HomeMy WebLinkAbout100521-05.1
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF REPORT 5.1
TO: Mayor and Town Council October 5, 2021
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 59-2021, approving the continued use of teleconferencing
for the meetings of all Town legislative bodies pursuant to the provisions
of AB 361
BACKGROUND
On March 4, 2020, Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Both the Town and Contra Costa County have also adopted states
of emergency for the same reason. All of these declarations remain in effect. On March
17, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order N-29-20, suspending certain provisions of
the Brown Act in response to the COVD-19 pandemic. In short, those orders allowed
local governments to conduct their meetings 100% remotely, so long as members of the
public still had the ability to view, listen and comment on items on the agenda. That
Order expired on September 30, 2021. On September 15, 2021, the Governor signed into
law AB 361, an urgency measure (meaning it became effective immediately) which
largely continues the Executive Orders allowing for remote meetings.
Based on the Executive Order, the Town implemented the use of Zoom for all meetings
of the Town Council, commissions, committees and boards. This has promoted public
safety while allowing for ongoing public engagement.
DISCUSSION
AB 361 contains several requirements in order to continue the use of remote meetings.
These include:
• There must be a state of emergency declared under the California Emergency
Services Act. This effectively means the Governor must have declared the
emergency.
• During that state of emergency, either state or local officials have imposed or
recommended measures to promote social distancing, or that meeting in person
would present an imminent risk to the health or safety of attendees.
• In order to continue to utilize remote meetings, the Town Council must reconsider
the factors above every 30 days and adopt specified findings that the facts relied
upon still exist.
AB 361 Findings for Teleconferencing 2 October 5, 2021
As described above, the State of California is still under an emergency declaration
regarding COVID-19, and both state and local health officials continue to recommend
social distancing to help stop the spread of the virus. The resolution applies to all of the
Town’s legislative bodies (as defined by the Brown Act) and will remain in effect for the
next 30 days. The Town is currently in the process of upgrading technology at the Town
Meeting Hall which will allow for “hybrid” meetings, providing both live and remote
options for the public to participate in meetings. Until the new system is fully
operational, the Town will continue to review and update the findings every 30 days, in
compliance with AB 361.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Posting of the meeting agenda serves as notice to the general public.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No. 59-2021, approving the continued use of teleconferencing for the
meetings of all Town legislative bodies pursuant to the provisions of AB 361.
Prepared by:
Robert B. Ewing
City Attorney
Attachment: Resolution No. 59-2021
RESOLUTION NO. 59-2021
APPROVING THE CONTINUED USE OF TELECONFERENCING FOR THE
MEETINGS OF ALL TOWN LEGISLATIVE BODIES PURSUANT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF AB 361
WHEREAS, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor declared a State of
Emergency and subsequently adopted an Executive Order allowing the legislative bodies
of local governments to meet remotely via teleconference so long as other provisions of
the Brown Act were followed; and
WHEREAS, on September 15, 2021, the Governor signed into law as an urgency measure,
AB 361, which allows for the continued use of remote meetings by local legislative bodies
subject to certain conditions, which must be reconsidered every 30 days; and
WHEREAS, on behalf of all legislative bodies for the Town of Danville, the Danville
Town Council has considered the current state of health guidance related to public
meetings in Contra Costa County and finds it necessary to continue with remote meetings
for the next 30 days to promote public health and safety; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Danville Town Council approves the continued use of
teleconferencing for public meetings of Town legislative bodies for the next 30 days based
on the following findings required by Government Code Section 549539(e), as amended
by AB 361:
The entire State of California remains under a proclaimed state of emergency as
declared by the Governor of the State of California on March 4, 2020, related to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The California Department of Public Health continues to require the use of face
coverings in indoor settings in order to help stop the spread of the virus. The
Health Officer for Contra Costa County published “Recommendations for Safely
Holding Public Meetings” on September 20. Those recommendations “strongly
recommend” on-line meetings, that local agencies should provide options for the
public to participate without having to attend meetings in person, and that social
distancing should be used, including six feet of spacing between all in attendance.
The Town does not currently have the ability to offer “hybrid” participation
options for the public and given the physical and space constraints of the Town
Meeting Hall, social distancing is difficult without severely limiting space for
members of the public to attend.
and; be it further
RESOLVED, that this determination by the Danville Town Council shall apply to all of
the Town’s legislative bodies, as defined by the Ralph M. Brown Act. Those legislative
DocuSign Envelope ID: 47DB6748-432E-4BF0-A254-7ECFD768DE82
PAGE 2 OF RESOLUTION NO. 59-2021
bodies are:
Danville Town Council
Town Council Legislative Committee
Town Council Finance Committee
Town Council-Danville Area Chamber of Commerce liaison meeting
Planning Commission
Design Review Board
Heritage Resource Commission
Historic Design Review Committee
Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission
Arts Advisory Board
Senior Advisory Commission
APPROVED by the Danville Town Council at a regular meeting on October 5, 2021, by
the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAINED:
ABSENT:
______________________________
MAYOR
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:
_______________________________ ______________________________
CITY ATTORNEY CITY CLERK
DocuSign Envelope ID: 47DB6748-432E-4BF0-A254-7ECFD768DE82