HomeMy WebLinkAbout59-21RESOLUTION 59-21
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
APPROVING AND ESTABLISHING A HYBRID MEETING POLICY
WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor issued Executive Order N-29-20
suspending certain provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act in order to allow for local legislative
bodies to conduct their meetings completely telephonically or by other electronic means; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to such authority, the Town used a virtual meeting tool that allowed for the
City Council, Planning Commission, and Town committees to conduct teleconference meetings
and provide a way for the public to participate in meetings; and
WHEREAS, the virtual meeting format provides for greater public participation opportunities,
and the City Council recognizes that public participation is a critical component of the civic
process and values the input it receives from members of the public during meetings; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to continue providing virtual participation and expand
access for the public to comment during meetings by providing the public with a way to participate
remotely in most public meetings of the City Council, Planning Commission, and Committees in
addition to attending meetings in person or submitting written comments in advance of the
meeting, and to establish a set of policies governing the same
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills
hereby establishes the Hybrid Meeting Policy attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit
A for remote public participation in City Council, Planning Commission, and committee meetings.
The above and foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the Town of
Los Altos Hills at a regular meeting held on the 19th day of August 2021 by the following vote:
AYES: Tankha, Tyson, Mok, Schmidt, Swan
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
1
Deborah Padovan, City Clerk
Kavita Tankha, Mayor
Resolution 59-21 Page 1
TOWN OF LOS
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Phone; (650) 941-7222
www.losaltoshills.ca.gov
ALTOS HILLS
HYBRID MEETING POLICY
Background
Exhibit A
5-0 08 HILLS
X W—o
CALIFORNIA
Approved by City Council on August 19, 2021
On March 17, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order N-29-20 suspending certain provisions
of the Ralph M. Brown Act in order to allow for local legislative bodies to conduct their meetings
completely telephonically or by other electronic means. On June 11, 2021, the Governor
subsequently issued Executive Order N-08-21 maintaining the suspension of certain provisions of
the Brown Act to continue to allow for local legislative bodies to conduct their meetings
completely telephonically or by other electronic means through September 30, 2021. After
September 30, 2021, the City Council, Planning Commission and Town Committees must provide
a physical location for meetings unless a subsequent executive order is issued or a separate statute
is adopted providing further direction or authority.
Purpose
The City Council believes that it is in the public's interest to have the City Council, Planning
Commission and Town Committees continue to provide virtual access for members of the public
to observe or participate in meetings in order to allow for civic engagement. This policy shall take
effect when the Governor's orders suspending the Brown Act have expired.
Procedure
The City Council and the Planning Commission shall meet in the City Council chambers, which
have been upgraded to up to allow for members of the public to attend in person or virtually using
a teleconferencing program such as Zoom.
The Brown Act (Gov. Code section 54950 et seq.) allows members of legislative bodies to use
audio and/or video teleconferencing to meet, deliberate, and take public comment as long as least
a quorum of the members participate from locations within the Town's boundaries. All remote
locations from which a legislative body member is participating must be made available for the
public and provide means to allow public comments to be made at those locations. Each remote
location must be specifically identified in the notice and agenda of the meeting, including a full
address. Agendas must be posted at each remote location. The teleconference location must be
open and fully accessible to the public, and fully accessible under the Americans with Disabilities
Act, throughout the entire meeting. These requirements apply to private residences, hotel rooms,
and similar facilities, all of which must remain fully open and accessible throughout the meeting,
without requiring identification or registration. A location that cannot meet the forgoing
requirements may not be used as a teleconference location. All teleconference meetings conducted
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pursuant to this policy must comply with these state law requirements, as may be amended form
time to time, and all Town decorum rules governing public meetings.
It is the Town's policy that only two Councilmembers/Commissioners may utilize the
teleconferencing provision at any given time. It is strongly encouraged that the Mayor be
physically present at all City Council meetings.
This Policy shall apply only to City Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners. Town
committees may utilize a hybrid model using an electronic device (computer/tablet/phone) for
members of the public to participate, but committee members are not eligible to attend meetings
via teleconferencing. Committee members must be physically present at all committee meetings
in order to participate and vote.
Staff is not required to attend and assist the committees with any technical knowledge of Zoom or
any other teleconference program/platform the Town may utilize. Staff will provide suggestions
and guidance on Zoom meeting protocol upon request.
During a meeting, if a member of the public would like to speak on an agenda item, the Mayor or
Chair will call upon individuals present in the room first and then ask individuals attending
virtually to raise their hands and they will be called upon on in the order received. Public
comments are limited to two (2) minutes per speaker.
Resolution 59-21 Page 3