KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – When Kalamazoo City Commissioners get back to work after New Years, it will be under a new set of rules, some of which will be set tonight.
The State Legislature has already altered the Open Meetings Act. It is now more restrictive than before the pandemic in some respects, and looser in other ways.
After January 1, the only reason an elected official will be able to virtually attend a meeting is if they are on active military duty. Before the pandemic, they could under other circumstances as well.
City Attorney Clyde Robinson says Commissioners have to set new rules on mandatory masking, with the usual exceptions for medical reasons.
“In those circumstances, you’d still be permitted to attend, but you must socially distance yourself from other individuals,” Robinson said. “The only people you’d be able to sit near would be members of your own same household.”
Remote public comments would still be permitted but could be limited in length.
“Rather than having recorded messages, people would call in, and they will be played as they occur,” Robinson said. “People who are in the audience would make their public comments.”
Commissioners continue to be concerned about safety, particularly if a large crowd turns out for a meeting. Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain says there is a contingency plan for that.
“People can watch the meeting and still participate through overflow rooms,” Chamberlain said. “Basically, we would use the community room and the third floor conference room.”
Physical and technical changes have also been made to City Commission Chambers to allow greater safety and hybrid meetings, including plexiglass screens, air filters and digital interfaces.
If all goes as planned, tonight’s meeting would be the last held on Zoom, but given the unpredictability of the pandemic, anything is possible.
The meeting will begin virtually at 7 p.m. tonight.
More information, including the agenda and supporting documents, can be found here.
The meeting can be streamed via Zoom or the City of Kalamazoo’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
— Copy Written by John McNeil —
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