Agenda Item # 3.1 - Ann Marie McCauley | Received 09/18/2023CAUTION: This email originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution
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From:Council Member Zachary Hilton
To:Public Comments
Subject:Fwd: EXTERNAL - Hybrid council meetings
Date:Saturday, September 16, 2023 1:01:35 PM
Please include the below email for Item #3.1 public comment.
Thanks.
Zach Hilton
Gilroy City Council Member
www.zachhilton.com
#HiltonForCouncil @zachhilton_ca
Begin forwarded message:
From: Ann Marie McCauley
Date: September 16, 2023 at 10:24:11 AM PDT
To: Public Comments <Public.Comments@ci.gilroy.ca.us>, All Council
Members <AllCouncilMembers@ci.gilroy.ca.us>
Subject: EXTERNAL - Hybrid council meetings
City Council, Staff and the Public,
I would like to express support for Enabling Hybrid Meetings. I have been
attending council meetings in person since January 2023. I was very surprised at
how few people attended the meetings yet how relevant the issues discussed are
to the community. I have been reaching out to many of my clients, business
associates and neighbors encouraging them to be involved. I was surprised to
learn that my senior mom and her friends all wanted to be involved but are not
willing to drive at night. Many of my clients and neighbors are working parents
with children who have a hard time leaving the home but would like to watch and
participate. With the construction of Eagle Ridge, Glen Loma and the increased
home values our demographics are changing. Many of us expect technology to be
part of our city plan. If you watch the Open Government Commissions last
meeting you can see how able the city is to offer this service. Every other city in
Santa Clara County has hybrid meetings without causing extra work for the
council or attracting droves of unrelated participants, I think it is safe to say that
this reasoning is antiquated compared to the value it brings when and if utilized.
Voting in favor of this would reflect a council that values inclusion of our elderly,
those with disabilities and busy working families. It would invite our new
community members to be part of the city government that exists for them. Best
case, more people get involved and our council accurately represents the
community. Worst case, no one uses it. Either way there’s no consequence. Not
supporting this technology will leave many of us suspicious and send the wrong
message to our community.
I do believe that all of you are honest people. I don’t think there’s anything in the
council meetings that should be hidden from a hybrid attendee, nor do I think
that’s the intention. In this instance you as council members have enormous
power. You have the ability to block citizens from participating in council
meetings in a globally accepted way or embrace the opportunity this technology
affords. I hope that when you see the community interest you vote to allow us to
participate …”so that every citizen can know and participate in democracy at the
local level.”
Sincerely,
Ann Marie McCauley