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BACKGROUND <br /> California open meeting laws, also known as the Brown Act, require that meetings of <br /> "legislative bodies" of local agencies to be open and public. For the City, legislative <br /> bodies subject to the Brown Act include: the City Council and its standing <br /> subcommittees; the Bicycle Pedestrian and Trails, Energy and Environment, and <br /> Economic Vitality Committees; and the Civic Arts, Housing, Human Services, Library, <br /> Parks and Recreation, Planning and Youth Commissions. <br /> The Brown Act has requirements for: types, time, and location of meetings; agendas; <br /> and conduct of meetings. On March 4, 2020, the Governor's Executive Order N-29-20 <br /> suspended many Brown Act requirements, thereby allowing virtual meetings to protect <br /> the public health. In October 2022, the Governor's Office announced its intent to repeal <br /> the COVID-19 emergency declaration on February 28, 2023. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> Even with the pending repeal of the Governor's COVID-19 emergency declaration, <br /> options remain for public meetings to involve some virtual attendance by public officials. <br /> The chart below outlines Brown Act requirements, virtual meeting laws during the state <br /> of emergency, and a new law effective January 1, 2023, that allow for some virtual <br /> meeting attendance. <br /> Existing Brown Act AB 361' New Law AB 24491i <br /> Meeting location Physical location in Can be fully Physical location in <br /> jurisdiction"' virtual or hybrid jurisdiction <br /> When declared Quorum must be in <br /> When officials Virtual attendance can state of jurisdiction '"; virtual <br /> be for any reason. attendance requires just <br /> can attend A quorum must be in emergency & cause" or emergency° <br /> virtually .'" local health <br /> jurisdictionfindings (approved by body) and <br /> limited in frequency" <br /> Public virtual Yes"''', subject to Yesix, subject to <br /> participation Not addressed requirements requirements <br /> City Hall, City website, <br /> and newspaper; and <br /> site from which official <br /> City Hall, City website, remotely attending — <br /> Notice and newspaper, and site City Hall, City unless a quorum is <br /> agenda posting from which official website, and meeting in person at <br /> requirements remotely attending newspaper one location in the city <br /> (e.g., home, hotel that is open to the <br /> room, hospital) public and the public <br /> can participate in <br /> person or virtually <br /> Page 2 of 4 <br />