From:
To: Mary Gourley
Subject: Zoom Meeting Format Council Agenda Item
Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 11:32:07 AM
Dear Mayor Rich, Vice-Mayor Zollman and Council Members, While Sebastopol has benefited from the ability to attend city meetings remotely, the costs now outweigh the benefits. The reality and the fear of having to witness the hate and vitriol of the Zoom bombers are deterring locals from participating in public meetings. While everyone attending expects to occasionally have to deal with "difficult peoples caucus", this Zoom bombing is very much beyond that.
This issue is not limited to the Council meetings only. I have witnessed Zoom bombing at the Planning Commission and Climate Action Committees meetings. If we continue with our existing meeting format, we will have less people that want to step up and be on these public commissions or committees knowing that they will be subject to this vitriol.
I understand that if we discontinue the public comment via Zoom, then we run the risk that these people will show up in person to the meetings to spread their hate. I would rather risk that we have face down this hate in person, than dealing with the situation we have now.
Thank you,
Steve Pierce