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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 attachments, clicking links, or responding to this email. 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