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 OCTOBER 24, 2022 THROUGH NOVEMBER 23, 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, while COVID appears to be fairly controlled in California, a new rise in cases and variations in Europe are fueling increasing concerns about a new wave 1 #RS8MOXKEODE51Hvl
here, as trends and cases in Europe have reliably served as a predictor for trending cases in the U.S. In particular, new O~icron subvariants are on the rise, including those that are striking in their ability to evade antibodies already developed to treat COVID, and an enhanced ability to infect human respiratory cells, thus making them easier to spread from person to person. These subvariants are now appearing in California. As travel reaches pre-pandemic levels, children are back in school, most masking, social distance, and vaccine requirements are ending, and as we head into the start of the holiday season, the concern over further spikes remains. While the latest bivalent vaccine is specifically directed toward the currently dominant circulating variants, there has been a low uptick in vaccination rates. It also still remains true that the most vulnerable continue to be those with comorbidities, and disproportionately among the elder community, as well as racial minorities. This is all combined with an early start of the flu season, raising concerns of a "twindemic", as data out of Australia indicate this could be one of the worst flu seasons in recent years, thereby potentially straining healthcare systems as vaccination rates for the flu remain low; 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, by Resolution No. 9936 on July 18, 2022, by Resolution No. 9945 on August 15~ 2022, by Resolution No. 9948 on September 12, 2022, and by Resolution No. 9953 on October 3, 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
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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.
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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) .
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3 Section 3. Effective Date of Resolution. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption and shall be effective · until the earlier of November 23, 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 :
Approved as to form:
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Theresa E. Fuentes
Assistant City Attorney
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Mark Jomsky, City Clerk
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