13. ORDINANCE 02-2022 - AN ORDINANCE to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the members of Council amending Section 109.01 Open Meetings, of the Lakewood Codified Ordinances to allow public bodies in the City of Lakewood to meet virtually under certain conditions.
I was disappointed that this item specified "under certain circumstances". Lakewood needs to not only make meetings virtual during special times, but hybrid all other times. This will help individuals with disabilities as well as those with transportation challenges more freely participate in the civil process. Let's prove our commitment to removing these barriers to easier access. There are committees on the state level such as the Ohio Rare Disease Commission that have continued meeting virtually without interruption. So there is no reason we can't do that here.
As a physically disabled parent of small children, the ability to be visually & auditorially present in real-time for virtual meetings during the pandemic has enabled my inclusion significantly more during the pandemic than I was able to be engaged in civic life before the pandemic. Please do all within your power to continue enabling full participation by all of our community members as we have been granted via tools & resources already procured for the pandemic needs.
I was disappointed that this item specified "under certain circumstances". Lakewood needs to not only make meetings virtual during special times, but hybrid all other times. This will help individuals with disabilities as well as those with transportation challenges more freely participate in the civil process. Let's prove our commitment to removing these barriers to easier access. There are committees on the state level such as the Ohio Rare Disease Commission that have continued meeting virtually without interruption. So there is no reason we can't do that here.
As a physically disabled parent of small children, the ability to be visually & auditorially present in real-time for virtual meetings during the pandemic has enabled my inclusion significantly more during the pandemic than I was able to be engaged in civic life before the pandemic. Please do all within your power to continue enabling full participation by all of our community members as we have been granted via tools & resources already procured for the pandemic needs.