(A) Any public body of the county may conduct electronic meetings where one or more of its members participate by means of a telephonic or telecommunications conference pursuant to state law.
(B) Members so participating shall be considered present at the meeting for all purposes, and shall be afforded every opportunity to participate in the discussion of the items on the agenda and cast their vote on issues coming for a vote.
(C) The anchor location as described in state law shall be the County Administration Building, Commission Chambers, located at 250 North Main Street, Richfield, UT 84701.
(D) Public notice of the electronic meeting shall be given pursuant to the Utah Code Annotated for regular meetings with the additional requirement of posting written notice of the electronic meeting at the anchor location.
(E) In addition to giving public notice as described above, the body shall provide notice of the electronic meeting to the members at least 24 hours before the meeting so that they may participate in the meeting and be counted as present for all purposes, including the determination that a quorum is present. All notices shall include a statement that one or more members will be participating electronically, a description of how the member(s) so participating will be connected to the electronic meeting and the regularly published agenda for that meeting.
(F) No meeting may be held electronically unless at least one member is present at the anchor location.
(G) Immediately prior to opening the meeting, the anchor member shall communicate with the person who is participating electronically and ensure that he or she is prepared to go forward. From that time forward until the adjournment of the meeting, the communication line shall be kept open, unless the member participating electronically wishes to withdraw from the meeting.
(H) If a member who participates electronically withdraws from the meeting, the rest of the meeting agenda may be completed, provided there is still a quorum present at the anchor location or there are sufficient other members participating electronically to comprise a quorum with those at the anchor location.
(I) The public may attend and monitor the open portions of the meeting at the anchor location, and may participate in all public hearings to the same extent normally allowed.
(J) Prior to taking a vote on any issue, the anchor member shall inquire of the member participating electronically if he or she has been able to adequately monitor the discussion, including comments from the public, and shall allow that member the opportunity to make any comments he or she desires.
(K) The minutes of the meeting shall designate the name of each member who participated electronically, the nature of the electronic communication and the duration of the member’s participation.
(Res. 2010-12-1, passed 12-8-2010)