Title
Minutes of the January 29, 2024 Meeting
Body
MINUTES OF THE OPEN GOVERNMENT COMMISSION MEETING
MONDAY - - - JANUARY 29, 2024 - - - 7:00 P.M.
Chair Chen convened the meeting at 7:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL - Present: Commissioners Miyao, Sullivan, Tilos and Chair Chen - 4.
Absent: Commissioner Miley - 1.
[Staff present: Assistant City Attorney Jason Allen; Assistant City Attorney I Montague Hung; Special Counsel Michael Roush; Deputy City Attorney II Doug McManaway; City Clerk Lara Weisiger; Planning Manager Steven Buckley]
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
COMPLAINT HEARINGS
3-A. Hearing on Sunshine Ordinance Complaint Filed on December 5, 2023
Paul Foreman, Complainant, gave an Opening Statement and Presentation of Facts.
The Assistant City Attorney gave an Opening Statement and Presentation of Facts.
Mr. Foreman gave a Reply to the City/Respondent Opening Statement and Presentation of Facts.
Commissioners asked questions and the Assistant City Attorney, the City Clerk, and Mr. Foreman provided responses.
Speakers:
Zac Bowling, Alameda, discussed Assembly Bill 2449; stated hybrid public comment was fully intentional; he does not see an issue with the way anything was noticed and there was no violation.
Carmen Reid, Alameda, stated that she supports the Complainant's claim that the City violated the Brown Act by preventing the public from participating in remote public comment for non-agenda items; urged the Commission to comply in the spirit of open government.
Shelby Sheehan, Alameda, stated it would be worth a public discussion to see whether the public thinks non-agenda public comment should be via Zoom; the intent of the Sunshine Ordinance goes farther than the Brown Act.
Jay Garfinkle, Alameda, stated that he supports the Complainant; the blocking of public comment via Zoom during non-agenda items is only to prevent hateful zoom bombing; staff, including the Mayor, is not permitted to make the pronouncements made.
Matt Reid, Alameda,...
Click here for full text