05/11/20 Impact of Phase 2 on Seward City Council Meetings

Hello Citizens,

Since the Governor's Phase 2 of the Re-Open Plan went into effect today, there have been some inquiries about whether the city council meetings will resume their normal fashion and allow members of the public to be in the audience. Unfortunately, circumstances still prohibit this from happening because a 6 foot distance is required between non-household members; this inherently prohibits the number of audience participants that can be in the room. For the time being, we will continue the process outlined below for anyone wishing to submit Citizen Comments or Public Hearing Testimony. Thank you for your understanding – stay well, Seward!

TEMPORARY PROCESS FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS & PUBLIC HEARING TESTIMONY

AT MAY 11, 2020 SEWARD CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The Seward City Council will hold a Virtual Regular Meeting on Monday, May 11, 2020. Because the City of Seward is currently experiencing a declared public health emergency due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), alternate methods for providing Citizen Comments and Public Hearing Testimony have been created:

How To Virtually Attend The Meeting 

1.      The meeting will be Live Streamed on the city's YouTube page. Log onto YouTube and type "City of Seward Alaska" into the search bar.

2.      Listen on the radio. Tune to KIBH-FM 91.7

3.      Watch on television. Tune into GCI Cable Channel 9.

How To Submit Your CITIZEN COMMENTS

1.      Email your written Citizen Comments to clerk@cityofseward.net no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2020.

·         Identify whether you want your comments READ ALOUD at the meeting or EMAILED to council upon receipt.

·         Comments requested to be read aloud will be delivered verbally to council by the City Clerk at the appropriate time during the meeting.

·         In response to your email, you should expect to receive a verification email from the clerk – if you do not receive this email, please call the clerk at 224-4045.

2.      If you wish to be called on the telephone during the meeting to provide your comments telephonically, send an email request to the City Clerk along with your contact information to clerk@cityofseward.net, including your full name and the telephone number you wish to have called.

·         The clerk must receive your request   no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 11, 2020.

·         Identify whether you wish to be called during the FIRST or SECOND citizen comment period.

·         If you wish to be contacted for the first Citizen Comment period, please be prepared to answer your phone starting at 7:00 p.m.

·         If you wish to be contacted for the second Citizen Comment period, there is no estimate of time to expect the call. In response to your email, you should expect to receive a verification email from the clerk – if you do not receive this email, please call the clerk at 224-4045.

·         All Citizen Comments will be timed and limited to three minutes (first period) or five minutes (second period). The telephone number will be called ONE time; if there is no answer, the clerk will move on to the next citizen.

How To Submit Your PUBLIC HEARING TESTIMONY

1.      Email your written Public Hearing Testimony to clerk@cityofseward.net no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2020.

·         Testimony will be read aloud to council by the City Clerk at the appropriate time during the meeting.

·         In response to your email, you should expect to receive a verification email from the clerk – if you do not receive this email, please call the clerk at 224-4045.

2.      If you wish to be called on the telephone during the meeting to provide your testimony telephonically, send an email request to the City Clerk along with your contact information to clerk@cityofseward.net, including your full name and the telephone number you wish to have called.

·         The clerk must receive your request no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 11, 2020.

·         There is no estimate of time to expect the call.

·         In response to your email, you should expect to receive a verification email from the clerk – if you do not receive this email, please call the clerk at 224-4045.

All Public Hearing Testimony will be timed and limited to five minutes. The telephone number will be called ONE time; if there is no answer, the clerk will move on to the next citizen.

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