AMENDED 01-08-2023
City of St. Helena
Special City Council Closed Session
Meeting
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 @ 5:00 PM
Vintage Hall Board Room - First Floor,
Room 101, 465 Main Street, St. Helena
PLEASE NOTE: Any person who wishes to speak regarding an item on the agenda or make a comment under the "Oral Communication" portion of the agenda may do so, but please observe the time limit of four minutes.
*AMENDED AGENDA LANGUAGE 01-08-2023:
This meeting will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of Government Code Section 54953 (as amended by AB 361) which authorizes teleconferenced meetings under the Brown Act during certain proclaimed States of Emergency. The Governor of California proclaimed a State of Emergency related to severe weather. This teleconferenced meeting is necessary so that the City can conduct essential business and is permitted under Government Code 54953 in order to protect public health and safety of attendees.
Consistent with Government Code Section 54953, this City Council Meeting will be held via teleconference only, and will not be physically open to the public. City Council members and staff will teleconference into the meeting by audio and/or video. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom Webinar.
The City Council meeting will be live-streamed on Comcast Channel 28 and on the City’s website, barring technical difficulties. Those members of the public wishing to participate must do so remotely via Zoom electronic meetings in the following ways; by either logging onto the Zoom link located on the meeting agenda (please download the app to your computer or mobile device) and enter the meeting ID or by calling a listed number and enter the meeting ID. Public comment for City Council meetings will be accepted via email to [email protected]. All public comments must be emailed by 4:00 PM prior to the meeting. Emailed public comments will not be read out loud but will be publicly available and attached to the on-line City Council agenda.
Simultaneous Spanish interpretation services during meetings can be scheduled upon request.
To ensure interpreters are available, requests must be made at least 72 hours in advance by calling the Office of the City Clerk at (707) 968-2640 or emailing [email protected].
The schedule of upcoming meetings and published meeting agendas can be found on the City of St. Helena website at https://sthelena.civicweb.net/portal/.
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Page
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Mayor: Paul Dohring, Vice Mayor Eric Hall:, City Council Members: Anna Chouteau, Lester Hardy, Billy Summers
3. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
4. PUBLIC COMMENT PERTAINING TO CLOSED SESSION
Each person’s comments shall be limited to 4 minutes.
5. CLOSED SESSION:
5.1. NEW ITEM 01-08-2023
Consideration of whether to conduct the City Council using teleconferencing during a proclaimed state of emergency due to the ongoing storms because, as a result of the emergency, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees.
Staff Report
3 - 4
5.2. Conference with Labor Negotiators, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Designated Representatives: City Manager
Employee Organization: Police Officers Association (POF), St. Helena Employees Association (SHEA) and St. Helena Professional Firefighters Association
6. ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular City Council meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
I do hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on the City website on January 6, 2023. Republished 01-08-2023
Cindy Tzafopoulos, City Clerk
In Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please call the City Clerk’s Office (707) 967-2792. Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
Report to the City Council
Special City Council Meeting - 10 Jan 2023
Agenda Section: NEW BUSINESS
Subject: Consideration of whether to conduct the City Council meetings of January 10, 2023 using teleconferencing during a proclaimed state of emergency due to the ongoing storms because, as a result of the emergency, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees.
CEQA
Determination:
Not a CEQA project
Prepared By: Ethan Walsh, City Attorney
Reviewed By: Cindy Tzafopoulos, City Clerk
Approved By: Anil Comelo, City Manager
BACKGROUND
Beginning on December 27, 2022, severe winter storms related to a series of atmospheric river systems struck California, brining high winds, substantial precipitation and flooding, which had significant impacts in the Napa Valley region. A series of atmospheric river fueled storms is projected to continue to impact the region in the coming days. In response to the ongoing storms, on January 4, 2023 the Governor of California proclaimed a state of emergency.
The National Weather Service has projected multiple rounds of rain in the coming days, with the risk of flooding, road closures, gusty winds, downed trees and power outages.
In light of the projected severe weather, the City Manager was contacted by the State Office of Emergency Services, and was told that the City should make every effort to keep people off of the roads to avoid exposure to potential flooding and high winds. In light of the imminent threat imposed by the weather Council members, staff and community members attending the Council meeting would be putting themselves at risk of harm if the Council meeting was held in person on Tuesday night.
Agenda Item #5.1.
DISCUSSION
The amendments to the Brown Act that allowed for remote meetings during the COVID19 pandemic remain in effect through January 1, 2024. Under the version of the Brown Act that is currently in effect, the City Council is permitted to hold meetings through teleconferencing (including but not limited to the Zoom platform) during a proclaimed state of emergency when a majority of the Council determines by a majority vote that, as a result of the emergency, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees. (Government Code Section 54953(e)(1)(B) & (C).) Based on the forecasts by the National Weather Service for the coming days, the directive from the State OES to limit travel on City roads as much as possible, and the fact that attendees could potentially put themselves at risk traveling to and from the Council meeting due to potential road closures, flooding, downed trees and other adverse effects from the severe weather, staff is recommending that the January 10 meeting be held remotely via Zoom.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact from this action.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
That the City Council determine, based on the facts outlined in the staff report and presented to Council that as a result of the emergency stemming from the current storms, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees, and both the agendized Council meetings on January 10, 2023 will therefore be held via teleconferencing on Zoom.
ATTACHMENTS
None
Agenda Item #5.1.