Agenda Item # 3.1 - Jan Bernstein Chargin | Received 09/18/2023CAUTION: This email originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening
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From:Jan Bernstein Chargin
To:+AllCouncilMembers@cityofgilroy.org; Public Comments
Subject:EXTERNAL - Item #3.1 Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda
Date:Sunday, September 17, 2023 1:37:48 AM
City Council, Staff, and the Public,
I strongly support adding Enabling Hybrid Meetings to a future agenda, as requested by
Gilroy’s Open Government Commission.
Hybrid meetings provide ACCESS to citizens who are unable to participate in person yet still
wish to be heard. This includes people with mobility limitations, those in hospitals and nursing
homes, parents of young children, residents who must travel for work, and others. The fear
that individuals who do not reside in Gilroy might occasionally offer comments (as is their
right) does not outweigh the significant benefit of increasing access for Gilroy residents.
Full participation is the stated goal of Gilroy’s City Code in its Open Government Ordinance:
“...so that every citizen can know and participate in democracy at the local level” (Gilroy City
Code, Chapter 17A).
During the COVID pandemic, Gilroy invested significantly in modernizing and enhancing our
conferencing capability. We can still benefit from this investment.
The Open Government Commission has now studied the data that includes these hybrid
meetings, comparing public attendance in-person and online, and researched how other cities
in Santa Clara County have continued to provide access through hybrid meetings.
They have identified seven (7) technological benchmarks and procedural best practices for the
City Councils’ consideration.
The Open Government Commission seeks to present these findings to the City Council and
the public. These recommended improvements can enhance public engagement, participation,
and access.
After hearing the presentation the council will have the ability to consider which, if any,
recommendations to follow.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council approves agendizing the Commission’s topic to
Enabling Hybrid Public Meetings to allow the Council to receive a 20-minute briefing on
enacting the Commission’s seven (7) recommendations. The goal of the City of Gilroy’s Open
Government Ordinance (OGO) is to give the citizens of Gilroy greater access to information
and to allow for more public participation in City governmental decisions. Because the City
Council believes that governmental transparency is paramount for the people of Gilroy to
remain in control of their government, this ordinance gives Gilroy’s citizens more access to
governmental processes and public information in a timelier manner. Overall, this legislation
allows the citizens of Gilroy to be more informed and involved in the processes of local
government.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jan Bernstein Chargin
Gilroy resident
7350 Maple St, Gilroy, CA 95020
(408)843-8691