Tempe to hold first in-person council meeting in 18 months Thursday
Oct 12, 2021, 2:00 PM
Recently elected Mayor Corey Woods, councilmember Doreen Garlid, new Vice Mayor Randy Keating and re-elected councilmember Joel Navarro took their oaths of office virtually in 2020. (City of Tempe Photo)
(City of Tempe Photo)
PHOENIX — After more than 18 months away due to COVID-19, the Tempe City Council will return to in-person meetings Thursday, for some officials, as their first formal council meeting in the Chambers in their current role.
Since the council moved its meetings to a virtual system at the start of the pandemic, at least four members have been sworn in or re-elected in the format, the Tempe City Council said in a press release.
The in-person meeting will be the first with the full council since Tempe’s Mayor Corey Woods, Vice Mayor Randy Keating and ouncilmember Doreen Garlid were elected. All were sworn in virtually in July 2020 with re-elected councilmember Joel Navarro.
On Thursday, the council will discuss offering public comments at the start and end of the meeting in an effort to make providing feedback on issues more available to a range of Tempe residents.
“I’ve been grateful for our online meeting system that has allowed us to continue to conduct city business, but it will be great to have our council back together in person and be able to interact with our residents again at meetings,” Woods said.
“Allowing both in person and virtual attendance allows us to be accessible to all of our residents’ preferred ways of participating.”
For those interested in participating virtually, visit the city’s website for meeting agendas and to register to participate online.
The council will also accept public comment cards up to two hours before any council meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and can be streamed live on the city’s website and YouTube page and broadcast on the Phoenix Channel 11 station.
Attendees will be required to wear a mask and social distance.
