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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-07 City Council Special Meeting MinutesPage 1 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 7, 2022 2:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. then shared the meeting procedure for the special meeting. II. ROLLCALL Answering rollcall were Members Anderson, Jackson, Pierce, Staunton, Hovland. Absent: None. III. MEETING AGENDA APPROVED AS PRESENTED Member Jackson made a motion, seconded by Member Pierce, to approve the meeting agenda as presented. Rollcall: Ayes: Anderson, Jackson, Pierce, Staunton, Hovland Motion carried. IV. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS IV.A. EMERGENCY REGULATION 2022-01 - APPROVED Community Health Administrator Brown shared the purpose of the special meeting was to discuss the City’s range of possible responses to the current COVID-19 omicron variant infection surge in Edina. He shared about the partnership with the City of Bloomington then introduced Bloomington Assistant Public Health Administrator Harrison and shared her background. Bloomington Assistant Public Health Administrator Harrison shared a situation update on COVID-19 which included comments on everyone’s fatigue over the past two years as well as the hope that surrounded ways available to protect the community. She spoke about the surge of the dominant Omicron variant which was unlike anything seen before as it had produced the largest case rate over the course of the pandemic. She shared data on the increase of cases over the past two weeks which included school and childcare challenges as well as teachers and bus transportation shortages. She spoke about the increase of transmissibility and immune evasion to this variant which resulted in more breakthrough cases then spoke about case counts, hospitalizations, and deaths. Ms. Harrison said while this variant appeared to lead to less severe illness because of the enormous number of new cases remained high and was increasing. She spoke about the critical situation of ICU and hospital bed availability and how health care workers were in need of help as a community. She shared impacts on the workforce and infrastructure that had resulted in more staff out ill than at any time during the pandemic and the hope for the surge to end approximately the beginning of February. Ms. Harrison shared that 84% of Edina residents over five years old were fully vaccinated but noted that did not apply to everyone in the community which resulted in the need for several mitigation strategies such as ventilation in indoor spaces and high-quality tight-fitting masks indoors. The Council asked questions and provided feedback. Member Staunton made a motion, seconded by Member Jackson to impose a mask mandate for a limited period of time to be determined then reviewed once concluded. Motion withdrawn. Member Anderson introduced and moved adoption of Resolution No. 2022-13, Community Protective Measures for COVID-19 in its amended form to include staff direction to develop strategies around the use of federal funds for providing the following to the residents of Edina: Minutes/Edina Special City Council/January 7, 2022 Page 2 flu shots, rapid test access for COVID-19, opportunities for COVID-19 booster shots, and providing high-quality masks to our residents that are effective against Omicron. Member Pierce seconded the motion. Rollcall: Ayes: Anderson, Jackson, Pierce, Staunton, Hovland Motion carried. IV.B. VIRTUAL MEETINGS - RECEIVED Mr. Neal asked City Council to discuss the option of going back to virtual meetings. The Council asked questions and provided feedback. Member Staunton made a motion, seconded by Member Pierce, to move to remote public meetings for the City of Edina until March 1, 2022, effective immediately, with the ability to reconsider the direction as deemed appropriate. Rollcall: Ayes: Anderson, Jackson, Pierce, Staunton, Hovland Motion carried. V. ADJOURNMENT Member Jackson made a motion, seconded by Member Pierce, to adjourn the meeting at 4:09 p.m. Ayes: Anderson, Jackson, Pierce, Staunton, Hovland Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Allison, City Clerk Minutes approved by Edina City Council, January 19, 2022. James B. Hovland, Mayor Video Copy of the January 7, 2022, meeting available.