CITY OF SAN PABLO
City Manager
1000 Gateway Avenue ● San Pablo, CA 94806
Main: 510-215-3000 ● Direct: 510-215-3001 ● Fax: 510-215-3011 www.SanPabloCA.gov
M E M O R A N D U M
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
1000 Gateway Avenue
San Pablo, CA 94806
TO: MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
FROM: Matt Rodriguez, City Manager
RE: EXTENDING TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS BY ZOOM AND TELEPHONE FOR DESIGNATED BROWN ACT BODIES – CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS UNTIL OCTOBER 30, 2024
IMPORTANT – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public agencies across California, including neighboring cities in the East Bay region, continue to experience a barrage of hate speech through remote public comments known as “Zoom Bombing”. The volume of these comments disrupts public meetings and prevents cities and agencies from conducting orderly public meetings.
On October 12, 2023, the City Manager temporarily suspended all public comments for the City Council and Planning Commission meetings scheduled during the remainder of October 2023. This action was subsequently affirmed by the San Pablo City Council by minute action vote on October 16, 2023, and the Council continued such suspension through the end of April 2024.
To continue to better serve our San Pablo community and ensure that the City conducts orderly public meetings, the City Manager proposes to extend the temporary suspension of participation by members of the public remotely through an on-line platform (i.e. Zoom) or via telephone for designated City Brown Act bodies through October 30, 2024. The City Council will consider this item at its meeting on Monday, April 15, 2024.
This action is consistent with what other public agencies are implementing throughout the Bay Area, and is consistent with the policy objectives contained in the City’s Adopted Diversity Plan adopted via City Council Resolution 2020-078 on June 15, 2020. However, the City highly encourages members of the public to participate in our meetings. Those who wish to provide input on this proposed action may do so in person or submit public comment via email by 12:00 p.m. ( noon) on Monday, April 15 , 2024 to [email protected]
DATE ISSUED:
__________________________________ Date: April 2, 2024 Matt Rodriguez, City Manager
cc: San Pablo City Council Executive Leadership Group