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Council discusses first-reading ordinances to allow remote attendance for boards and to add second deputy police chief
Summary
On first reading, the council discussed an ordinance to permit remote attendance for city boards and commissions and an ordinance to amend the police command structure to authorize a second deputy chief; both items were discussed but not adopted at the meeting.
City Administrator Jeff Fagan Shue presented two ordinances on first reading: an amendment to the City of Washington code to allow members of city boards and commissions to attend meetings remotely for eligible reasons, and an amendment to the code regarding the police command structure to authorize a second deputy chief of police.
Planning and development director John Olyphant described the remote-attendance proposal as an extension of allowances already in the city ordinance for council members, explaining the intent "to allow for remote attendance to be held for all the eligible reasons that is currently allowed under the city ordinance for the council, to open that up for other boards and commissions." City administration said the police-structure ordinance is modeled on similar command-staff configurations used in other communities and would create a second deputy-chief position to split command duties (for example, patrol and office oversight).
Both items were presented on first reading for consideration; no final adoption vote was recorded in the public meeting. City staff invited questions and noted they would rely on prior committee discussion and further review before returning for formal action.
Next steps: staff indicated the ordinances would move through the normal process (committee/second reading) before any adoption vote.
