CITY OF SAN PABLO
City Manager
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 AND CITY OF SAN PABLO EMPLOYEES
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 APRIL 30, 2025
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. On April 15, 2024, the City Council approved an extension of the suspension through October 30, 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 April 30, 2025. The City Council will consider upholding this operational procedure at its regular scheduled meeting on Monday, October 21, 2024, at 6:00p.m.
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.
1000 Gateway Avenue ● San Pablo, CA 94806
Main: 510-215-3000 ● Direct: 510-215-3001 ● Fax: 510-215-3011 www.SanPabloCA.gov
TO: MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
DATE: OCTOBER 3, 2024
RE: EXTENDING TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS BY ZOOM AND TELEPHONE FOR DESIGNATED BROWN ACT BODIES – CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS UNTIL APRIL 30, 2025
However, the City of San Pablo 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, October 21 , 2024, to:
[email protected]
AS AUTHORIZED:
_____________________________ Date: October 3, 2024 Matt Rodriguez, City Manager
cc: San Pablo City Council
Executive Leadership Group
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