LTC 250-2021 Planning Board RecommendationM IA M I B EA C H
O FFIC E O F TH E C ITY M A N A G ER
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO :
FRO M :
D A TE :
SU BJE C T :
Honorable Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
Alina T. Hudak, City Manag~
June 17, 2021
Planning Board Recommendation -- Remote Participation in Public Meetings
The purpose of this L TC is to transmit a recommendation to the City Commission from the Planning
Board regarding remote participation by board members in public meetings. On May 25, 2021, the
Planning Board approved the following motion by Acclamation with 7 members present:
Motion of the Planning Board urging the City Commission to add allowing remote meeting
participation by board members to the list of legislative priorities for the City.
The motion was discussed and considered as the Planning Board was considering how future meetings
would proceed. Several board members noted that they appreciated the flexibility that was available to
them throughout the Covid-19 pandemic that initially allowed for full remote participation and then was
modified to require that only quorum of the board to be present at a physical location. Some board
members noted that they often leave town for the summer and are not able to be physically present at
the meeting, but that they would still be able to participate just as effectively via the Zoom remote
meeting platform. The Board also noted that the remote participation allowed for increased public
participation since the public was able to participate remotely, as opposed to having to take the time to
come to City Hall.
Staff advised the board that remote participation was only permitted pursuant to the State of Emergency
issued by the Governor suspending in-person quorum requirements. Since the Governor suspended
all local emergency orders related to the Covid-19 pandemic, all meetings are now required to be fully
in-person. Under existing State Law the City does not have the authority to allow for remote participation
by board members. The Planning Board is recommending that the City direct its lobbyist to encourage
the State Legislature to modify statutes to allow local governments to have remote participation for
board meetings, at their discretion.
A TH/ETC/TRM/RAM
C: Rafael Paz, Acting City Attorney
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
F:\cmgr\$ALL\Alina Hudak\L TC's\L TC-PB Recommendation - Remote Participation in Public Meetings.docx
LTC 250-2021