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Mayor Carol A. Mueller's Statement and Determination <br />Regarding Conducting Meetings by Telephone or Other Electronic Means <br />As the Mayor of the City of Mounds View, Minnesota I find as follows: <br />a. The spread of COVID-19 in the United States and Minnesota has raised serious public health <br />concerns and resulted in a great deal of uncertainty. Much remains unknown about the virus, <br />how it spreads and the likely extent of infection. <br />b. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization determined that the COVID-19 outbreak <br />constitutes a pandemic. On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a national state of <br />emergency as a result of the pandemic. <br />c. On March 13, 2020, Governor Tim Walz issued Emergency Executive Order 20-01 declaring <br />a state of peacetime emergency to address the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota. <br />d. The Minnesota Department of Health has provided specific guidance encouraging <br />postponement or cancelation of events that do not allow social distancing of at least six feet <br />per person, which is generally not practical to achieve in the City Council chambers or in the <br />other rooms where the City's boards and commissions may meet. <br />e. Minnesota Statutes, section 13D.021 authorizes cities to meet by telephone or other electronic <br />means if the presiding officer, chief legal counsel, or chief administrative officer determines <br />that meeting in person or by interactive television is not practical or prudent because of the <br />existence of a declared health pandemic or emergency. I have consulted with the city <br />administrator and city attorney in making this determination. <br />Based on the above findings, I determine as follows: <br />Until further notice, all meetings of City bodies governed by Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13D, <br />including but not limited to City Council meetings, and meetings of all boards, committees, <br />and commissions of the City, shall be conducted by telephone or other electronic means <br />because it is not practical or prudent to hold those meetings in person or by interactive <br />television. All such meetings must comply with the requirements in Minnesota Statutes, <br />Section 13D.021. <br />2. Attendance by members of the public and the presence of at least one council member, the city <br />administrator or city attorney at the City Council chambers for such meetings is not feasible <br />due to the health pandemic and the emergency declaration. <br />Dated: March 20, 2020. <br />DOCSOPEN\NE300\2\643295. v 1-3/ 16/20 <br />i <br />Carol A. Mueller, Mayor <br />City of Mounds View, Minnesota <br />