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Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan has called a special meeting of the City Council to take place at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 16. The meeting will replace the regular council meeting previously scheduled for March 17.
The agenda is expected to include an ordinance to temporarily limit how many people can be in a public or private place that serves the public.
Officials said normal rules will be suspended for the special session to streamline the meeting and limit the risk for exposure to and transmission of COVID-19. During the meeting, some items of business will be tabled, and the use of touchscreen voting technology will be suspended in favor of voice voting.
Specifically, the items related to a proposed employee pay plan and single-use disposable bag regulations will not be included on the special meeting agenda. All tabled items will be moved to the next regular meeting on April 7.
The agenda will include two additional items, according to a news release:
- An ordinance temporarily empowering the mayor to regulate the gathering of 50 or more people in public or private places that serve the public and to locally enforce recommendations from health authorities including the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Arkansas Department of Health, along with other actions deemed necessary to protect public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A resolution appropriating emergency funds if additional funding is needed for city expenditures necessary to address the COVID-19 pandemic in Fayetteville.
The council chambers will be modified to create at least six feet between Council members, the release stated. Additionally, public seating will be spaced at least six feet apart, and additional seating will be available in City Hall Room 111. All attendees are asked to create at least six feet of space between themselves and other attendees as well as to sanitize hands prior to entering Council chambers.
The meeting will be live-streamed and recorded, and the public is encouraged to view the meeting online.
