, the County will provide physical copies of records via the US mail or electronic copies. The County will arrange for in-person record requests and review after April 23, 2020 or when allowed by the Governor. The procedures above shall be effective until midnight on April 23, 2020 as directed by the Governor, or for as long as may be extended by the Governor.