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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1AA Public CommentAnthony Mejia From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Kalyn Dean <KDean@acluca.org> Thursday, May 27, 2021 5:02 PM City Clerk 5.27.21 City Council Public Comment AB 339 (Lee) Sign on Letter_Draft.pdf; AB 339 Fact Sheet.pdf NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs --DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Good evening, Chair and Members of the Palm Springs City Council. My name is Kalyn Dean, with ACLU California Action, calling to respectfully ask you to support Assembly Bill 339. This bill will protect the public's right to participate in the governmental decision-making process at some local agencies through expanded opportunities to join public meetings and make public comment via remote technology. All California governments should embrace the adaptations that some local governments have made since the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure that public meetings are more accessible for more people through continued remote participation, both during and following the pandemic. AB 339 would allow for continued remote participation in City Council and County Board of Supervisor meetings in jurisdictions with populations over 250,000, so more people can participate in government meetings and decisions. We hope the Palm Springs City Council will embrace transparency and preserve remote access to public meetings. Thank you for your consideration. ACIIJ CALIFORNIA ACTION Kalyn Dean Legislative Advocate Pronouns: she/her/hers (916) 620-9691 I kdean@acluca.org @ACLU CalAction I aclucalaction.org 1 51z,/z,1 l¼h ITllMNO. ~ May 17, 2021 The Honorable Alex Lee California State Capitol, Room 2170 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Assemblymember Lee: RE: AB 339 (Lee) Public Participation As Amended 5/4 -SUPPORT We, the undersigned elected officials, write in strong support of Assembly Bill 339 by Assemblymember Alex Lee and the public's right to participate in the local governmental decision-making process through expanded opportunities to join public meetings and make public comment via telephonic and internet-based service options. Geographic, economic and other barriers -especially for rural and working-class communities who may lack travel options or not be able to take the time to travel to meetings typically held during the daytime, as well as for folks with mobility issues where travel may be difficult and burdensome -prevent many Californians from engaging in local government. These communities deserve a seat at the decision-making table and a voice in policy decisions that affect them, and it is the responsibility of the government to facilitate their participation. Existing law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, requires, with specified exceptions, that all meetings of a legislative body of a local agency be open and public and that all persons be permitted to attend and participate. AB 339 would enhance public participation and expand access by ensuring that constituents in larger jurisdictions have opportunities to join and comment at open and public city council and county board of supervisor meetings, in-person and remotely. Despite concerns that local governments might incur substantial costs to comply with the bill, and contentions that they are too fiscally strapped to do so, many agencies covered by the measure have already voluntarily met the standards set out in the bill, even before they received the large influx of federal stimulus funds authorized this year. There are also cost-effective ways to meet compliance, such as using a phone to livestream to Youtube or Facebook. Ultimately, we understand these requirements may impose additional costs, but we believe that costs should not be a barrier for members of the public to be civically engaged and informed. While we believe that AB 339 makes important strides toward public participation for the largest jurisdictions, we would also support including additional local agencies in all jurisdictions. Furthermore, while AB 339 does not currently require translation services, we strongly encourage continued exploration of a translation and interpretation service requirement for all jurisdictions in order to ensure all Californians can equally participate in the political process. During the COVID-19 pandemic, remote meetings have provided a unique opportunity for Californians across the state to better participate in local government meetings and give their input on important decisions regarding school reopening, housing, and public health. The past year has shown us how technology can be utilized to expand access and engagement with local government, and AB 339 builds on these gains of the past year to maintain and provide this access to more Californians now and once meetings return to in-person. ITEM NO. ____ _ Remote options that ensure equitable access to public meetings are necessary to ensure a government that is accountable to all of its constituents, not just a select few. Our democracy functions best when everyone is able to participate equally, and AB 339 makes important progress towards this goal. For these reasons, we support AB 339. Sincerely, Jon Wizard Member, Seaside City Council Zach Hilton Member, Gilroy City Council Bonnie Lieberman Governing Board Member, Santa Clara Unified School District Rita Loof Member, San Bernardino County Board of Education, Area B Vickie Fairchild Governing Board Member, Santa Clara Unified School District ALEX LEE ASSEMBL YMEMBER, TWENTY-FIFTH DISTRICT ASSEMBLY BILL 339 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SUMMARY This bill would allow for continued remote participation in City Council and County Board of Supervisor meetings in jurisdictions with populations over 250,000, so more people can participate in government meetings and decisions. BACKGROUND Laws governing public participation for local agencies all require certain processes for members of the public to participate at open and public meetings. However, participation is often limited to those who are able to travel to meetings to speak in-person, and to those who speak and read English. These requirements, along with inconsistent language access standards, often preclude immigrants, working families, low-income, and differently-abled people from participating. While COVID-19 precautions have increased usage of remote participation options, not all agencies allow for effective remote participation. Additionally, there is frequently confusion over how to access meetings through remote technology options. The lack of timely notification and clear instructions reinforces obstacles. THE PROBLEM COVID-19 has exacerbated existing barriers that prevent people from participating in one of our democracy's greatest features -public discourse designed to inform the rules and policies that govern us. In addition, linguistic, physical, and geographic isolation prevents constituents from exercising their civic duties, which limits our governing bodies from achieving their full potential. SOLUTION AB 339 would protect the public's access to government, both during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill would ensure that: • City Council and County Board of Supervisor meetings provide either a call-in or internet-based option for all public meetings so constituents can participate either remotely or in-person. • Meeting agendas and instructions for accessing meetings remotely are posted in a timely and accessible manner. SUPPORT Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability(Co-sponsor) ACLU CA Action(Co-sponsor) Abundant Housing LA ACT for Women and Girls Alianza Coachella Valley Alliance for Children's Rights Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) Arts for Healing and Justice Network Asian Americans Advancing Justice -CA Asian Law Alliance BetTzedek Business for Good San Diego California Association of Nonprofits California Common Cause California Domestic Workers Coalition California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) California Institute for Rural Studies California League of Conservation Voters California News Publishers Association (CNPA) California Safe Schools California Teachers Association California Work & Family Coalition California YIMBY Californians Aware: The Center for Public Forum Rights Californians for Justice Californians for Pesticide Reform Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment Central California Asthma Collaborative Central California Environmental Justice Network Central Valley Air Quality Coalition Child Care Law Center Citizens for Choice Nevada County Clean Water Action Climate Action Campaign Climate Plan Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE) Courage California Cultiva La Salud Culver City For More Homes Dignity and Power Now Dolores Huerta Foundation Drug Policy Alliance Ella Baker Center for Human Rights Fairmead Community & Friends Faith in the Valley First Amendment Coalition Fresno Barrios Unidos Fresno Building Healthy Communities Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce Friends of Caltrain Generation Up Gente Organizada Greenbelt Alliance Hammond Climate Solutions Hmong Innovating Politics Housing California Housing Is A Human Right -Orange County Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County INDIVISIBLE CA: Statestrong INDIVISIBLE District 46 Inland Congregations United for Change Inland Equity Partnership Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity Jakara Movement Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay Justice LA Justice Network La Defensa League of Women Voters of CA LBGTQ Center Orange County Life Eldercare Los Angeles Sunshine Coalition Mental Health Advocacy Services Mi Familia Vota NAACP Riverside NAMI Greater Los Angeles County NextGen CA NOlympics LA Nourish CA Nuestra Casa Orange County Emergency Response Coalition Orange County Equality Coalition People for Housing -Orange County People's Budget Orange County People's Collective for Environmental Justice People's Homeless Task Force Orange County Pesticide Action Network Planning and Conservation League PolicyLink Ponoma Economic Opportunity Center Public Advocates Pueblo Unido CDC Root & Rebound San Diego Schools San Francisco Senior & Disability Action Seamless Bay Area Senior & Disability Action Silicon Valley Community Foundation South County Homeless Task Force The California Children's Trust Time for Change Foundation TODEC Legal Center Unite Here Local 11 United Food and Commercial Workers, Western States Council Voices for Progress Western Center on Law & Poverty White People 4 Black Lives Women for: Orange County VALLA Indivisible YIMBY Action Youth Justice Education Clinic, Loyola Law School #YouTooMovement Andrae Gonzales, Bakersfield City Council Bonnie Lieberman, Santa Clara Unified Board Trustee Bryan Ososio, Mayor of Delano Daniel Penaloza, Porterville City Council Hilda Solis, LA County Supervisor Jon Wizard, Seaside City Council Katie Valenzuela, Sacramento City Council Rigel Robinson, Berkeley City Council Rita Loof, San Bernardino County Board of Education Vickie Fairchild, Santa Clara Unified School District Zach Hilton, Gilroy City Council CONTACT Allison Lim, Chief of Staff Office of Assemblymember Alex Lee 916-319-2025 I Allison.lim@asm.ca.gov