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 AUGUST 15, 2022 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 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 COVID-19 pandemic. Pasadena's Health Officer has issued numerous Health Orders regarding safety protocols during the COVID-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 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). While on March 3, 2022, Pasadena's Health Officer updated local orders regarding the wearing of face coverings (changing from requiring masks indoors to strongly recommending masking), Pasadena's Health Officer continues to strongly recommend mask wearing and social distancing; and
WHEREAS, despite continued drops in COVID-19 cases and hospital admission rates, Los Angeles County is expected to remain in the "high" virus through this week. 1 #R58MOXKEODE51Hv1
The County narrowly avoided a return to indoor mask mandates (which the City of Pasadena also considered recently). Just a few weeks ago, Los Angeles County's COVID case rate hit its highest point in nearly seven months, as two Omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, became dominant nationwide and appear to be among the most contagious yet of this pandemic. One of the biggest concerns with regard to these subvariants is their ability to reinfect people even after suffering from an earlier Omicron subvariant, creating the possibility for elevated infection levels through the summer and in to the fall. Also, a few weeks ago Pasadena's Health Officer, Dr. Ying Ying Goh, stated that Pasadena was in a significant surge - without coming down from the last surge - because of the BA.4 and BA.5 variants. The positivity rate in Los Angeles County is still high, at 12% as of last week. As students head back to school in the coming weeks, and the fact that the vaccine for younger children is still relatively new, COVID transmission is expected to remain prevalent in the community; 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, by Resolution No. 9891 on February 7, 2022, by Resolution No. 9894 on February 28, 2022, by Resolution No. 9902 on March 21, 2022, by Resolution No. 9905 on April 11, 2022, by Resolution No. 9911 on May 9, 2022, by Resolution No. 9914 on May 23, 2022, by Resolution No. 9926 on June 20, 2022, and by Resolution No. 9936 on July 18, 2022, the City Council found that the 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 2 #R58M0XKE0DE51Hv1
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 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 September 14, 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, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
Theresa E. Fuentes
Assistant City Attorney
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