HomeMy WebLinkAbout081120-09.2
STUDY STUDY SESSION MEMORANDUM 9.2
TO: Town Council August 11, 2020
SUBJECT: Public Meeting Format
BACKGROUND
Prior to March 2020, the Town’s public meetings were largely conducted at the Town
Meeting Hall on Front Street. The Town Meeting Hall is equipped with the Granicus
system that is used to Livestream and video record Council and Commission meetings.
The Coronavirus pandemic and resultant emergency measures that have been put in
place since March 2020 have resulted in the need to conduct these Town public meetings
virtually. This includes Town Council and Commission meetings. The basis for this
action includes:
• State of California Proclamation of Emergency dated March 4, 2020;
• Governor Newsom’s Executive Orders N-25-20 and N-29-20 regarding the
• Brown Act;
• Contra Costa County Declaration of Emergency dated March 16, 2020 and
continuing Contra Costa County Public Health Department Orders; and
• Town Council Resolution 21-2020 dated March 17, 2020 proclaiming the existence
of a local emergency within the Town of Danville in response to the Novel
Coronavirus designated as COVID-19.
The time frame for resumption of “normal operations” with respect to public meetings is
uncertain at this stage of the pandemic and is expected to be guided by the State of
California, the CDC, and the Contra Costa County Health Services Department
(CCCHSD). The Town places the highest priority upon maintaining the safety of all
community members including elected or appointed officials, Town staff and members
of the public wishing to participate in any Town public meeting. It is understood that the
public expects to have access to our elected and appointed officials and Town staff. The
Town will continue to seek alternate means to provide that access through various
alternate means until normal operations are able to resume.
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DISCUSSION
With respect to public meetings, resumption of normal operations will be dependent
upon a number of variables which continue to be unknown at this point. The Town
expects to approach this in appropriate stages through a point in time when the local state
of emergency is terminated by the Town Council.
Stages of Operation during COVID-19 Emergency
Stage 1: Virtual Meetings Only
A. Meetings are now expected to remain virtual so long as the State Executive Order
allowing virtual meetings under the Brown Act remains in effect. Other conditions
to consider include:
• CCCHSD recommendations regarding virtual meetings;
• Changes to the CCCHSD shelter-in-place orders;
• Contra Costa County status with respect to the State’s “Watch List” due to
increasing COVID-19 positive tests; hospitalization rate; or hospital capacity
issues (e.g. availability of ventilators, medicine, etc.).
B. A virtual meeting format provides that:
• Elected or appointed officials are not physically present at the Town Meeting
Hall but participate virtually (via Zoom or another appropriate platform).
• The public is not physically present at Town Council or Commission meetings
but can comment and participate through e-mail or live chat.
• Town staff are not physically present at the Town Meeting Hall but participate
virtually.
Stage 2: Public meetings are staged from the Town Meeting Hall with no public
attendance
A. Town Council, Commissioners and Town staff may be physically present at the
Town Meeting Hall for public meetings if:
• The State Executive Order no longer allows virtual meetings under the Brown
Act;
• Changes to the CCCHSD shelter-in-place orders or recommendations regarding
virtual meetings permit the activity; and
• All of the following apply:
o Contra Costa County is no longer on the State’s Watch List;
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o All safety requirements and protocols as designated under the current
CCCHSD Health Order are followed; and all live attendees wear a mask at
all times covering their nose and mouth.
o All attendees attest that they are not currently presenting any COVID – 19
symptoms; and have not had COVID-19 or been under quarantine for the
past 30 days; and
o Physical barriers are in place for the dais and staff designated areas as
appropriate.
B. The public is not physically present at Town Council or Commission meetings but
can comment and participate through e-mail or live chat.
Stage 3: Public meetings are staged from the Town Meeting Hall with limited public
attendance
A. In addition to meeting all of the provisions set forth in Stage 2, the public can be
physically present for public meetings if:
• State Executive Order no longer allows virtual meetings under the Brown
Act; or
• Changes to the CCCHSD shelter-in-place orders or recommendations regarding
public attendance at meetings; and
• All of the following apply:
o Contra Costa County is no longer on the State’s Watch List;
o All safety requirements and protocols as designated under the current
CCCHSD Health Order are followed; and all live attendees wear a mask at
all times covering their nose and mouth.
B. No more than 15 members of the public are allowed in the Town Meeting Hall on a
first come-first seated basis with overflow accommodated outside of the building.
C. Public attendees must complete a health screening questionnaire prior to entering
the building; are requested to provide contact information; and be able to answer
“No” to the following health screening questions:
• Do you currently have COVID-19 or are you currently under quarantine for
COVID-19;
• Are you living with someone or in close contact with someone who has COVID-
19 or is under quarantine for suspected COVID-19 infection; and
• Do you have any of the following symptoms:
o Fever
o Dry Cough
o Shortness of breath
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• No food or drink will be allowed in the meeting.
• The public podium is disinfected between public speakers.
• Public restroom availability may be limited.
• The public can also continue to comment and participate through e -mailed
comments or live chat.
Stage 4: Post-COVID resumption of “Normal Operations” [still to be determined]
The transition to the next logical stage in the process will occur upon concurrence by the
Town Council that it is safe to do so based upon the criteria set forth above.
Prepared by:
Joseph Calabrigo
Town Manager