GRANTS PASS – In response to new mandates from the state government regarding social distancing and restrictions on public gatherings, the City of Grants Pass has cancelled some public meetings, postponed community forums, and enacted changes to how public meetings of the city council will be conducted.
“We are doing what we can to address the situation and mitigate the impact to reduce it to as little as possible in our community,” said Mayor Roy Lindsay.
Effective immediately and over at least the next four weeks as mandated by the governor’s office, the city will cancel all non-actionable advisory committee meetings and planned community open forums and events. These include Coffee With A Cop March 19, Urban Growth Boundary Rezone Community Forum March 23, Dollar Mountain Trail Planning Meeting March 25, CDBG Public Workshop and Open House April 1, and Arbor Day Celebration April 6.
Many of these events will be rescheduled once the social gathering ban has been lifted, and new calendar dates can be selected.
“This is an unprecedented situation, but our community is strong, and we always come together in times of adversity,” Lindsay said.
During the restricted period, the council will remove the general public comment portion of city council business meetings. Those who do not have direct business with the city council are encouraged to share their views or input through email, phone calls, or letters to their councilors. The arrangement of chairs in Council Chambers will structured to provide at least three feet of distance between them. Meetings will remain available for live viewing from home on channel 183, or streamed online through the city’s website.
“With this situation, our community needs to find ways to come together without actually being together,” said Lindsay.
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