Cities enacting emergency measures in pandemic

Alpharetta City Council enacted a law that potentially allows members to vote on city business by email for the next two months. The emergency operations ordi- nance was adopted during a special City Council meet- ing in response to coronavi- rus concerns. The measure allows Council members to vote without advertising or holding a public meeting.

Alpharetta has closed its offices and canceled all city meetings through April 12. If a City Council meeting becomes necessary before that date, it will be conducted online, said James Drinkard, assistant city administrator. “(Voting by email) will be a last resort,” said Drinkard. “Our main plan during this period is ... to go to all online meetings. Members would conference in and the pub- lic could pose questions.”

Meetings can normally be seen online. Drinkard said the ordinance was adopted for the possibility that technology fails to provide online viewing for the public. The new regula- tion is in effect for the next 30 days and can be extended for an additional 30 days with a majority vote by City Council.

Milton

Milton City

Council members voted to halt all issues that require a public hear- ing for 30 days. A city statement said that under Milton’s emergency ordinance, committees and boards are suspended and City Coun- cil will only meet on matters related to the coronavi- rus, public health and safety issues. “We take our respon- sibilities to the citizens of Mil- ton very seriously, including the need to be as transpar- ent and clear as possible,” said Mayor Joe Lockwood.

Roswell

Roswell City Council was scheduled to hold a meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday to enact an emergency ordinance similar to Alpharetta’s. Meetings are regularly live streamed on the city website.

Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs’ regularly scheduled City Council meeting was also scheduled to be live streamed Tuesday evening. Agenda items include an emergency operations ordinance and a vote for an additional $25,000 to support Community Assistance Center. Sandy Springs gave the nonprofit organization, which helps families in need, $100,000 in both 2018 and 2019 fiscal years. CAC is providing pre-packaged food to the community during the coronavirus outbreak.