R20-147 1
2 RESOLUTION NO.R20-147
3 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
4 BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, EXTENDING ORDINANCE
5 20-030 TO CONTINUE PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC
6 MEETINGS BY USE OF COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA
7 TECHNOLOGY DURING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC
8 HEALTH EMERGENCY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
9 DATE.
10 WHEREAS, on October 6, 2020, the City Commission passed Ordinance 20-030, which
11 provided for public meetings by use of Communications Media Technology(CMT)and attendance
12 by use of such technology by elected and appointed officials during periods where the City
13 Commission determines and declares a local public health emergency or other circumstances by
14 which the Commission determines necessary to protect the health and safety of City officials,City
15 staff and the public;and
16 WHEREAS, due to the uncertainty associated with predicting the end of the public health
17 emergency resulting from the pandemic Ordinance 20-030 allowed for extension of virtual
18 meetings provided the extension was by City Commission Resolution; and
19 WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the public health emergency in Boynton
20 Beach has not abated to the degree that it makes safe to resume face to face public meetings and
21 thereby exposure citizens, staff,and other invitees to risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus; and
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22 WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that media reports regarding the testing data
23 being issued by the State of Florida makes reliance on that data questionable'; and
24 WHEREAS, the availability of a COVID-19 vaccine for Boynton Beach residents and
25 workers does not appear to be imminent and no specific State plan for distribution in Boynton
26 Beach has yet been announced;
27 WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the virtual meeting format the City is using
28 has not diminished the public's right to attend and participate in the City's public meetings and to
29 some degree has made public participation easier.
30 NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
31 CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA,THAT:
32 Section 1. The foregoing"Whereas"clauses are hereby ratified and confirmed as being
33 true and correct and are hereby made a specific part of this Resolution upon adoption hereof.
34 Section 2. In accordance with the provision for extension set forth in Section 8 of
35 Ordinance 20-030,and the City Commission findings as stated above,there continues to be public
36 health risk associated with gatherings for City meetings.
37 Section 3. The City Commission hereby extends virtual meetings until March 31,
38 2021.
1 On December 3, 2020, it was reported in the Sun Sentinel that:Throughout the COVID-19 crisis in Florida, Gov.
Ron DeSantis' administration engaged in a pattern of spin and concealment that misled the public on the gravest
health threat the state has ever faced,a South Florida Sun Sentinel investigation has found.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-coronavirus-florida-desantis-spin-ss-prem-20201203-
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39 Section 4. The City Commission may shorten or further extend virtual meetings
40 pursuant to the authority granted in Section 8 of Ordinance 20-030.
41 Section 5. This Resolution will become effective immediately upon passage.
42 PASSED AND ADOPTED this 15 day of December, 2020
43 CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
44 YES NO
45 Mayor—Steven B. Grant ✓
46
47 Vice-Mayor—Ty Penserga
48
49 Commissioner—Justin Katz
50
51 Commissioner—Woodrow L. Hay
52
53 Commissioner—Christina L. Romelus
54
55 VOTE -I "O
56
57 ATTEST:
58
59
60
61 C stal Gibson, MMC
62 City Clerk
63
64
65 (Corporate Seal)
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