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Clerk of the Council Office <br />www.santa-ana.org/departments/clerk-of-the-council/ <br />Item # 12 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />June 7, 2022 <br />TOPIC: Assembly Bill 361 <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Use of Teleconferencing for Meetings of City Council and All Boards, Committees, and <br />Commissions Pursuant to the Provisions of Assembly Bill 361 <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Adopt a resolution to consider continuing the use of teleconferencing for City Council, <br />board, committee, and commission meetings pursuant to the provisions of Assembly Bill <br />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 to allow legislative bodies to conduct their <br />meetings completely telephonically or by other electronic means. City Council meetings <br />have been conducted by Zoom with councilmembers and staff all joining from remote <br />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 teleconferencing resolution