HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrder No. 20-051 - Amending Order No. 20-011 Utilizing Communications Media Technology for County Meetings (07-29-20) ORDER NO. 20-051
AN ORDER OF THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
AMENDING ORDER NO. 20-011 AUTHORIZING THE
(USE OF COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA TECHNOLOGY FOR
TELEVISED COUNTY PUBLIC MEETINGS)
WHEREAS, the St. Lucie County Administrator has made the following determinations:
1. On March 17, 2020, the St. Lucie County Public Safety Director declared a State of
Local Emergency COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ("St. Lucie County Declaration of
Emergency'); and
2. The findings contained in the St. Lucie County Declaration of Emergency are
incorporated herein.
3. On March 16 2020 President Donald J.Trump and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention CCDC") issued the "15 Days to Slow the Spread" guidance advising individuals to
adopt far-reaching social distancing measures such as avoiding gatherings of more than 10
people and in states with evidence of community spread recommending restrictions to certain
establishments conducive to mass gatherings and congregations; and On March 20, 2020, the
GnIAPrAgr nf thp !�t;;tp nf Nnrod;i irr,-Pd F)(Pc-t4ep. Order Number :20-69 suspending any Florida
!;tatwte th t requires a quorum to be present in person or requires a local gevernmen% body to
rntQt# at
a specific public place and providing that local government hedies may utilize-
ations media techR0109y such as telephonic and viden- conferencing, as provided in
Section 120.54(5)(b)2Florida Stat,ite
4. On March 29 2020 the President extended such guidance to be in effect until April
30, 2020; and
5. On March 24, 2020, the Governor of the State of Florida issued Executive Order No.
20-83 directing the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer to issue a public health
advisory to all persons over 65 years of age and persons that have serious underlying medical
conditions that place them at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 urging them to stay home
and to take such other measures as necessary to limit their risk of exposure to COVID-19; and
6. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-83, the Governor of the State of Florida further
directed the State Surgeon General and the State Health nffirar tn icc— , oublic health advisory
JOSEPH E.SMITH,CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
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FILE# 4736262 07/31/2020 10:17:22 AM
OR BOOK 4454 PAGE 1008-1012 Doc Type:ORD
RECORDING: $44.00
providing that individuals should cease all social or recreational gatherings of 10 or more people;
and
7. On March 25, 2020, the State Surgeon General issued a Public Health Advisory
consistent with Executive Order 20-83; and
8. On March 25, 2020, the President of the United States declared that a major
disaster exists in the State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and
9. On April 1, 2020, the Governor of the State of Florida issued Executive Order 20-
91 directing senior citizens, individuals with a significant underlying medical condition, and
persons engaging in nonessential services or activities to stay at home.
10. Paragraph 2 of the St. Lucie County Declaration of Emergency provides that the
County Administrator may take all actions necessary and appropriate to protect human life and
prosperity, to the extent necessary to accommodate the emergency; and
11. St. Lucie County is working to ensure continued public access and opportunity to
be heard at County meetings during the State of Emergency, in order to continue the business of
the County during the state of emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
1. The determinations, orders, and declarations identified above are incorporated herein.
2. The standards for public access and opportunity to be heard for Televised County
Public Meetings during the State of Emergency held after April 30, 2020 during the
state of emergency are Amended and attached as Exhibit "A" incorporated into this
Order.
3. The "Notice of Public Meeting Using Communication Media Technology" attached as
Exhibit "B" is Amended and incorporated into this Order and shall be posted on the
County's website and incorporated into the published agenda of each Televised
County Public Meeting during the State of Emergency where communication media
technology is proposed to be utilized. In addition, the Notice shall be included with
any mailed notice required to be provided for public hearings under the County's Land
Development Code as well as any published notice of public hearing required by law.
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4. Any action taken by a Board utilizing Communication Media Technology other than
quasi-judicial hearings must be ratified by that Board at a subsequent in person
meeting.
5. Any provision(s) within this Emergency Order that conflict(s) with any state or federal
law or constitutional provision, or conflict(s) with or are superseded by a current or
subsequently -issued Executive Order of the Governor or the President of the United
States, shall be deemed inapplicable and deemed to be severed from this Emergency
Order, with the remainder of the Emergency Order remaining intact and in full force
and effect.
6. Effective Date; Duration. This order shall be effective as of 8:00 (am) on 2f 2020.
This order shall expire upon the expiration of the existing State of Local Emergency, as
same may be extended by subsequent order or declaration, unless earlier terminated
by subsequent Emergency Order or upon expiration of Governor Executive Order No.
20-69.
7. This Order shallbefiled in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Signed thisrr day of � Jl 2020 at S• 3� (am) pm).
LdIwa—rd—W Tipton
ounty Administrato
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Exhibit "A"
Public Access and Opportunity to be Heard
Board members, County staff and the public may participate in televised County public meetings
during the State of Emergency by utilizing Communications Media Technology, including
telephone. The public will not be able to physically attend the meeting as there is no physical
meeting place.
The Public is encouraged to watch televised County public meetings remotely while practicing
Social Distancing. The County encourages the public to make use of online tools and existing
cable service subscriptions to watch televised County public meetings and stay informed about
County business.
The Public will be able to submit questions and comments electronically at
u b i i c c p.m..m. P—P t —4 StI--- c;ec- e „Fa by visiting the following link online
https:Hsttuciecounty.formstack.com/forms/public comment form. Comments will be distributed
to the Board in advance of the meeting and included in the record provided that the comments
comply with the County's rules. All comments must be received by noon on the day prior to the
County meeting. Residents who do not have access to the Internet and wish to provide comments
by phone are encouraged to call (772) 462-1499 and TDD Number (772) 462-1428 by noon on
the day prior to the County meeting. Comments received by phone will be either played at the
County meeting or transcribed in written form and provided to the Board provided that the
comments comply with the County's rules.
County TV programming, including Board meetings, may be streamed live for free online at
https://www.sttucieco.gov/departments-services/a-z/board-of-county-commissioners/meeting=
portal -page, www.facebook.com/stlucieco.gov or www.stlucieco.yov. Both Live Streaming and
Video on Demand may be accessed from computers, laptops, or mobile devices (e.g. iPad,
smartphone, or tablet). Viewers may also watch St. Lucie County TV by tuning into AT&T U-Verse
Channel 99 and Comcast Channel 28. Persons who do not have access to the internet or TV may
call (to be determined) to listen to the County meeting. St. Lucie County is committed to
promoting transparency and engaging the public in all County decisions.
All votes shall be by roll call to be sure the clerk is able to record all official actions taken for
minutes and the public is able to determine how each member voted. If at any point the
technology fails or is interrupted, the meeting shall cease until the problem is resolved.
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EXHIBIT B
NOTICE
(USE OF COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA TECHNOLOGY TELEVISED MEETINGS)
St. Lucie County is working to ensure continued public access and opportunity to be heard at County
meetings during the State of Emergency in order to continue the business of our County. The public
will not be able to physically attend the meeting as there is no physical meeting place.
The Public is encouraged to watch the County meetings remotely while practicing Social Distancing.
The Public will be able to submit questions and comments electronically
at i bUccnmmcnt@_gtI, morn nrn by visiting the following link online
https:Hstluciecouniy.formstack, om/forms/public comment form. Comments will be distributed to the
Board in advance of the meeting and included in the record provided the comments comply with the
County's rules. All comments must be received by noon on the day prior to the meeting. Residents
who do not have access to the Internet and wish to provide public comment by phone are encouraged
to call (772) 462-1499 and TDD Number 772-462-1428 by noon on the day prior to the meeting and a
staff member will work to provide accommodations. Comments received by phone will be either played
at the County meeting or transcribed in written form and provided to the Board provided that the
comments comply with the County's rules.
Viewers may watch St. Lucie County TV by tuning into AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 and Comcast Channel
28. St. Lucie County is committed to promoting transparency and engaging the public in all crucial
County decisions. County TV programming, including Board meetings, may be streamed live for free
online at https://www.stiucieco.govzdepartments-services/a-z/board-of-county-commissioners/meeting=
portal -page, www.facebook.com/stlucieco.gov or www.stlucieco.gov. Both Live Streaming and Video on
Demand may be accessed from computers, laptops, or mobile devices (e.g. iPad, smartphone, or tablet).
Members of the public who desire tojust listen to a County meeting may call (to be determined).
All votes shall be by roll call to ensure the clerk is able to record all official actions taken for the minutes
and the public is able to determine how each member voted. If at any point the technology fails or is
interrupted, the meeting shall cease until the problem is resolved.
NOTICE: All Proceedings before this Board are electronically recorded. Any person who decides to appeal any action taken by the Board at these meetings will need a
record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made. Upon the request of any party to the proceedings,
individuals testifying during a hearing will be swom in. Any party to the proceedings will be granted the opportunity to cross-examine any individual testifying during a hearing
upon request. Anyone with a disability requiring accommodation to attend this meeting should contact the St. Lucie County Safety & Risk Manager at (772) 462-1783 or TDD
(772) 462-1428 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting.
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