Kodiak Island Borough Assembly advances ordinance to allow limited remote participation for members

The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly voted 6-1 on April 3 to advance Ordinance FY2025-15, an ordinance to allow electronic participation by the mayor and assembly members, to a public hearing at the next regular meeting.

The ordinance, as amended, would require assembly members to notify the clerk of a contemplated absence at least 24 hours in advance and limits remote participation in regular meetings to a maximum of four times per year. The ordinance lists recognized reasons for electronic participation — illness or injury (of the member or an immediate family member), the death of a family member, employment obligations, or travel on borough business — and requires a quorum of assembly members to be physically present. For regular meetings the ordinance requires a video-conferencing format; work sessions and special meetings may allow other…