CITY OF HOMER

CITY HALL                                  

MEMORANDUM 08-156 

To:                   Mayor and Council
Through:          Walt Wrede, City Manager
From:               Economic Development Advisory Commission
Date:                November 17, 2008
Subject:           Telephonic/electronic participation in meetings

 


At its meeting of November 12, the Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDC) discussed the rule that prohibits advisory body members from participating in meetings of the body by telephone or other electronic means (e.g., computer link with audio capabilities).

As you know, City Council members do have the option to participate in City Council meetings telephon­ically. It is our understanding that advisory body members are denied this option because it first came up in the context of Planning Commission meetings, which often involve visual information to be studied and discussed (e.g., large maps). This is rarely an issue at EDC meetings – probably no more so than at City Council meetings.

Following discussion of the matter at the November 12 meeting, the EDC passed by unanimous vote a motion requesting that the City Council permit advisory body members to participate in regular meetings by teleconference or other electronic means.