■ OPINION: Outside of the threat to public health, the novel coronavirus could be a potential hazard to Florida's cherished system of open government.
Some of the threats posed by coronavirus are obvious: Public health and our economy.
It also poses a less obvious threat to open government and the public’s ability to influence the decisions of those who govern.
Through no fault of their own, local governments have been forced to change the way they do business. Elected officials no longer sit side-by-side in meeting rooms along with constituents who want to watch or comment on the proceedings.
They’re holding virtual meetings, with council members and commissioners using Zoom, Skype and other video platforms to conduct business.
The public also has to participate in virtual spaces. They can watch meetings on TV or online. They can attend meetings by showing up at city hall and making their comments or pitches to distant elected officials on camera. Some places are allowing people to join the meetings via video conferencing or submit their comments in writing online.
Gov. Ron DeSantis did his part to keep government operating by signing an executive order last month suspending the requirement that requires a quorum to be in person at a public place.
So far, so good. Nothing is ideal about this setup, but everyone is making sacrifices and compromises these days.
But the threat we mentioned could take several forms, particularly with the public’s ability or willingness to participate at a time of unprecedented disruption, coupled with the inner desire of some officials to work in an environment free from the troublesome complaints of citizens.
Here’s an example: The city of Orlando had been forging ahead with plans to vote on a controversial proposal to annex and allow a 348-unit apartment complex on 24 acres off Hoffner Avenue.
The project has generated intense opposition, with nearly 1,000 people signing an online petition to halt it.
But now many of the people concerned about this project are distracted by more immediate concerns.
They’re worried about their jobs, their families, their health, their futures. For good reason, they’re probably far less worried about this project now than they were a few months ago, but that doesn’t mean they’ve lost interest. Who’s going to fixate on a zoning change when they’re out of a job?
Even if people want to voice their opposition, it’s harder now, especially for those who have trouble with — or don’t have access to — a computer or the internet.
After our queries about Monday’s meeting, the city made the sensible decision to remove the proposal from its agenda until it has in place a system that more closely resembles pre-coronavirus access to meetings.
Winter Park already has some experience with taking on touchy issues during an outbreak. At a March 30 meeting, two newly installed commissioners led a move to rescind a redevelopment plan along Orange Avenue that had been in the works for years and had just been approved three weeks earlier.
Their motives may have been pure but residents were understandably furious at the timing of such a consequential decision, coming just four days after Orange County issued an order for residents to stay at home.
In Seminole County, where public officials pooh-poohed the need for a stay-athome order, county commissioners approved a 94-home development on 31 acres near Lake Jesup on March 24. People who wanted to comment were ushered into the meeting room, one by one, and Commissioner Amy Lockhart refused to attend because the public wasn’t fully involved.
Why urgency at such a chaotic time? The county could have just delayed taking action on a consequential land-use change.
Seminole officials are continuing to consider a far more controversial project — a proposed land swap between the county and the developers of River Cross. The project, and the swap, are widely despised in Seminole County. It either needs to be shelved for now, or the county should drop its attempt to negotiate and fight it out in court.
The project is a stinker, and it shouldn’t proceed during such a tumultuous time when it’s impossible for the public to be fully engaged.
That goes for governments throughout Florida.
Yes, go ahead and deal with the essential business of providing public services, keeping people healthy and maintaining order.
But there’s no such urgency in approving development projects at a time when the public isn’t able to weigh in as they were before on decisions that’ll affect the quality of their lives.
If we get farther down this road and conditions haven’t eased, local governments might be forced to make those consequential decisions with less public input.
For now, they need to slow down and err on the side of the public’s right to participate and be heard.
Editorials are the opinion of the Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board and are written by one of its members or a designee. The editorial board consists of Opinion Editor Mike Lafferty, Jennifer A. Marcial Ocasio, Jay Reddick, David Whitley and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Send emails to insight@orlandosentinel.com.