From: Ducey, Peggy
To: Lemos, June
Subject: FW: Public Comment -- 2/13/2023 CC mtg., Item Nos. 5D & 5E Date: Thursday, February 9, 2023 8:51:19 AM
Attachments: RESO Rescinding Local Emergency.pdf
From: Jacob Patterson <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2023 1:08 PM
To: Lemos, June <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: Public Comment -- 2/13/2023 CC mtg., Item Nos. 5D & 5E City Council,
Please see the attached alternative resolution, also prepared by City staff, that should have been included on this agenda instead of the one you are being asked to adopt in Item No. 5E.
The simple fact that the City prepared both resolutions--one to continue and one to terminate the local emergency--demonstrates that the City doesn't actually have a valid basis of reasonable justification for continuing to declare a local emergency. .
Declared emergencies grant unusual powers to the local government that serve to impinge on the rights of members of the public and which excuse the City from complying with some usual procedural requirements. It also grants the City Manager special authorization to do things without prior approval from the City Council and limits public review and transparency over some of those actions.
We are also only weeks away from losing our ability to continue to hold remote meetings (concerning Councilmember participation only, remote participation by members of the public in hybrid-meetings can continue) when the Governor's Covid-emergency expires in a few weeks so this is a confusing proposal as a practical matter...
Regards,
--Jacob