The city of Litchfield Park will make history Wednesday, April 15 when it conducts its first virtual public meeting.

The City Council’s regular meeting will go live at 7 p.m. using Zoom, with options for the public to join by computer or telephone.

“This is the first time we’re trying to do this with everyone,” City Manager Bill Stephens said in a telephone interview Monday, noting the city has been working for about a year to put teleconferencing into place.

In recent months, staff has conducted internal meetings and joined meetings conducted by other government agencies, he said, but the system wasn’t ready to accommodate virtual public meetings when Gov. Doug Ducey ordered public buildings to close in mid-March to stem the spread of COVID-19. That forced the city to cancel several public meetings.

The teleconferencing project was no small feat for the city. Litchfield Park’s budget isn’t large enough to accommodate full-time information technology and communications departments, so staff took on the task as collateral duties, Mr. Stephens said.

“The staff here has been willing to step up,” he said. “They’ve done an excellent job.”

Former Finance Director Lars Johnson, who left in March for a position with Yavapai County, spearheaded the project, and worked with local information technology companies to improve the connectivity needed to successfully run online meetings, Mr. Stephens said.

Finance Technician Stephanie Irwin and City Clerk Terri Roth have been collaborating on the project, and will be at City Hall with Mayor Thomas L. Schoaf on Wednesday as he leads the council meeting. Mr. Stephens said he may attend from his office at City Hall to have access to documents and records if the need arises.

The rest of the city council and staff, presenters and the public will attend online or call in. Those wishing to join the meeting via their computers may do so at https://zoom.us/j/637315354 b, or they may call in by dialing 669-900-6833 and punching in meeting ID number 637 315 354.

Among the items the council is scheduled to consider are ordinances on mobile food vendors, commercial truck restrictions and amending flood plain regulations, and a resolution increasing aquatic rental fees.

Consent agenda items include recommendations to approve:

• A contract with Pat Walker Consulting for budget preparation at a cost of $125 per hour and mileage;
• Purchase of playground equipment for Camelback Park from GameTime in an amount not to exceed $70,924.31;
• An intergovernmental agency agreement with the city of Avondale to use its court facility;
• An $8,078.92 contract with Capitol Litho for publishing the city’s quarterly newsletter; and
• Purchase of two Toro MDX Utility Vehicles for the Public Works Department from Simpson Norton through a Mohave Cooperative Purchase Agreement in an amount not to exceed $26,387.75.

Mr. Schoaf also will present proclamations on Arbor Day, April 24; Arizona Education progress meter; Building Safety Month, May; and Municipal Clerks Week, May 3-9.

The meeting will be listen-only for the public, Mr. Stephens said. Call to the community public comments and public hearings will be added once the staff perfects the system.