First Hybrid City Council Meeting: March 7

 Tonight is the City's first hybrid City Council meeting.   Hyperlinked version of the agenda here.

I watched some of the hybrid Planning Board meeting last week via the local access channel (Channel 15 on our cable box).  There were a few hiccups with the technology.  In particular, the screen-sharing for the broadcast went haywire at one point, so the audio continued but the entire broadcast was black - but this was only for a few moments.  I don't know how it looked on the zoom, since I don't normally join via zoom unless I want to speak up - and then I'll just call in on my phone.  

There were no non-staff members in the audience by the end of that meeting - although a few folks showed up to speak in person for the Park St. hotel item.  It seems like the convenience of viewing and commenting remotely outweighed the communal experience that many claim they miss.  

I wonder how many folks will make it back to chambers tonight, as opposed to simply calling in.   

First Hybrid Meeting with 2-27-23 Planning Board

 The Planning Board is having its first hybrid meeting tonight!  My understanding is that the Board itself is supposed to be in chambers (with limited exception) but that the public can participate in person or via zoom.  Staff from the City Clerk's Office will coordinate the power point presentations and such, and Planning Staff will have to coordinate some of the moving parts as well.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out, especially as to public comments.

Here's a link to the non-pdf list of agenda items.   I see the objective design criteria are on the agenda - which will be an important factor for City decisionmaking moving forward.  When a City's review of an action is merely to determine whether objective criteria are satisfied, then the type of decision that is made generally is considered ministerial instead of discretionary - and thus, the decision is likely not be subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act and similar laws that apply to discretionary project approvals.