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Planning Commission Agenda Report February 22, 2023 Item 4 SUBJECT: Options for Virtual Meeting Attendance PURPOSE: Receive information regarding new California law for limited virtual meeting attendance by Planning Commissioners which was adopted by the City STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Planning Commission receive information and ask any questions. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY At its February 7th meeting, the City Council adopted a policy to allow City Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners to attend their meetings virtually when the conditions of a new state law, AB 2449, are satisfied. Therefore, Planning Commissioners now have three options for virtual and teleconference attendance of its public meetings, as follows: 1. “Just Cause” for only two (2) times a year. 2. “Emergency Circumstances” with formal approval by the Planning Commission. 3. Teleconferencing under the classic Brown Act. BACKGROUND The governor’s COVID-19 State of Emergency is scheduled to expire on February 28th, and with that will end the ability of public officials to attend meetings virtually with few restrictions. While the City Council, commissions and committees have returned to in -person public meetings, a new state law (AB 2449), provides options for an official to attend a meeting virtually. This new law is in addition to the existing state open meeting law (the Brown Act) option to attend by teleconference. ANALYSIS The three (3) options for virtual and teleconference attendance by Planning Commis sioners are each described below. 1. Just Cause. Two (2) times per calendar year a Planning Commissioner may attend a commission meeting virtually for “Just Case”, defined by state law as: A. Childcare or caregiving need of a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner that requires the official to participate virtually; B. A contagious illness that prevents an official from attending in person; C. A need related to a mental or physical disability; or D. Travelling on official business related to official duties as a commissioner.