FAQ: Why are our meetings still virtual?

In the FAQ series, I’ll answer common questions I receive.

This is a question I get a lot, and I wanted to provide some clarification on the matter.

Many government meetings—and, for that matter, non-profit boards, workplaces, and more—have returned to in-person work. So why is the County Board still operating virtually?

The County is currently updating our A/V capabilities in our City-County Building meeting spaces to accommodate hybrid meetings fully. Once these updates are made, we will be able to meet in-person while still accommodating virtual participation from those who need or prefer this option.

Hybrid is the way of the future

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve come to appreciate how virtual meetings allow people to participate more flexibly. It’s more accessible: For example, people who would not be able to take the time needed to travel downtown to meet in-person can still engage and provide input. This vastly increases the ability for many to participate in County government, and I don’t want to give that up!

I acknowledge that in-person has specific interpersonal advantages. Body language, for example, doesn’t come across as well on a screen. We don’t have to give those advantages up, either. With hybrid, we can have it both ways.

To make it work, we need a number of improvements. For example, we need to eliminate audio “dead zones” in the meeting rooms to make sure everyone can be heard. These updates are under way.

Accessibility first

I ran on a platform of transparency and accessibility because I believe we do our best work when we start by making sure the work is fully accessible. That means that we’re always asking—who can’t participate, and why not? Who is being needlessly burdened by the way we’re doing things? How can we remove those barriers? How can we foster universal ability to participate?

Virtual meetings remove barriers, especially when combined with the vital work of groups like the Broadband Task Force.

Meet me at the City-County Building… when?

These updates are scheduled to be completed in mid-June, and in-person meetings will resume thereafter—in a better, more accessible, hybrid format.