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Mayor Hanlon's Statement and Determination Regarding Conducting Meetings by Telephone or Interactive TechnologyMayor Hanlon's Statement and Determination Regarding Conducting MeeNngs by Telephone or Interactive Technology As the Mayor of the City of Hopkins, Minnesota I find as follows: a. The spread of COVID-19, including the increasing spread of the Delta and Omicron variants, in the United States and Minnesota has raised serious public health concerns. b. The Delta and Omicron variants have been found to spread more easily, including between both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. c. After months of steady decline in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 there has been an increase in the number of cases in Minuesota and Hennepin County over the past six months, and especially in the past two weeks, and the Centers for Disease Control has categorized community spread in Minnesota and Hennepin County as "high", the highest level for identifying community spread. d. Minnesota Statutes, section 13D.021 authorizes cities to meet by telephone or interactive technology if the presiding officer, chief legal counsel, or chief administrative officer determines that meeting in person is not practical or prudent because of the existence of a health pandemic. I have consulted with the City Manager and the City Attorney in making this determination. Based on the above findings, I determine as follows: Effective immediately and until further notice, meetings of City bodies governed by Minnesota Statutes; Chapter 13D, including but not limited to City Council meetings, boards, and commissions, may be conducted by telephone or interactive technology at times when it is not practical or prudent to hold those meetings in person due to the existence of the health pandemic. All such meetings must comply with the requirements in Minnesota Statutes, section 13D.021. 2. Attendance by members of the public and the presence of at least one council member, the city administrator, or city attorney at the City Council chambers for such meetings is not feasible due to the he�lth pandemic. Dated: January 11, 2022. HP 14511 \772623.v1 ! ! L� � f� � �j� atnck H�nf�in, Mayor (/ � - City of Hopkins, Minnesota