A summary of the proceedings for the Morgantown City Council meeting on Feb. 23, 2021.
View the
Meeting Agenda and Packet.
Watch the
City Council Meeting.
NOTE: This meeting was held remotely by Cisco WebEx video-conference to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Prior to the Committee of the Whole meeting, city council held a special meeting.
Special Meeting Action Items:
- EXTENDING EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC:
City Council approved Emergency Ordinance 2021-01 extending public health measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic until May 21, 2021. The
following restrictions are still in place: The following restrictions remain in place in the City of Morgantown:
- Suspension of minimum parking requirements and temporary sign regulations;
- Required closure of outbreak sites;
- Mask requirements;
- Gathering limit indoors except for essential businesses; and
- Suspension of residential assembly permits
Action Taken: Passed 6-0.
Committee of the Whole Action Items:
- SUPPORTING NON-DISCRIMINATION IN THE CITY
At the recommendation of the Morgantown Human Rights Commission, this
resolution would show support for the adoption of Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) standards. The standards would specifically link discrimination on hair texture and protective hair styles which include braids, locks, twists as well as dreadlocks and Afros to non-discrimination provisions to
Section 153 of the city code.
Action Taken: Moved to the March 2, 2021 city council meeting agenda.
- CREATING A CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
At the recommendation of the Director for Arts & Cultural Development, this
ordinance would create a Cultural Arts Commission which would assist, advise, promote, and make recommendations to the Director of Arts & Cultural Development, City Manager, and City Council on all arts and culture related matters. This would involve sunsetting the city's Metropolitan Theatre Commission and the History Museum Commission, and combining them into the Cultural Arts Commission.
Action Taken: Moved to the March 2, 2021 city council meeting agenda.- INCREASING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TREE BOARD
At the recommendation of the Morgantown Tree Board, this
ordinance would
add an additional member to the Morgantown Tree Board. Specifically, it would require that a council member be appointed to the board.
Action Taken: Moved to the March 2, 2021 city council meeting agenda.
- CHANGING MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION
At the recommendation of the Morgantown Housing Advisory Commission, this
ordinance would allow for a college student living in Morgantown to a member of the board. Previously, the student representative had to be from the WVU Student Government. The ordinance would also allow for a member nominated from an organization promoting fair housing and a member who is a licensed residential home builder.
Action Taken: Moved to the March 2, 2021 city council meeting agenda.
- DISCUSSING THE FY 2021-2022 PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET
The City Manager will present city council the Proposed
2021 Annual Budget and
2021-2026 Capital Improvement Plan for the City of Morgantown. The total spending proposed in the 2021-2022 Budget is $38 million. This represents a 3.3 percent decrease in comparison to last year's budget and a 2.8 percent reduction from the previous year.
Action Taken: Moved to the March 2, 2021 city council meeting agenda. Municipal Election- Jan. 4 to Apr. 20 - Absentee Voting Applications Accepted
- Mar. 2 - Drawing for Ballot Positions
- Apr. 6 - Voter Registration Deadline
- Apr. 14 to 24 - Early Voting Apr. 27 - Election Day