Boulder City bans meeting participation by telephone

By Tiffany Gibson

Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010 | 5:55 p.m.

Cam Walker

Letting a city council member join a meeting via teleconference might work in some cities, but the Boulder City Council banned the option Tuesday night.

The issue arose in November during a City Council meeting after Councilman Cam Walker couldn’t attend a Redevelopment Agency meeting, and instead, participated by telephone.

Walker said he was on a business trip in Salt Lake City when the meeting took place Oct. 28. He said he asked Mayor Roger Tobler if the meeting could be rescheduled or if he could call in.

After the October meeting, Councilwoman Linda Strickland said she asked City Manager Vicki Mayes to include the topic of teleconferencing on the City Council’s agenda so rules and guidelines could be established.

Several residents who spoke at the Nov. 24 meeting said teleconferencing should be prohibited because it would stifle in-depth conversations between City Council members and residents. Another fear of residents was that council members might use that option more often, rather than come to meetings in person.

Because the City Council couldn’t agree on a policy, Tobler suggested that City Clerk Lorene Krumm establish a resolution and teleconference policy to add to the City Council’s rules and procedures manual.

Krumm proposed a resolution at Tuesday’s meeting that would prohibit City Council members from teleconferencing during City Council meetings.

“The only exception allowed would be in the case of a city emergency in which the City Council would be required to conduct an emergency meeting,” Krumm said.