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<br /> Clerk of the Council Office <br />www.santa-ana.org/cc <br />Item # 26 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />November 2, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Assembly Bill 361 <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Consider Approving the Continued Use of Teleconferencing for Meetings of City Council <br />and all Boards, Committees, and Commissions Pursuant to the Provisions of Assembly <br />Bill 361 <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Adopt resolution to consider continuing the use of teleconferencing for the meetings of <br />City Council and all boards, committees, and Commissions pursuant to the provisions of <br />Assembly Bill 361 for the next 30 days. <br />DISCUSSION <br />On March 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-29-20 <br />suspending certain provisions of the Brown Act in order to allow legislative bodies to <br />conduct their meetings completely telephonically or by other electronic means. City <br />Council meetings have been conducted by Zoom with councilmembers and staff all <br />joining from remote locations when necessary. <br />The suspension of certain provisions of the Brown Act was further extended by Governor <br />Newsom on June 11, 2021 by the issuance of Executive Order N-08-21 which continued <br />to allow completely virtual City Council (and other legislative body) meetings. This order <br />stayed in effect until September 30, 2021. <br />In response, AB 361 was signed into effect by Governor Newsom on September 16, 2021. <br />It amends the Brown Act to allow legislative bodies to meet virtually, provided there is a <br />state of emergency, and either (1) state or local officials have imposed or recommended <br />measures to promote social distancing; or (2) the legislative body determines by majority <br />vote that meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health and safety of <br />attendees. <br /> The City of Santa Ana’s current practices with respect to live public comment via Zoom <br />already satisfy all of the new requirements in AB 361. Additionally, the individual <br />legislative bodies can make their own findings for the AB 361 telecommuting resolution <br />for future meetings. Determinations to continue to utilize remote meetings as allowed by <br /> <br />