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CITY MANAGER’S REPORT September 1, 2020 COVID-19 PANDEMC UPDATE As you are aware, the City was notified and responded to an employee testing positive for COVID-19 last week. We immediately sent home any employee who may have been in close contact with the individual while we waited for the Flathead City-County Health Department to complete its investigation. The City worked closely with the Health Department and the affected employees to ensure all close contacts were properly identified. We are happy to report the employee who tested positive has recovered. With continued new cases of COVID-19 in Flathead County, schools now back in session, and the upcoming cold and flu season, it is important that we plan for a time when city council meetings and other board/committee meetings may need to return to a remote setting. Our Information Technology Office will need to have time to procure and setup the software, but we will also need to provide adequate notice to the public. Based on the letter of advice from Montana Attorney General, Tim Fox, local governments may hold remote meetings as long as right of participation and right to know are provided to all individuals. We were able to do this earlier in the year with remote meetings held via WebEx. Not only were individuals allowed to observe the meetings online, but they were provided materials ahead of time and could provide public comment in writing/emailing in advance of the meeting or participate during the meeting by telephone or online. Possible triggers to reverting to remote meetings may include: City employee who works at City Hall tests positive for COVID-19, City Councilor or any person who attended the most recent City Council meeting tests positive for COVID-19, or the number of active cases rise above a certain threshold (currently we have the third highest number of active cases). Discussion and direction from the City Council about what triggers remote meetings would be helpful for City staff in our planning efforts. MEETINGS On Wednesday, August 26th, Wendy Compton-Ring and I attended the Whitefish Housing Authority (WHA) Board Meeting. Wendy presented an overview about the next steps for the affordable housing development project at the snow lot. The WHA Board provided an update that it is in the process of drafting an RFP with the intent to start moving forward with the project as soon as possible. The WHA Board will likely hire an engineering firm to complete the actual design and plans for the project and then hire an owner’s rep to assist with the project management. At the meeting, the WHA Board also reviewed a request by Trailview to amend the deed restrictions on the project due to concerns raised by potential buyers. A recommendation from the WHA Board will be forwarded to the City Council along with the request from the developers of Trailview for your consideration at a future meeting. CITY EMPLOYEE CHANGES On August 24th, Major Robinson, previously our Code Compliance Officer/Building Inspector, started his new position as Building Inspector. Major has done an outstanding job and excelled at the difficult position of Code Compliance Officer. We are pleased to see him transfer into a position where he can continue to grow and be an asset to the City. We are in the process of hiring a new Code Compliance Officer/Building Inspector. This position has proven to be a difficult position to hire and retain in past years, but we remain hopeful. ---PAGE BREAK--- On August 25th, Tara Osendorf started her position as Planner II with the Planning and Building Department. Tara holds a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. She previously worked for Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization. Tara is a great addition to our team, and we can’t wait to see what she accomplishes. NEXT COUNCIL MEETING The next City Council meeting will be held on Monday, September 21st. There is no work session scheduled at this time, but one may be added prior to the agenda being issued. Respectfully submitted, Dana M. Smith, CPA City Manager