The Soldotna City Council voted to rescind the October 28, 2020 motion which established that all City Council, Board and Commission meetings be conducted remotely during COVID-19 when the Central Peninsula was rated in the High Risk level. In rescinding the motion, the city cites the ongoing effort against COVID-19 with the increased access to vaccinations for anyone over the age of 16 since March 10th.
Councilman Justin Ruffridge, “I’m not sure if any report is needed other than we’re on Zoom and I don’t like it. I think, given the fact that we’ve had very, very high access to vaccine here in our community over the course of the last six-to-eight weeks as well as the need for city government to continue and be accessible to the general public and the fact that we’ve continued our mitigation measures, some of these things that we put in place last year or during the peak of our cases and had very little in the way of any options for mitigation other than to be separate from each other. I think the time is right to rescind that motion and certainly encourage us to be meeting back in person and if any of you have not been vaccinated and need to do so, I know lots of places you can go.”
After the original enactment of the motion, the method for how each meeting would be conducted was based on the COVID-19 risk level for the Central Peninsula at the time of the meeting. The city felt that it was necessary to allow in person meetings to continue even during a high risk level. The city feels that those wishing to meet in person, and can do so safely, should be afforded that opportunity while those who choose an alternative form of attendance have a means by which to do so.
Ordinance 2021-007 was enacted at the April 14th Soldotna City Council meeting which allows for teleconference attending at a regular or special city council meeting during an emergency disaster declaration.