Council Approves Pilot to Revise Public Comment at Meetings and Implement Hybrid Meetings

June 22, 2022 1:01 PM

At last night’s meeting, City Council approved new rules to manage its meetings and adjust public comment procedures on a pilot basis through December 31, 2022. The new pilot follows City Council’s direction to staff to develop best practices to improve Council meeting management and allow for remote public comment. The changes to public comment go into effect at the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 28.

“By making these changes, my hope is that City Council meetings become more efficient while still allowing the community to meaningfully participate and have their voices heard,” said Santa Monica Mayor Sue Himmelrich. “We all have busy lives and personal obligations. Allowing remote public comment at Board and Commission meetings makes participating easier for everyone in our community.”

City Council approved the following actions:

1. Change the order for hearing public comment and retain the time donation to another speaker policy for in-person public comment, upon implementation of hybrid meetings.
2. Boards and Commissions will continue to meet remotely until the end of the calendar year 2022, at which time Council will revisit.
3. Implement hybrid City Council meetings beginning with the first regular Council meeting in September, pending budget approval of staffing.

City Council has adopted the following meeting format changes:

1. Set a fixed public meeting start time for regular meetings of 7 pm, with 7 pm being the set time to end closed session.
2. As a pilot through December 31, 2022, Public Input on non-agenda items will be heard at the beginning of a meeting; as well as consolidation of the following public comment at the beginning of the meeting: special items, closed session, and consent calendar. All remaining public comment on agenda items, except public hearings, will be heard after Council returns from closed session. Public comment for public hearings (items that require public notice such as appeals, zoning changes and other items required by law) will be heard when the items are called.
3. Move proclamations and other special items ahead of Closed Session.
4. Move the deadline for Councilmember Discussion Items (13 Items) to noon on Monday, eight days ahead of the Council meeting.
5. Establish quarterly updates from Council ad hoc committees.

For more information, visit santamonica.gov, call 311, or email [email protected].

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Miranda Iglesias

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