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3 <br /> THE CITY OF <br /> CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT <br /> PLEASAN N <br /> February 7, 2023 <br /> City Attorney <br /> City Clerk <br /> City Manager <br /> TITLE: ADOPT VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR CITY COUNCIL AND <br /> PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS FOLLOWING TERMINATION OF <br /> THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY IN CALIFORNIA; AND HAVE <br /> OTHER COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS MEET IN-PERSON <br /> SUMMARY <br /> Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor proclaimed a state of emergency that <br /> waived some requirements of state open meeting laws (the Brown Act) thereby allowing <br /> officials and the public to attend virtual meetings. The City has made monthly public <br /> health findings to allow virtual meetings to continue per State law (AB 361 of 2021). <br /> The Governor's Office has announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency in <br /> California will end on February 28, 2023. At that point, virtual public meetings will no <br /> longer be allowed under AB 361. A new State law (AB 2449) was adopted to allow for <br /> virtual attendance by less than a quorum of officials. AB 2449 limits the number of <br /> occasions each official may use the just cause and emergency circumstances <br /> provisions, and specifies qualifying medical and family care reasons. Usage of this new <br /> State law also requires: a formal request by the official detailing the official's emergency <br /> circumstances; approval of the same by the legislative body; staff facilitating two-way <br /> communications with the virtually attending official and the public; stopping meeting <br /> business if any virtual connection is lost; and other requirements. Given the <br /> technological requirements for virtual attendance by officials under AB 2449 which may <br /> arise at the beginning of a meeting, staff recommends that virtual attendance via AB <br /> 2449 only be utilized by the City Council and Planning Commission. Other commissions <br /> and committees would meet in-person, with virtual public viewing and participation as <br /> available technology allows. <br /> RECOMMENDATION <br /> Approve by minute order the use of AB 2449 procedures for virtual meeting attendance <br /> by only City Council and Planning Commission members at their regular and special <br /> meetings. Other committees and commissions will hold in-person meetings. <br /> FINANCIAL STATEMENT <br /> No effect. Existing staff will continue to facilitate City Council and Planning Commission <br /> meetings with virtual participation. <br />