Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Amending Section 33.01(10)(c) of the Madison General Ordinances to limit when City subunit meetings are not to be held and to allow the Common Council to permit exceptions.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: This ordinance changes the recently enacted 33.01(10)(c) so that the ban on subunit meetings only applies to in person meetings rather than all meetings. It also changes the description of the types of orders that limit gatherings to emergency orders that limit face-to-face meetings that include the sub-unit. In-person meetings may be held if the emergency order has an exception for governmental functions, and the meeting is approved either by the Mayor and Council President, or by the Common Council. The ordinance does not impact the ability to hold virtual meetings, so as long as the City has technical capacity and other requirements for such a meeting are met.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. Subdivision (c) entitled “Emergency Situation” of Subsection (10) entitled “Meetings Not to be Held” of Section 33.01 entitled “Boards, Commissions, And Committees Procedures” of the Madison General Ordinances is amended as follows:
“(c) Emergency Situation. No Sub-unit shall hold a an in-person meeting whenever there has been an officially declared city, county, state or federal emergency or when the public Health Madison and Dane County has determined it is reasonable and necessary for the prevention or suppression of disease health emergency or other emergency that is applicable to the City of Madison and that limits or prohibits face-to-face gatherings of a group the size of the sub-unit to limit public gatherings, unless the emergency order(s) allows meetings for governmental functions, and either (1) the Mayor and Common Council President, or (2) the Common Council, determine the meeting is necessary to provide essential functions or support the operations of the City. This provision does not impact the City’s ability to conduct meetings by telephone, or the internet, which may occur as technical capacity and other relations requirements allow."