22-009 Acknowledging the Omicron Variant Surge of the Covid-19 Health Pandemic Impacting In-Person Meetings of the City Council and Advisory CommissionsCITY OF SHOREWOOD
RESOLUTION NO.2022-009
A RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING THE OMICRON VARIANT SURGE OF THE COVID-
19 HEALTH PANDEMIC IMPACTING IN -PERSON MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AND ADVISORY COMMISSIONS
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, Governor Tim Walz declared a Peacetime State of Emergency
in response to the COVID-19 health pandemic; and,
WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of Shorewood issued Emergency Declarations 20-01, 20-02,
20-03, 21-01, and 21-02, to address the local response to the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, all Emergency Declarations were subsequently ratified by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota's peacetime emergency order expired as of July 1, 2021; and
WHEREAS, despite relaxation of state and local measures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,
the pandemic persists with dramatic increase in spread with the Omicron variant; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D.021, subd. l (1), Mayor Jennifer Labadie, the City
Administrator, and the City Attorney determined that an in -person meeting of the City Council for January
10, 2022 is not practical or prudent because of the COVID-19 health pandemic and the Omicron variant
surge.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHOREWOOD MAKES
THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS:
1. The World Health Organization continues to declare COVID-19 as a global health pandemic
2. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") has stated that data suggests
that persons, regardless of vaccination status, may in some cases become infected with
COVID-19 and its variants and transmit the same to other persons.
3. The CDC recommends that persons, regardless of vaccination status, undertake transmission -
mitigating measures (such as masking and social distancing) while at indoor public settings,
particularly in areas with "high" or "substantial" transmission rates.
4. The City of Shorewood is comprised in important part by persons who are
immunocompromised, high -risk, and/or unable to become vaccinated against COVID-19
(including children under the age of 5)
5. Some elected officials, employed staff, advisory commissioners, residents, and guests of the
City of Shorewood may continue to possess sincerely -held concerns and apprehensions about
attending indoor public meetings of City business.
6. The existence of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant surge within the community poses a
direct threat to the health, safety, and well-being of the community. Consistent with the
determination of the Mayor, Administrator, and City Attorney, due to the measures necessary
to contain and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, it has been determined that attendance at
the regular meeting location by members of the public is not feasible and that the physical
presence at the regular meeting location by at least one member of the body, chief legal
counsel, or chief administrative officer is also not feasible.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Shorewood, based
upon the above recitals and findings, as follows:
All meetings of the City council and meetings of City advisory commissions shall be
conducted by interactive technology/videoconferencing under the authority and
requirements of Minn. Stat. § 13D.021, so as to permit any persons, including but not
limited to members of the City Council or advisory commissions, to participate from a
remote location not open to the public.
2. This Resolution and its directives shall expire without further action at 11:59 p.m. on
February 28, 2022, unless rescinded or extended, as the case may be, by resolution of
the City Council.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHOREWOOD this 1 Oth day of January,
2022.
M or, Jeifnifer Labadie
ATTEST:
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Sandie Thone, City Clerk