pages: CityCouncil/2021-11-16.pdf, 16
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CityCouncil | 2021-11-16 | 16 | other people that in person meetings are preferred over Zoom; expressed support for the City providing a hybrid meeting option; questioned the requirements for hybrid meetings; stated many Councilmembers and City staff are in City Hall during the Council meetings; questioned whether members participating remotely could use a room within City Hall to participate in the meetings; she will vote no on the matter and would like more information provided about other cities the next time the matter is before Council; some people do not have the means and do not feel comfortable attending Council meetings online via Zoom; some people have no or poor internet service and are denied the opportunity to participate in the meetings; some people are not comfortable calling into the meeting; it is important to include all members of the public in meetings; the City needs to ensure all members of the public can participate; stated that she looks forward to staff providing accommodations to all members of the public. Councilmember Knox White moved approval of the staff recommendation with direction that the matter remains on the Consent Calendar moving forward for the remainder of the year. Vice Mayor Vella seconded the motion. Under discussion, Councilmember Daysog stated that he will support the matter; noted the point Councilmember Herrera Spencer has brought forth is right-on and the City should be moving toward a hybrid meeting model to the extent of safety of all. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated this may not be the time to rush into more indoor gatherings based on reports from public health officials; COVID-19 cases have been surging and the holidays are approaching; the COID-19 cases and vaccination rate for the City are better than cities that have switched to a hybrid or all in-person meeting model; public safety comes first and Council will weigh all options; Boards and Commissions are waiting the matter out until the end of the year and will reconsider in January. Vice Mayor Vella stated the California Department of Public Health continues to raise the fact that the COVID-19 surge of the year prior happened around the holiday season; cases began to spike around Thanksgiving; noted America's surges are different from the rest of the world while coinciding with the holidays; stated now is not the time to say that the pandemic is over; the case rates are increasing; the Governor has issued more emergency declarations while requesting out of State health official aid; expressed support for the staff recommendation while taking into account the comments about how the City will function in a post COVID-19 world. Councilmember Herrera Spencer stated that she has not stated the pandemic is over; many people do not stay in their home 24 hours, 7 days a week; open government needs to be supported; a hybrid model is a good compromise being conducted by other cities; the pandemic is not over. Councilmember Daysog stated that he hopes the vaccine counts for something so that the upcoming holiday season and going forward is different from the holiday cases of 2020; he is putting faith in science; noted Congress is holding committee meetings with a lot of space; expressed support for the City figuring out an option; stated that he thinks residents would like to see a path forward. Councilmember Knox White stated the matter would be a great discussion for a Council workshop. Regular Meeting Alameda City Council November 16, 2021 5 | CityCouncil/2021-11-16.pdf |