HomeMy WebLinkAbout2029RESOLUTION NO. 2029
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the
City of Kent, Washington, ratifying all actions it
took during remote meetings scheduled and held
in good faith compliance with the governor's
various emergency orders that suspended portions
of Washington's Open Public Meetings Act during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
RECITALS
A. In early 2020, the World Health Organization first publicly
recognized the appearance of a pneumonia-like virus in Wuhan, China. This
virus would be referred to as COVID-19 and would soon cause a global
health emergency.
B. The first confirmed case relating to COVID-l9 in the United
States was announced by the state of Washington on January 2L, 2020, and
one of the first known COVID-19 deaths in the United States occurred in
Washington on February 26,2020.
C. Until mid-March 2020, Washington had the highest number of
confirmed COVID-19 cases and the highest number of cases per capita of
any state in the countrY.
D. Governor Jay Inslee issued a statewide stay-at-home
Resolution Ratifying Council Action
Taken During COVID-I9 Pandemic
1
emergency order on March 23,2020. The stay at home order was originally
planned to last two weeks; however, it lasted much longer.
E. The following day, March 24, 2020, Governor Inslee issued
proclamation 20-28 which suspended the provisions of the Open Public
Meetings Act requiring in-person meetings. A violation of the Proclamation
carried the potential of criminal penalties.
F. The Kent City Attorney's Office reviewed and advised the City
Council and staff regarding the appropriate implementation of Proclamation
20-28 and its progeny, and in response, the City's council meetings,
workshops, and meetings of the Committee of the Whole were converted to
remote meetings.
G. These meetings were held utilizing the Zoom meeting platform.
The public was able to observe the meetings on Zoom, as well as Kent's
television channel, Kent's Facebook channel, and Kent's YouTube channel.
The public was permitted to actively participate in the council meetings by
providing written statements, many of which were read during the council
meeting by the City Clerk, and also by providing verbal statements and
testimony during the meeting by utilizing the Zoom meeting platform or by
calling into the meeting by telephone.
H. As of July 7, 2O2L, the Centers for Disease Control has
reported 596,740 deaths caused by COVID-19 in the United States. 5,960
of those deaths occurred in Washington. However, Washington has been a
leader in the number of individuals vaccinated, and as a result, government
agencies have been provided authority to again hold in-person meetings.
L On June 30, 202L, Governor Inslee's prohibition against in-
person meetings was lifted, and meetings of the council are now available
for in-person public attendance and remote attendance'
Resolution Ratifying Council Action
Taken During COVID-I9 Pandemic
2
J. In light of the unique nature of the emergency that Washington
has endured, the proclamations the governor has issued, and the steps the
City has taken with regard to meetings in order to comply with the
governor's orders, the City Attorney has advised that as a measure of
insurance, the Council should ratify all actions it took during the pandemic
at times in which the various provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act
were suspended and in-person public attendance at meetings waS
prohibited.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT,
WASHINGTON, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
RESOLUTION
SECTION 7, - Findinqs Incorporated. The above recitals are hereby
incorporated by this reference as the findings of fact in support of Section 2
of this resolution.
SECTION 2. - Ratification Through the adoption of this resolution,
the city council hereby ratifies all actions it took during remote meetings
scheduled and held in good faith compliance with the governor's various
emergency orders that suspended portions of Washington's Open Public
Meetings Act and prohibited in-person attendance.
9ECTION 3. - Savings. If any section, subsection, paragraph,
sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution is declared unconstitutional
or invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this resolution'
9ECTION 4, - Corrections by city clerk or code Reviser. Upon
approval of the City Attorney, the City Clerk and the code reviser are
authorized to make necessary corrections to this resolution, including the
correction of clerical errors; references to other local, state or federal laws,
codes, rules, or regulations; or resolution numbering and
Resolution Ratifying Council Action
Taken During COVID-t9 Pandemic
3
section/subsection nu m beri ng.
SECTION 5. - Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect
immediately upon passage,
DANA RALPH, MAYOR
JulV 20.2O2L
Date Approved
ATTEST:
KIMBERLEY KOMOTO, CITY CLERK
Julv 2O,2O2L
Date Adopted
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
H R*P PATRICK, CITY ATTORNEY
Resolution Ratifying Council Action
Taken During COVID't9 Pandemic
a
4