On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council voted to do away with remote meeting participation for its council meetings. This applies to both city council members and members of the public.
This means if you wish to participate, you will need to show up in person to offer commentary in public comments or on agenda items.
The council took up the item after AB 361 ended and AB 2449 was put in place. Assembly Bill 2449 (“AB 2449”), effective as of January 1, 2023, permits a non-majority number of legislative body members to utilize teleconferencing participation for meetings without complying to the traditional Brown Act requirements. On February 28, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation terminating the state’s COVID-19 State of Emergency, as previously announced in October.
According to Attorney Thomas Smith, the question is whether the council wants to take advantage of telecommunications accommodating provided by AB 2449 or strictly in person meetings—special accommodations are provided to individuals under ADA laws.
Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock asked the City Attorney to clarify what this means for the public participation.
Smith explained if the council chooses teleconferencing, the public can still teleconference (call in or audio/visual).
Councilmember Mike Barbanica was not for continuing to allow teleconferencing.
“I am not for this, I haven’t been for this. COVID is over and we can come here and meet in person,” stated Barbanica. “I do not support this and haven’t for some time. These should be in person meeting and councilpersons should be here in person face to face with the public.”
Mayor Lamar Thorpe pointed out this prevents you from doing the noticing in the hotel rooms if you are traveling—the public noticing of the meeting, where you are at, what hotel number you are in while posting it at your hotel room and the lobby of the hotel.
“I am for just going back to normal,” said Thorpe.
The council then voted 3-0 not to adopt AB 2449 and to do away with remote participation. This will also apply to all city commission and committee meetings.
Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker and Councilmember Monica Wilson were both absent from the meeting.
Editors Note:
This is 100% the correct move and every single elected body in the state should be doing away with this remote participation silliness with the exception of ADA when applicable. You want to participate, go to a meeting and no more bird dogging elected officials from a cell phone or zoom call while wasting everyone’s time.
3 comments
So much to say about this, but it’s too long. With this in mind, the city needs to start posting the agenda within a reasonable timeframe. Same day posting does not work for the community and people who care. I’ve noticed this behavior consistently. Don’t they have a timeframe to follow?
Among its many other defects, there seems to ongoing “attendance problems” on the part of Council members. If members can’t or won’t show up for meetings, they should resign.
Why? This will reduce the amount of people that can see what the council is doing. Covid is not over, it’s the number 3 cause of death in the US.
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