REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 01/19/2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Office of the City Manager - Communications Division
SUBJECT:
Title
Virtual Oral Public Comments in Public Meetings.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Due to safety protocols around COVID-19, the City of Corona implemented and successfully executed virtual public meetings beginning in March 2020. As safety protocols shifted and in person meetings resumed, the option for virtual oral public comments was discontinued once the public was able to attend meetings and provide public comment in person. This request, by Mayor Wes J. Speake, is to reinstate virtual oral public comments during public meetings.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the City Council provide staff with direction on allowing virtual oral public comments during public meetings via Zoom.
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PROPOSED OPTIONS:
1. Allow virtual oral public comments during public meetings via Zoom.
2. Do NOT allow virtual oral public comments during public meetings via Zoom.
3. Allow virtual oral public comment via Zoom for a three-month trial period beginning with the February 2, 2022 City Council meeting and review the item again on May 4, 2022 for final consideration.
BACKGROUND:
Due to safety protocols around COVID-19, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-29-20 on March 17, 2020, mandating that City Hall and the meeting chambers be closed to the public and that virtual participation in public meetings be made available. Following this Order, the City of Corona implemented and successfully executed virtual public meetings. During this time, virtual public comment was offered when the City Council met virtually from April 1, 2020 - May 12, 2020, and again from December 16, 2020 - March 3, 2021. The process to submit and give virtual oral public comments required the public to submit "virtual speaker cards" via email and included a waiting period of 1-minute after every agenda item to accou...
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