City of Half Moon Bay Will Continue Remote Meetings via AB 361 by Declaring Resolution of Necessity

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VIDEO. From the City of Half Moon Bay City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 21st, 2021 at 7:00pm by Zoom.

 


More on AB 361 on Coastside Buzz

 


 

AB 361 Amends the Brown Act, Allowing Public Agency Meetings to Zoom Until Jan. 1st 2024

ASSEMBLY BILL 361.

Half Moon Bay City Councilperson, Debbie Ruddock, mentioned at the beginning of the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) meeting, last night, September 14th, 2021, (before recording started,) that AB 361 would allow to keep Zooming public agency meetings.

“The bill is headed to the Governor’s desk.

If he signs the AB 361 it will take effect immediately and allow local and state agencies to continue to meet by noticed teleconference including phone and internet during the COVID emergency.

It was originally intended for local agencies only but was amended on 9/3 to include state agencies and legislative bodies.

It is not mandatory but I suspect most agencies will take advantage.” ~ Debbie Ruddock

 

Excerpt

Link to Full AM 361 Bill

This bill, until January 1, 2024, would authorize a local agency to use teleconferencing without complying with the teleconferencing requirements imposed by the Ralph M. Brown Act when a legislative body of a local agency holds a meeting during a declared state of emergency, as that term is defined, when state or local health officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing, during a proclaimed state of emergency held for the purpose of determining, by majority vote, whether meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees, and during a proclaimed state of emergency when the legislative body has determined that meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees, as provided.
This bill would require legislative bodies that hold teleconferenced meetings under these abbreviated teleconferencing procedures to give notice of the meeting and post agendas, as described, to allow members of the public to access the meeting and address the legislative body, to give notice of the means by which members of the public may access the meeting and offer public comment, including an opportunity for all persons to attend via a call-in option or an internet-based service option, and to conduct the meeting in a manner that protects the statutory and constitutional rights of the parties and the public appearing before the legislative body. The bill would require the legislative body to take no further action on agenda items when there is a disruption which prevents the public agency from broadcasting the meeting, or in the event of a disruption within the local agency’s control which prevents members of the public from offering public comments, until public access is restored. The bill would specify that actions taken during the disruption are subject to challenge proceedings, as specified.
This bill would prohibit the legislative body from requiring public comments to be submitted in advance of the meeting and would specify that the legislative body must provide an opportunity for the public to address the legislative body and offer comment in real time. The bill would prohibit the legislative body from closing the public comment period and the opportunity to register to provide public comment, until the public comment period has elapsed or until a reasonable amount of time has elapsed, as specified. When there is a continuing state of emergency, or when state or local officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing, the bill would require a legislative body to make specified findings not later than 30 days after the first teleconferenced meeting pursuant to these provisions, and to make those findings every 30 days thereafter, in order to continue to meet under these abbreviated teleconferencing procedures.”

City Council of Half Moon Bay Meets ~ 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00pm

HMB City Council Agendas and Zoom Links

HMB City Calendar

The New Now ~ Virtual Remote Public Agency Meetings

Watch streaming, or the Pacifica Coast TV video, that we will post. Stay tuned!
The meeting will be held at the Adcock Community Center for any members of the public who wish to speak in person, though we do encourage all members to participate remotely.
The meeting will be:

Members or the public are welcome to submit comments (in accordance with the three-minute per speaker limit) via email

to [email protected] prior to or during the meeting, via Facebook live during the meeting, and via two phone lines during the meeting – (650) 477-4963 (English) and (650) 445-3090 (Spanish).
The City Clerk will read all comments into the record.

HMB City Council Agendas and Zoom Links

HMB City Calendar

Leave messages with the Clerk’s Department at 650-726-8250

    1. Robert Brownstone

      Mayor
      Phone: 650-726-8250 (leave message with Clerk’s office)
    2. Debbie Ruddock

      Vice Mayor
      Phone: 650-726
    3. Deborah Penrose

      Council Member
      Phone: 650-726-8250 (leave message with Clerk’s office)
    4. Harvey Rarback

      Council Member
      Phone: 650-726-8250 (leave message with Clerk’s office)
    5. Joaquin Jimenez

      Council Member
      Phone: 650-726-8250 (leave message with Clerk’s office)

The City Council of Half Moon Bay

The City Council of Half Moon Bay is the City’s governing body, and consists of five elected members. The Council sets priorities and policies, makes final decisions on all major City matters, adopts ordinances and resolutions, appoints the City Manager and City Attorney, and approves the annual budget.

City Council members are elected at-large to four-year, overlapping terms. There are no term limits in Half Moon Bay. The City Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and one to serve as Vice Mayor, on an annual basis.

The Half Moon Bay City Council typically meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month starting at 7 pm at the Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue.

Meetings and Agendas

The City Council typically meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, at 7 pm, at Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue. City Council meeting schedule, agendas, minutes, and videos are available online. Planning on attending a City Council Meeting? Please visit our “Commenting at a City Council Meeting” information page. You can also learn about City Council Procedures and Decorum.

Strategic Elements

The City Council develops Strategic Elements to help focus the City’s actions and work plans on its key priorities. The Strategic Elements are aimed at providing high quality public services and facilities in a fiscally sustainable, responsive, and friendly manner, which fosters a safe, healthy, and thriving community.

 


Half Moon Bay City Council Subcommittees

  • CSFA Grant Selection
  • Education
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Finance
  • Human Resources
  • Legislative Affairs
  • Mobility
  • Redistricting
  • Public Safety Sub-Committee
Coastside Buzz
Author: Coastside Buzz

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