January 10, 2022
CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Rosalia A. Butler, City Clerk
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE VIRTUAL MEETINGS
FOR CITY COUNCIL AND CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND
COMMITTEES DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PURSUANT TO
ASSEMBLY BILL 361
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-08 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, MAKING FINDINGS AND
DETERMINIATIONS UNDER AB 361 FOR THE CONTINUATION OF VIRTUAL
MEETINGS
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
3/16/2020 – City Council declared the local emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic. 5/4/2020 – Extended emergency declaration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 10/04/2021 – City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-137 extending emergency declaration and continuation of virtual meetings under AB 361.
11/1/2021- City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-164 extending emergency declaration and continuation of virtual meetings under AB 361
11/15/2021- City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-177 extending emergency declaration and continuation of virtual meetings under AB 361
12/6/2021- City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-186 extending emergency declaration and continuation of virtual meetings under AB 361
12/20/2021- City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-197 extending emergency declaration and continuation of virtual meetings under AB 361
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Approval of the proposed resolution will authorize the City Council to continue to conduct City Council meetings and meetings of other City Boards, Commissions & Committees virtually in order to preserve the health and safety of the public, the City Council, Board/Commission/Committee Members, and staff.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. The City has already invested in the necessary technology to conduct meetings virtually.
DISCUSSION:
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the City Council began conducting City Council meetings virtually on April 6, 2020. Similarly, most City Boards, Commissions and Committees were dark during the month of March 2020 and April 2020, and began meeting virtually in May 2020.
On or about September 17, 2021, Assembly Bill (AB) 361 was passed and authorizes local legislative bodies to allow local agencies to meet fully virtually, without fully adhering to the rules otherwise applicable to teleconferencing if there is a proclaimed state of emergency, and state or local officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing; In order to continue to meeting virtually, the City must determine by a majority vote whether as a result of the emergency, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees.
The State of California, County of Los Angeles, and City of Pomona are all under a proclaime d state of emergency due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Both the State of California and County of Los Angeles have recommended continuing measure to promote social distancing. In addition, it is known that the risk of spreading COVID -19 increases substantially where people gather indoors for an extended period of time. As such, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees.
Accordingly, it is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached resolution (Attachment No. 1) that makes the necessary findings pursuant to Assembly Bill 361 and authorizes the City Council to meet virtually. The adoption of the resolution will als o apply to all City Boards, Commissions and Committees, thus authorizing and requiring all City Boards, Commissions and Committees to meet virtually.
Assembly Bill 361 further requires that the City Council evaluate the conditions and that the findings to authorize virtual meetings be voted upon by the City Council every 30 days.
Accordingly, adoption of the attached resolution will authorize the meetings to be conducted virtually through February 10, 2022. Since the second council meeting in February falls outside of the 30 day window, it is anticipated that staff will return with another resolution on February 7, 2022 to evaluate the state of the pandemic at that time and determine if future meetings will be held virtually or in person.
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution No. 2022-08