TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: County Counsel
MEETING DATE: October 6, 2020
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Christian Curtis
PHONE:
234-6885
ITEM TYPE: Regular Agenda
TIME ALLOCATED FOR ITEM: 15 mins
AGENDA TITLE:
title
Discussion and Possible Action Including Adoption of Urgency Ordinance Temporarily Suspending Timelines and Modifying Procedures Related to Administrative Hearings During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Sponsor: County Counsel)
End
RECOMMENDED ACTION/MOTION:
recommendation
Adopt urgency ordinance temporarily suspending timelines and modifying procedures related to administrative hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic; and authorize Chair to sign same.
End
PREVIOUS BOARD/BOARD COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
None.
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
Administrative hearings are a necessary part of County's due process procedures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is very difficult for the County to swiftly arrange for and administer all such hearings, while also adequately protecting the health of the people involved and complying with the social distancing requirements. These administrative hearings are usually held in person, where people come into close proximity with each other for significant periods of times. Such contact would increase the chances of transmission of COVID-19. The Mendocino County Code currently does not account for the protocols necessary to adequately protect the public's health, and does not always provide enough time for the County to make the arrangements for the hearings in a manner that will enable the County to implement best practices and comply with the social distancing requirements. Accordingly, County Counsel requests that the Board adopt this urgency ordinance, which provides staff greater flexibility in timing and administering administrative hearings during the COIVD-19 related local emergency, and which explicitly allows for the hearings to occur by way of video or teleconferencing.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION/MOTION:
Do not a...
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