Administrative
Report
N.2., File # 22-3830 Meeting Date: 4/12/2022
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: MIKE WITZANSKY, CITY MANAGER ELEANOR MANZANO, CITY CLERK
TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING COUNCIL PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE
PUBLIC MEETINGS VIA TELECONFERENCE PURSUANT TO THE BROWN ACT
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING RETURNING TO IN-PERSON COUNCIL
AND COMMISSION MEETINGS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council discussed making permanent the ability to participate in future City Council meetings via teleconference (following conclusion of the COVID-19 Pandemic) on three occasions:
July 20, 2021, September 7, 2021 and January 11, 2022. During the last meeting, the Council gave direction on edits to the City’s Rules of Conduct for Council Meetings to officially allow for teleconference participation and asked staff to return with an item for consideration of approval. The drafted teleconference rules address 1) user prioritization, 2) advanced notification responsibilities, 3) agenda posting requirements, 4) remote conference room scheduling and costs, 5) City provision of laptops, and 6) management of both in-person and remote public participation.
Additionally, staff was directed to investigate the parameters set by Section 54953(3) of the Brown Act regarding public access to teleconferencing locations. Initial research suggests that when the City Council returns to the Chambers to conduct public meetings, the traditional provisions of the Brown Act will apply and any councilmember choosing to attend the meeting remotely will need to identify by notice their teleconference location and make the location accessible to the public.
This item allows the City Council to review the revised meeting rules prepared by the City Clerk and consider formal approval. The item also provides the City Council an opportunity to discuss returning to in-person meetings. It is staff’s recommendation that City Council and City Commissions return to in-person / in-chamber meetings beginning May 3rd. It should be note that this date correlates with the scheduling of the parade from Beryl Heights Elementary School to City Hall to celebrate and provide proclamations to the two local AYSO girls’ teams who recently won western state championships.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated by the Offices of the City Manager, City Clerk, and City Attorney.
N.2., File # 22-3830 Meeting Date: 4/12/2022
FISCAL IMPACT
The technology for the videoconferencing capability in the City Council Chambers needed to facilitate remote participation in City Council meetings was installed as part of the recently completed City Council Chambers Improvements Project. Funding for the individual City laptops needed for periodic remote meeting use is available in the City’s Technology Equipment Replacement Fund.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Revised City “Rules of Conduct for Council Meetings” Policy
2. January 11, 2022 Admin Report on Meeting Participation Via Teleconference