City Council Approves Resolution Allowing Remote Meetings for Next 30 Days

The City Council passed a resolution that will allow the City Council and its subcommittees and commissions to continue to meet virtually for at least 30 days.

If the council is authorized to conduct remote meetings roughly from May 9 to June 8.

Although the council has expressed some interest in opening the council chambers to the public, there was no discussion on opening the meetings to the meeting on Monday night.

The council must pass a resolution every 30-days to continue meeting online under the terms of Assembly Bill 361.

Beyond that initial 30-day period, it must confirm the circumstances of the state of emergency and make required findings at least 30 days after adoption of the resolution and every 30 days thereafter.

An executive order signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom allowing virtual meetings and suspending parts of the Brown Act, which governs open meetings of legislative bodies, ended on Sept. 30.

The City Council adopted a similar resolution authorizing remote teleconference meetings from November 1 to November 30, but the City Council does not meet on the exact 30th day following expiration of the prior resolution.

Under state law, real-time public comments must be allowed by phone or the internet. If the system fails allowing for public comment the meeting must be ended.