107.01 MEETINGS OF DECISION MAKING BODIES.

   (a)    Unless otherwise provided in the Codified Ordinances, all meetings of City Council, all boards, commissions or committees of the City and other similar public bodies of the City shall be open to the public, unless the meeting is an executive session as expressly authorized under the applicable provisions of state law.

   (b)    "Open to the public" means accessible by members of the public, in a physical location where the public body convenes in person together. "Open to the public" may also mean by teleconference or video conference where circumstances warrant it due to an emergency, including but not limited to a danger to public health or a national disaster, or due to special circumstances.

   (c)    Such determination of holding a meeting by teleconference or video conference shall be made with respect to a City Council meeting, or any of its committees, by the presiding officer of City Council or a majority of its members, and with respect to all other city boards, committees and commissions, by the Mayor or his/her designee. The meeting by teleconference or video conference shall be subject to the following conditions:

      (1)   The public body shall provide the public with access to the meeting, commensurate with the method in which the meeting is being conducted, including but not limited to live-streaming or live broadcasting by means of the internet, local radio, television, cable or public access channels, offering call-in information, or granting access by means of any other similar electronic technology.

      (2)   The public body shall ensure that the public can observe and hear the discussions and deliberations of all the members of the public body, whether the member is participating in person or electronically.

      (3)   The presiding officer of a teleconference or video conference meeting shall ensure that all members conduct themselves with the same decorum as if the meeting were being conducted in person.

      (4)   Meetings by teleconference where members can be heard but not seen may be permitted only when it is impossible or impracticable to convene through video conference or other similar means.

      (5)   A member of the public body need not be present in person and shall be considered present for purposes of voting and determining a quorum where the public meeting is held via teleconference or video conference.

   (d)    Nothing herein contained shall mandate any public body to permit public participation in such meetings unless specifically required by the provisions of the Charter, Codified Ordinances, or rules of City Council. (Ord. 2022-164. Passed 10-10-22.)