The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly voted unanimously at Thursday night’s meeting to amend its emergency rules that were passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020. Assembly members had debated changes to the rules since early last month. The rule change allows Assembly members to meet virtually if a disaster or emergency has been declared by the Governor or President of the United States – but the ability to do so would need to be reapproved every 28 days.
The previous ordinance passed in 2020 allowed for indefinite virtual meetings due to the coronavirus pandemic, although Assembly members have returned to in-person meetings since then.
The ordinance passed during Thursday’s Assembly meeting does not address changes to other emergency rules passed during the early days of the pandemic, like the formation of Kodiak’s Emergency Services Council.