In Contrast to County Supervisors, Pasadena City Council Votes to Extend Remote Meetings Until November 2

The City Council on Monday, October 3 adopted a resolution that allows its members to continue holding meetings virtually through November 2.

The motion got a unanimous vote from members of the City Council. The move was made after some Councilmembers said they prefer to hold future meetings in a hybrid setup.

The City Council has been meeting remotely since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, pursuant to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order which suspended certain teleconference requirements of the Brown Act. The Council must pass a resolution every 30-days to continue meeting online under the terms of Assembly Bill 361.

“There are more people that want to be engaged and we have to meet them where they are at. Some people are not going to be able to come down the city hall and some Councilmembers quite frankly, [are] maybe sick and need to chime in to a Council meeting,” Councilmember Tyron Hampton said.

“We should do a hybrid where we allow people to come in and do the public comment but at the same time allow people to still do public comment on Zoom,” added Hampton, further saying that there are some jurisdictions that have already adopted a hybrid set up.

Vice Mayor Andy Wilson said he also prefers a hybrid setup because some people are having a difficult time getting to Council chambers but he also said that might not be economically feasible.

Mayor Victor Gordo prefers to return to in-person meetings but he still voted with the majority.

“My preference is to be back in person and to give the public an opportunity to be here,” Gordo said. “I do think it’s time to be back in person.”

“I would say ‘no,’ but in deference to my colleagues I would say ‘yes,’” Gordo said when he voted. 

At the meeting, members of the staff raised their concerns regarding the possible hybrid set-up.

“In terms of supporting Zoom meetings, while we do make it look easy, there’s a lot of actual technical support that’s provided,” said city clerk Mark Jomsky.

“There’s a staffing concern here to both. It takes all our staff to do an in-person meeting and it takes all of our staff to do virtual,” City Manager Miguel Márquez said. “I do think it would be quite taxing on the city clerk to both prepare for and conduct an in-person and a virtual meeting given all the requirements.” 

Márquez pointed out that “massive investment of staff resources and technology” might be needed for the adoption of a hybrid setup for meetings as he explained that if the Council decides to hold hybrid sessions, this will also apply to its subordinate bodies. 

The city staff was directed to prepare an analysis to see if a hybrid model is viable and present its report in October.