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Effectively under AB 2449, to attend a meeting virtually an official could make a last- minute "just cause" decision twice a year, or request approval for "emergency circumstances". That would then trigger technical and logistical requirements for staff to facilitate virtual participation by the official and the public. Therefore, since Information Technology staff are already present for City Council and Planning Commission meetings, which are held in the Council Chambers with available audio and video technology, staff recommends that only the City Council and Planning Commission members be able to utilize AB 2449 provisions to attend regular and special meetings virtually.3 Other Committees and Commissions As the City has fully returned to in-person meetings following the removal of COVID restrictions, all commissions and committees are meeting the requirements of the Brown Act for in-person meetings. Not all commissions and committees are offering, nor are able offer, virtual two-way public participation that would meet the requirements of AB 2449. Currently, the Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission conduct meetings utilizing virtual two-way public participation. A few other commissions — Library, Human Services, Civic Arts and Youth — have virtual viewing, but not virtual two-way participation. The Housing Commission, as well as the Economic Vitality Committee, the Committee on Energy and the Environment, and the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trials Committee, are currently holding in-person only meetings. Much of these limitations have to do with staff resources, as well as meeting room capabilities (or lack thereof), combined with the history of public participation at such meetings Therefore, staff recommends that based on the advisory nature of committees and commissions (except for the Planning Commission, as described above) that members attend in-person or utilize other Brown Act requirements for teleconference attendance, but that virtual attendance per AB 2449 not be provided due to staff resources and limits on uniform technological capabilities available in all meeting rooms. Those committees and commissions which are able to provide virtual viewing and participation may continue to do so. bmitted by: Approved by: amela Ott Dan Sodergren cely g Gerry Beaudin Ass4 istant City Manager City Attorney City Clerk City Manager Standing City Council subcommittee meetings are not recommended to utilize AB 2449 provisions for virtual attendance, as many subcommittee meetings are not held in rooms with audio and video capabilities. And, since subcommittees only have two Councilmembers appointed, a subcommittee meeting with one member attending virtually would not meet AB 2449 requirements for a quorum to be in attendance in- person at the designated public meeting location. Page 4 of 4