HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 21-045 Policy on Remote Public ParticipationRESOLUTION NO.21-045
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SARATOGA ESTABLISHING A
REMOTE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION POLICY
WHEREAS, during the novel coronavirus pandemic, the City used a virtual meeting tool that
allowed the City Council, Council Committees, Commissions to continue holding meetings and provided
a way for the public to participate in meetings; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that public participation is a critical component of the
civic process and values the input it receives from members of the public during meetings; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to make it easier for the public to comment during meetings
by providing the public with a way to participate remotely in most public meetings of the City Council,
Council Committees, and Commissions in addition to attending meetings in person or submitting written
comments in advance of the meeting; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that it may not be feasible to provide the public with the
option to participate remotely in every City Council, Council Committee, and Commission meeting, such
as site visits;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Saratoga hereby
establishes the attached policy for remote public participation in City Council, Council Committee, and
Commission Meetings.
The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Saratoga City
Council held on the 16"' day of June 2021 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Yan Zhao, Vice Mayor Tina Walia, Council Members Mary -Lynne Bernald,
Kookie Fitzsimmons, Rishi Kumar
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Yan o, Mayor
A
DATE:
e e Bretschneider, CMC
City Clerk
CITY OF SARATOGA REMOTE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION POLICY
Adopted June 16, 2021 via Resolution 21-045
The City Council of the City of Saratoga has approved this policy concerning remote public
participation in City Council, Council Committee, and Commission Meetings.
1. City Council, Council Committee, and Commission Meetings held in the Civic Theater or
Linda Callon Conference Room must include an option for the public to participate
remotely once these rooms are equipped to allow remote participation. This requirement
does not apply in the event that remote participation technology is unexpectedly not
available (such as an internet service outage).
2. To the greatest extent possible, City Council, Council Committee, and Commission
Meetings should be scheduled to occur in either the Civic Theater or Linda Callon
Conference Room. However, the City Council recognizes that not all meetings can occur
in these two locations. For example, site visits and meetings with many attendees.
3. Council Committee and Commission regular meeting schedules and locations shall be
established to allow use of the Civic Theater or Linda Callon Conference Room to provide
the public with the option to participate in meetings remotely.
City of Saratoga Remote Public Participation Policy
(Adopted June 16, 2021 via Resolution 21-045)
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