M E M O R A N D U M

To: William R. Popp, Assembly President

Members, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

From: Pete Sprague, Assembly Member

Date: December 1, 1999

Subject: Ordinance 99-72 Prohibiting Assembly Member Attendance at Meetings by Teleconference

The proposed ordinance was written in response to renewed questions about the Assembly's policy of permitting attendance by teleconference. In June 1998, while on the Soldotna City Council, I introduced for enactment Ordinance 669. This ordinance would have barred attendance of council members via teleconference. It was subsequently amended to permit teleconferencing, and enacted in July. It was further amended to permit teleconferencing a maximum of three times within a twelve-month period by Ordinance 675, which was adopted in September. Last fall, an ordinance barring attendance by teleconference for assembly members was proposed by Popp and Sprague, but was withdrawn prior to introduction. I believe that it is in the best interest of the public, the Assembly, and the administration that assembly members be required to attend meetings in person. At this time, President Popp and I have decided to introduce a modified version of the 1998 proposed ordinance.