Agenda Item # 3.1 - Tim Davis of South County Compassion Center | Received 09/18/2023CAUTION: This email originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening
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From:Tim Davis
To:Public Comments; All Council Members
Subject:EXTERNAL - Item #3.1 Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda
Date:Monday, September 18, 2023 2:54:59 PM
Attachments:CompassionCenter_Logo_FINAL-01 (Email Signature).png
City Council, Staff, and the Public,
I support adding Enabling Hybrid Meetings to a future agenda. The OGO Commission embarked on the
hybrid public meetings initiative to further their Fiscal Year 2024- 2025 workplan and in support of the
ordinance that enacted its purpose “...so that every citizen can know and participate in democracy at the
local level” (Gilroy City Code, Chapter 17A). While some of the city’s technological capabilities to host
hybrid meetings pre-existed the COVID pandemic, the City has invested significantly in modernizing and
enhancing its conferencing capability to improve its ability to host local public meetings.
The Commission studied the hybrid public meeting environment (public attendance in-person and online)
to gauge how other municipalities in Santa Clara County leveraged their technology, procedures, and
visual aids to enhance public participation and access to local government meetings. The Commission
identified seven (7) technological benchmarks and procedural best practices for the City Councils’
consideration.
The Commission seeks to provide the City Council with an update of their analysis, highlighting how
these recommended improvements can enhance public engagement and participation while leveraging a
return on investment by enabling hybrid public meetings.
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,
Tim Davis (he/him/his)
Executive Director
South County Compassion Center
(408) 763-7120 extension 102
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