Kodiak Island Borough Assembly adopts ordinance allowing limited remote participation, 5-1

The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly on April 17 adopted Ordinance FY2025-15 to allow limited electronic participation by the mayor or assembly members in regular meetings, passing the measure 5-1.

The ordinance authorizes remote participation for specified circumstances when a member cannot attend in person — for example, illness, the passing of a family member, borough business, or being out of town — and caps the number of electronic participations per year. "We're not looking at a dichotomy of participating from home versus participating from here," Assemblymember Dave Johnson said during debate, adding that remote access preserves participation when travel or life events prevent physical attendance.

The change follows a public hearing that drew speakers who stressed the value of in-person deliberation. "I believe FY2025-15 to allow electronic participation of mayor and, or assembly members to meetings is detrimental to this relationship between the borough's elected officials and the public," said Sue Jeffrey, a former assembly member, during the hearing. Dan Hogg, another former mayor and assembly member, urged the assembly to "sit and listen to the public," saying in-person attendance is "very special." Assemblymembers acknowledged those concerns while arguing the new rules are targeted and intended to keep members engaged when absence is unavoidable.

The staff report from Deputy Clerk Lena Cruz noted the item was requested by assembly members Dave Johnson, Ryan Sherritt and Beau Whiteside and was modified by the assembly after initial review on April 3. During floor debate, Assemblymember Ryan Sherritt proposed limiting the allowable electronic participations from four occasions to two; that amendment failed for lack of an immediate second, and Sherritt later withdrew a motion to bar the mayor from participating electronically after being pointed to language that delegates presiding duties to a physically present deputy when necessary.

The ordinance includes procedural safeguards: when the mayor participates electronically a deputy presiding officer who is physically present will conduct the meeting; if both the mayor and deputy are absent, the most senior assembly member present will act as chair. Supporters said the rule helps keep members engaged while preserving accountability to the public.

The assembly adopted the ordinance after roll call; the clerk recorded votes that included "yes" votes from Dave Johnson and Ryan Sherritt and a "no" from an assembly member identified as Smiley. The motion was announced as passing 5-1. The ordinance amends Title 2, Administration and Personnel, Chapter 30, General Rule Section 2.30.02 to allow electronic participation under the conditions described in the ordinance.

The measure takes effect according to the borough's standard ordinance effective-date procedures; staff and the assembly discussed monitoring use of the provision and, separately, potential future changes to attendance limits in borough code.