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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-11418 establishing policies and procedures for compliance with Assembly Bill 2449 relating to teleconference participation in Legislative Meetings RESOLUTION NO. 11418 (2023 SERIES) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ASSEMBLY BILL 2449 RELATING TO TELECONFERENCE PARTICIPATION IN LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 2449, effective January 1, 2023, amends the Brown Act, California Government Code Sections 54950 et seq., as it pertains to teleconference meeting participation by legislative body members; and WHEREAS, AB 2449 will significantly curtail the ability of legislative body members to attend meetings virtually as compared to the relaxed teleconferencing laws that were enacted at the beginning of the COVID-19 and have seen been in effect; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 1 of the Council Policies and Procedures shall be amended as follows. 1.1.2 REGULAR MEETINGS 1.1.2.2 Regular meetings shall be held in the Council Chamber, 990 Palm Street, in the City of San Luis Obispo (Ordinance No. 677). Council meetings will also be streamed via teleconference only in City Hall. 1.1.4 SPECIAL MEETINGS 1.1.4.2 Any special meeting held at a place other than City Hall shall be open to the public. Such meetings shall be held within the city limits. Notice requirements of the Brown Act shall be complied with for any such meetings; regular minutes shall be taken by the City Clerk and shall be available for public inspection. Meetings not held in City Hall will not be streamed through teleconference. 1.2.7 ORDER OF BUSINESS shall be as follows: 1.2.7.1 Council AB 2449 Requests for Teleconferencing 1.2.7.2 Call to Order 1.2.7.3 Roll Call 1.2.7.4 Pledge of Allegiance 1.2.7.5 Closed Session Report (if any) 1.2.7.6 R 11418 Resolution No. 11418 (2023 Series) Page 2 1.2.7.7 Presentations /Appointments 1.2.7.8 Public Comment 1.2.7.9 Consent Agenda 1.2.7.10 Public Hearings and Business Items 1.2.7.11 Liaison Reports and Communications 1.3.7 PUBLIC COMMENT 1.3.7.1 Immediately prior to scheduled public hearings, members of the public may address the City Council on items that are not on the printed agenda or items on the Consent Agenda. A time limit of three minutes is provided. A speaker may not yield time to another speaker. A speaker slip should be filed with the City Clerk but is not required in order to speak. 1.3.7.1.1 For all hybrid (in-person and via teleconference) Those requesting to speak in-person will be called first then those requesting to speak via teleconference will be called. All requests to speak should be submitted before the Public Comment period starts. 1.3.7.3 Individuals desiring to speak on an item on the agenda shall: 1.3.7.3.1 Address the Council from the podium or via teleconference after giving their name and city of residence. Speakers shall direct their comments to the Council, not the audience. 1.5 AB 2449 NEW TELECONFERENCING REGULATIONS 1.5.1 Quorum Requirement: A quorum of the Council (three members) must participate at a singular physical meeting location identified on the agenda, which must be within the city limits and open to the public. This means that no more than two Council Members may utilize these AB 2449 teleconference provisions at one meeting. If fewer than three members could not be physically present at the beginning of a meeting, the meeting shall not be called to order except during a declared emergency. 1.5.2 Limitations on Use: Council Members may participate remotely under AB 2449 a limited number of times per year, depending on which exception 1.5.2.1 Just Cause Exception. This exception may be used in cases of caregiving for a dependent; contagious illness; need to be related to a physical or mental disability; or official governmental travel. Capped at two (2) meetings per calendar year regardless of the R 11418 Resolution No. 11418 (2023 Series) Page 3 1.5.2.2 Emergency Circumstances Exception. This exception may be used in cases of a physical or family medical emergency that prevents a Council Member from attending in person. Capped at 20% of the regular meetings within a calendar year (four (4) City of San Luis Obispo Council meetings per year). 1.5.3 Each agenda must describe how members of the public may observe or attend the meeting and offer public comment, including a way to attend via teleconference platform. Members of the public must be allowed to make public comments in real-time (in-person or through teleconference) during all allotted public comment periods. 1.5.4 Council Members wishing to attend by teleconference must make a request to the Council at the earliest possible opportunity, up to and including at the start of a meeting. The Council must act by majority vote, during the meeting, to approve or deny the request. 1.5.4.1 pate remotely, which need not be more than 20 words or disclose any personal medical information. 1.5.4.2 Council Members must disclose before any action is taken, whether any individuals 18 years of age or older are present in the room at the remote location, and the general nature of the take place during the meeting itself, even if the notification and description were given in advance. 1.5.4.3 Council Members participating remotely must participate through both audio and visual technology. 1.5.5. All votes taken at a meeting where a Council Member attends by teleconference, under provisions of AB 2449, must be taken by roll call vote. 1.5.6 Meeting proceeding must be suspended in the event of a disruption that prevents the transmittal of meeting video and audio to the public or prevents the receipt of public comment on the teleconference platform until meeting audio and video service are restored. R 11418 Resolution No. 11418 (2023 Series) Page 4 SECTION 2. Resolution Number 11341 (2022 Series) is hereby repealed and superseded to the extent inconsistent herewith. Upon motion of Council Member Shoresman, seconded by Vice Mayor Marx, and on the following roll call vote: AYES: Council Member Francis, Pease, Shoresman, Vice Mayor Marx, and Mayor Stewart NOES: None ABSENT: None nd The foregoing resolution was adopted this 2 day of May 2023. __________________________ Mayor Erica A. Stewart ATTEST: ______________________ Teresa Purrington City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ______________________ J. Christine Dietrick City Attorney IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, on ______________________. _________________________ Teresa Purrington City Clerk R 11418