Title
Adoption of Uncodified Urgency Ordinance Continuing the Suspension During the Local Emergency due to the COVID-19 Pandemic of Certain Provisions of the City's "Sunshine Ordinance" to the Extent Inconsistent with Assembly Bill No. 361 and Executive Order N-15-21 of the Governor of the State of California Arising from the State of Emergency Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic [Requires four affirmative votes]; and
Recommendation to Approve Findings to Allow City Meetings to be Conducted via Teleconference. (City Clerk 10022020/City Attorney 10023040)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Every 30 days, the City Council must make certain findings in order to continue to conduct City of Alameda (City) meetings via teleconference, as they have been conducted since March 2020.
BACKGROUND
The City has been holding meetings via teleconference since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Order N-08-21 suspended certain Ralph M. Brown Act requirements expiring on September 30, 2021. On September 16, 2021, the Governor signed Assembly Bill No. 361 - Open Meetings: State and Local Agencies (AB 361), taking effect immediately, authorizing local agencies to conduct meetings via teleconference without complying with certain requirements imposed by the Brown Act. On September 20, 2021, the Governor issued Executive Order N-15-21 clarifying that cities and counties could continue conducting meetings in this way if certain findings are made.
This agenda report and the urgency ordinance are being presented so meetings can continue to be conducted via teleconference, notwithstanding certain provisions of the Brown Act and the City's Sunshine Ordinance.
DISCUSSION
AB 361, recently signed by the Governor, requires the City Council to make findings (set forth below) every 30 days to continue conducting meetings via teleconference without complying with certain requirements imposed by the Brown Act, such as the agenda li...
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