Item 20 - Resolution for Teleconferencing for Meetings of City Council and All Boards, Committees, and Commissions

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Clerk of the Council Office www.santa-ana.org/departments/clerk-of-the-council/ Item # 20 City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 Staff Report August 16, 2022 TOPIC: Assembly Bill 361 AGENDA TITLE: Teleconferencing for Meetings of City Council and All Boards, Committees, and Commissions Pursuant to the Provisions of Assembly Bill 361 RECOMMENDED ACTION Adopt a resolution to consider continuing the use of teleconferencing for City Council, board, committee, and commission meetings pursuant to the provisions of Assembly Bill 361 for the next 30 days. DISCUSSION On March 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-29-20, suspending certain provisions of the Brown Act to allow legislative bodies to conduct their meetings completely telephonically or by other electronic means. City Council meetings have been conducted by Zoom with councilmembers and staff all joining from remote locations when necessary. The suspension of certain provisions of the Brown Act was further extended by Governor Newsom on June 11, 2021 by the issuance of Executive Order N-08-21, which continued to allow completely virtual City Council (and other legislative body) meetings. This order stayed in effect until September 30, 2021. In response, AB 361 was signed into effect by Governor Newsom on September 16, 2021. It amends the Brown Act to allow legislative bodies to meet virtually, provided there is a state of emergency, and either (1) state or local officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing, or (2) the legislative body determines by majority vote that meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health and safety of attendees. The City of Santa Ana’s current practices with respect to live public comment via Zoom already satisfy all of the new requirements in AB 361. Additionally, the individual legislative bodies can make their own findings for the AB 361 teleconferencing resolution