RESOLUTION NO. 2022-29
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, TO IMPLEMENT
TELECONFERENCING REQUIREMENTS DURING A
PROCLAIMED STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR ALL CITY
COUNCIL, COMMITTEE, COMMISSION, BOARD, AND
OTHER CITY MEETINGS PURSUANT TO ASSEMBLY
BILL 361
WHEREAS, the Ralph M. Brown Act requires that all meetings of a legislative body of a local agency be open and public and that any person may attend and participate in such meetings; and WHEREAS, the Brown Act allows for legislative bodies to hold meetings by teleconference, but imposes specific requirements for doing so; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2020, the Governor issued a proclamation declaring a state of emergency due to the COVI D-19 pandemic pursuant to Government Code 8625 and this proclaimed state of emergency currently remains in effect; and WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, in order to address the need for public meetings during the present public health emergency, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order No. N-29-20, suspending the Act's teleconferencing requirements; and WHEREAS, on June 11, 2021, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order No. N-08-21, continuing the suspension of the Brown Act's teleconferencing requirements through September 30, 2021; and WHEREAS, these Executive Orders allowed legislative bodies to meet virtually as long as certain notice and accessibility requirements were met; and
WHEREAS, on September 16, 2021, the Governor signed Assembly Bill No. 361 (A.B. 361 - Government Code section 54953) that went into effect on October 1, 2021, which amended the Brown Act so that a local agency may use teleconferencing without complying with the regular teleconferencing requirements of the Act, where the legislative body holds a meeting during a proclaimed state of emergency and makes certain findings; and WHEREAS, Government Code section 54953 requires that the legislative body make additional findings every 30 days in order to continue such teleconferencing; and WHEREAS, state and local officials continue to impose and recommend measures to promote social distancing and because of the ongoing threat of COVID-19, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health and safety of attendees; and WHEREAS, the Los Angeles County Public Health Officer, in a recommendation dated September 28, 2021, stated that "utilizing teleconferencing options for public meetings is an effective and recommended social distancing measure to facilitate participation in public affairs and encourage participants to protect themselves and others from the COVID-19 disease;" and WHEREAS, when the City Council was meeting in person, there have been people attending the City Council meetings who appeared to be ill since they were coughing and sneezing in the audience; and 1 WHEREAS, teleconferencing ensures the health and safety of the public, the legislative bodies of the city, and City staff while allowing regularly-scheduled meetings to occur without interruption due to COVID-19.
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Torrance hereby finds, determines, declares, orders, and resolves as follows:
1. That the foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporates them by this reference.
2. That the City Council finds, by a majority vote, the following:
a. Within the last 30 days, the City Council met by teleconferencing for the first time and now makes the following determination:
i. The City Council has reconsidered the circumstances of the state of emergency; and
ii. Any of the following circumstances exist:
1. The state of emergency continues to directly impact the ability of the members to meet safely in person.
2. State or local officials continue to impose or recommend measures to promote social distancing.
3. As a result of the emergency, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees
3. That this Resolution to implement teleconferencing pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e) applies to the City Council and all committees, commissions, boards, and other City meetings ("other legislative bodies") of the City of Torrance based upon the findings listed above.
4. That the City Manager or the City Manager's designee is authorized to take all steps and perform all actions necessary to execute and implement this Resolution in compliance with Government Code section 54953.
5. That this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption and remain in effect for 30 days or until such time as the City Council adopts a subsequent resolution in accordance with Government Code section 54953(e)(3) to extend the time during which the City Council and all other legislative bodies of the City of Torrance may continue to teleconference without compliance with Government Code section 54953(b)(3).
INTRODUCED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 29th day of March 2022.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
PATRICK Q. SULLIVAN, City Attorney
. Jr' ~2 IT<Y l
Tatia Y. Strader, Assistant City Attorney
ATTEST: · ,
Reb~~Clerk
2 TORRANCE CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2022-29
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CITY OF TORRANCE
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I, Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk of the City of Torrance, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly introduced, approved, and adopted by the City Council of the City of Torrance at a regular meeting of said Council held on the 29th day of March, 2022 by the following roll call vote :
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS
Date : ----------
Ashcraft , Chen, Kalani, Mattucci, Walser, and Mayor Furey.
Griffiths.
None.
None.
Re~ecca Poirier, M MC
City Clerk of the City of Torrance
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