(a) A member of the Council may participate via electronic means in a Council meeting, if the member declares that circumstances prevent physical attendance at the meeting. If the Mayor chooses to participate via electronic means, the Vice-Mayor or president pro tempore shall preside.

(b) No more than the first three (3) members to contact the Clerk regarding remote electronic participation in a particular meeting may participate via electronic means at any one (1) meeting unless it is a special meeting called to consider an emergency action, in which case all members may participate via remote electronic participation.

(c) The member shall notify the Clerk’s office as soon as reasonably practical, but not less than two (2) hours prior to the start of the Council meeting that the member proposes to attend by remote electronic means. Such notification shall state the reason for remote electronic participation and, if needed, shall provide the telephone number, and any available facsimile, email, or other document transmission service. Failure to provide the notification within the period of time provided herein shall result in the member’s exclusion from attendance of a Council meeting through remote electronic participation. The Clerk shall notify all Council Members of the request.

(d) At the meeting, the Clerk shall establish the appropriate connection when the call to order is imminent.

(e) A member participating by remote electronic means shall be counted as present for purposes of discussion, voting, constituting a quorum and attendance.

(f) The member participating by remote electronic means shall make every effort to participate in the entire meeting. From time to time during the meeting, the presiding officer shall confirm the connection, if necessary.

(g) The member participating by remote electronic means may ask to be recognized by the Chair to the same extent as any other member.

(h) To the extent reasonably practicable, the Clerk shall provide backup materials to members participating by remote electronic means at the member’s expense.

(i) If the remote electronic connection cannot be made or is made and then lost, the meeting shall commence or continue as scheduled and the Clerk shall attempt to establish or restore the connection.

(j) Meeting times shall be expressed in Alaska Time regardless of the time at the location of any member participating by remote electronic means.

(k) Participation by remote electronic means shall be allowed for regular, special and work session meetings of the Council.

(l) Remarks by members participating by remote electronic means shall be transmitted so as to be audible by all members and the public in attendance at the meeting; provided, that in executive session the remarks shall be audible only to those included in the executive session.

(m) As used in these rules, “electronic means” means any system for synchronous two (2) or more way voice and/or virtual communication. “Mayor” includes the Vice-Mayor or any other member serving as president pro tempore.

(n) Each Council member may attend a maximum of four (4) regular meetings by remote electronic means during the twelve (12) month period starting November 1st of each year unless an exception provided below applies and any number of special meetings or work sessions.

(o) A Council member may attend an additional two (2) meetings by remote electronic means during a twelve (12) month period starting November 1st of each year if the member declares that he or she is physically unable to attend the meeting due to the need for extended medical care and treatment of the member or extended medical care and treatment or death of the member’s immediate family.

(p) A Council member may attend an additional two (2) meetings by remote electronic means during a twelve (12) month period starting November 1st of each year when the member is traveling on Council approved City business.

(q) In this section, “immediate family” means the spouse of the person, another person cohabitating with the person in a conjugal relationship that is not a legal marriage, a child (including a stepchild or foster child) of the person, a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt or uncle of the person, or a parent or sibling of the person’s spouse.

(r) In this section “City business” means anytime a member is traveling or in a location outside the City on behalf of the City or attending training, as approved by Council and in compliance with the Council travel policy.

(s) In this section “emergency action” means any action which in the judgment of Council is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health or safety.