BILLINGS — In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Billings city staff will implement social distancing during its Monday meeting and encouraged people to write in their public comments and view the meeting remotely on Community 7 Television.
The city is trying to balance people's right to participate in local government with the risk of infection from COVID-19, Billings City Administrator Chris Kukulski told Q2 over the phone Sunday.
People who are considered high risk if they contract the virus are asked to not attend the meeting.
Kukulski said the council will be seated in different positions than usual to ensure the recommended six feet of distance between each person.
Assigned seating may be used for members of the public who attend the meeting in person, the council agenda states.
Written comments can be emailed to the city council at the city's web site or mailed to P.O. Box 1178, Billings Montana.
The public is encouraged to watch the meeting online through Community 7 Television.
Community 7 is Billings public education and government access channel that regularly televises city council and school board meetings. People can watch on digital TV channel 7, the channel's web site, its Facebook or Youtube page.
