WHEREAS, the proposed action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), in that adopting a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to conduct teleconferenced public meetings for all the City’s Committees, Commissions, and Boards does not meet CEQA's definition of a “project,” because the action does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and because the action constitutes organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. and is exempt pursuant to Section 15269(c) of the CEQA Guidelines, as specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered all information related to this matter, as presented at the public meetings of the City Council identified herein, including any supporting reports by City Staff, and any information provided during public meetings.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Sebastopol hereby:
1. Declares that the above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated into this resolution as findings of the City Council.
2. Finds that proposed action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), in that adopting a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to conduct teleconferenced public meetings for all the City’s Committees, Commissions, and Boards does not meet CEQA's definition of a “project,” because the action does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and because the action constitutes organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. and is exempt pursuant to Section 15269(c) of the CEQA Guidelines, as specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency
3. Finds that City Council has reconsidered the circumstances of the COVID-19 state of emergency and that the following circumstances exist:
a. The state of emergency as a result of COVID-19 continues to directly impact the ability of the members of City Council and the members of the City’s Commission’s, Boards and Committees to meet safely in person; and
b. The State of California and the City of Sebastopol continue to impose or recommend measures to promote social distancing.
c. The state of local emergency continues to directly impact the ability of the City Council and its Commissions, Boards and Committees as well as staff and members of the public, from meeting safely in person; and
d. The City cannot maintain social distancing for the Councilmembers, Commissioners, staff and public in the meeting spaces.
e. The federal government, the State of California and the Sonoma County Health Officer continue to impose or recommend measures to promote social distancing.
4. City Council and Commission meetings will continue to be conducted remotely for the next 30
days in compliance with AB 361, in order to better ensure the health and safety of the public.
5. Declares that as a result of the findings in provision 3 above, that the City Manager is authorized to implement teleconferenced public meetings for all the City’s Commissions, Boards and Committees pursuant to Assembly Bill 361.
6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately but directs staff to agendize this Resolution within 30 days for City Council to reconsider the circumstances of the state of emergency and findings of provision 3.
PASSED AND ADOPTED, by the CITY COUNCIL of THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL, COUNTY OF SONOMA, of STATE OF CALIFORNIA on this 19th day of October, 2021.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by City of Sebastopol City Council following a roll call vote:
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Hinton, Rich, Slayter, Vice Mayor Gurney and Mayor Glass Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
APPROVED: __________________________________________
Mayor Una Glass
ATTEST: _______________________________________________________________ Mary Gourley, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk, MMC
Approved as to Form: _______________________
Larry McLaughlin, City Attorney