RESOLUTION NO. ------
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASADENA
AUTHORIZING REMOTE TELECONFERENCE MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL,
ALL CITY SUBORDINATE BODIES, AND ALL CITY NON-PROFIT CORPORATION BOARDS AND THEIR SUBORDINATE BODIES, FOR THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 28, 2022 THROUGH MARCH 30, 2022
WHEREAS, the City of Pasadena is committed to preserving and fostering public access and participation in meetings of the City Council, all City subordinate bodies, and all city non-profit corporation Boards and their subordinate bodies, as required by the Ralph M. Brown Act (Cal. Gov. Code§§ 54950 - 54963), so that any member of the public may attend and participate as the bodies conduct the public's business ; and WHEREAS, the Brown Act makes special provisions for remote teleconferencing participation in meetings when the Governor has declared a state of emergency pursuant to Government Code section 8625, and either state or local officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing, or an in-person meeting would present imminent risks to the health and safety of attendees; and WHEREAS, such conditions continue to exist in the City of Pasadena.
Specifically, on March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a Proclamation of a State of Emergency with regard to the COVlD-19 pandemic. Pasadena's Health Officer has issued numerous Health Orders regarding safety protocols during the COVI D-19 pandemic, including a June 14, 2021 Order To Comply With California Department Of Public Health Guidance For The Use Of Face Coverings And Select Sector Guidances 1 #RS8MOXKEODE51Hvl
And Public Health Protocols (which, among other orders, requires physical distancing of at least 6 feet) and a July 21, 2021 Order For Wearing Of Face Masks In Public Settings (requiring face masks be worn, regardless of vaccination status, in all indoor public settings). These orders were made necessary by the rise in the more contagious and easily spread Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus throughout the nation, and specifically in the Los Angeles County region; and
WHEREAS, over the 2021 December holiday break and continuing into January, 2022, the highly contagious Omicron variant caused positive cases to skyrocket across the United States, the Los Angeles region, and in Pasadena. Hospitalization rates have also increased, though not to the extent of positive cases. While the daily positive case rate in Pasadena and Los Angeles County is declining at this time, the rate of cumulative laboratory-confirmed cases in Pasadena remains on an upward trend.
There is still concern about the ease with which the Omicron variant spreads, and as well now there is new information developing regarding an Omicron sub-variant (known as BA.2) that has been confirmed to be circulating in Los Angeles County as of late January, 2022, which may be even more contagious (but perhaps not more virulent); and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 9868, on October 4, 2021, by Resolution No. 9871 on November 1, 2021, by Resolution No. 9878 on November 29, 2021, by Resolution No. 9884 on December 13, 2021, by Resolution No. 9885 on January 10, 2022, and by Resolution No. 9891 on February 7, 2022, the City Council found that the 2 #RS8M0XKEODES1Hv1
then-existing situation with regard to COVID-19 , was causing, and would continue to cause, risks to the safety of persons within the City and directed that the City Council, all City subordinate bodies, and all city non-profit corporation Boards and their subordinate bodies shall conduct their meetings with remote participation in the manner authorized by Government Code§ 54953(e), and such legislative bodies shall comply with the requirements to provide the public with access to the meetings as prescribed in Government Code§ 54953(e)(2) ; and
WHEREAS, as required by Government Code§ 54953(e)(3), the City Council now finds that it has reconsidered the circumstances of the state of emergency, the state of emergency continues to directly impact the ability of the City Council, all City subordinate bodies, and all city non-profit corporation Boards and their subordinate bodies to meet safely in person, and state and local orders regarding the promotion of social distancing and mask wearing remain in effect.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Pasadena as follows:
Section 1. Recitals . The Recitals set forth above are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference .
Section 2. Remote Teleconference Meetings. The City Council , all City subordinate bodies, and all city non-profit corporation Boards and their subordinate bodies shall continue to conduct their meetings with remote participation in the manner authorized by Government Code§ 54953(e), and such legislative bodies shall continue 3 #R58MOXKEODE51Hv 1
to comply with the requirements to provide the public with access to the meetings as prescribed in Government Code§ 54953(e)(2).
Section 3. Effective Date of Resolution. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption and shall be effective until the earlier of March 30 2022, or such time as the City Council adopts a subsequent resolution in accordance with Government Code§ 54953(e)(3) to extend the time during which meetings may continue to be held remotely by teleconference in compliance with that section.
Adopted at the ____ meeting of the City Council on the ____ day of ____ , 2022 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
MARK JOMSKY, CMG, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
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Theresa E. Fuentes
Assistant City Attorney
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