Moscow City Council reopened to the public Monday for the first time since late March, when the meetings moved to Facebook Live amid concerns of COVID-19.
In what the city calls a “semi-open format” in the council chambers, roughly 15 chairs were spread around the room for public use.
Last Thursday, Gov. Brad Little announced Idaho had narrowly met the qualifications to move into Stage Four of the Idaho Rebounds plan. As a result, large venues can resume business and groups of more than 50 people may assemble.
While several city staffers were present for the meeting, a few council members tuned in via Zoom. For those coming in-person, face masks were required.
Here is a review of the meeting.
Big-ticket items
- The council passed a motion to cancel Artwalk 2020
,due to ongoing risks associated with COVID-19. The motion was recommended by Megan Cherry, the city’s arts program manager. Artwalk had previously been postponed to Sept.- City staffers say they hope to make the annual event extraordinary when it becomes safe to continue it next year. The recommendation to cancel was made with recognition of the special place Artwalk holds in the community, according to the meeting agenda.
Small-ticket items
- The council unanimously denied the Howard Street right-of-way vacation proposed in a letter by Moscow resident Neil Brown. A street vacation is when a government transfers the right-of-way of a public street to a private property owner. Howard Street is located south of Homestead Street and north of East E Street.
- The public hearing for this was originally scheduled for the May 4 council meeting but was delayed to allow public participation and testimony.
- “I don’t believe this vacation does any benefit or adds any addition to the overall safety of that street,” City Councilor Gina Taruscio said. “I think that anything that would contribute to even a marginal increase in traffic is not safe.”
- Health Advocate and Outreach Coordinator Amanda Argona gave the farmer’s market report following two weeks of the market’s soft reopening.
Angela Palermo can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @apalermooo