City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 10/16/2023 Page 1 9 3
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COUNCIL MEMBERS
Amourence Lee, Mayor
Lisa Diaz Nash, Deputy Mayor
Rich Hedges
Adam Loraine
Rob Newsom Jr.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Special Meeting Minutes
City Council
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
October 16, 2023
City Hall Council Chambers 5:00 PM
Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Lee, Deputy Mayor Diaz Nash, Council Members: Hedges, Loraine and Newsom
CLOSED SESSION
Following the opportunity for public comment, there were no speakers, the City Council convened into Closed Session to consider:
1. Conference with Labor Negotiators (Government Code Section 54957.6) City designated representatives: Stacey Cue, Teresa Abrahamsohn, Karen Huang, and Yumi Maeda Employee Organizations: San Mateo Safety Management Association and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 521 Library Merit
The City Council reconvened into open session at 5:50 p.m.
STUDY SESSION
2. Charter Amendments - Study Session
Prasanna Rasiah, City Attorney, provided a presentation on proposed City Charter amendments addressing how the Mayor is chosen, filling Council vacancies, district elections, and other revisions. The Council asked questions of staff. Public Comment – Seema Patel asked for clarification of some language. The City Council by consensus directed to pursue staff’s recommendation.
Following item #2, the meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m. to convene the Regular Meeting. This special meeting reconvened at 11:42 p.m. to consider Study Session Item #3.
3. Hate Speech and Remote Public Comment during Public Meetings Prasanna Rasiah, City Attorney discussed the recent occurrence of hate speech through remote public comment during the October 2, 2023 City Council meeting and requested Council direction on any potential remote public comment procedural changes. Council asked questions of staff. Public Comment: Seema Patel spoke in support of maintaining public comment. The City Council by consensus directed to keep remote public comments as currently designed.
ADJOURNMENT –The meeting adjourned at 12:00 a.m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Amourence Lee, Mayor Patrice Olds, City Clerk