05-03-2022 CC RPT 10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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AB 361 Compliance • Page 2 Now, every 30 days the legislative body must reconsider the circumstances of the state of emergency and make findings that either (1) the state of emergency continues to directly impact the ability of its members to safely meet in person, or (2) that state and/or local officials continue to recommend or impose social distancing measures to continue to meet via teleconference. DISCUSSION: Government Code Section 54953 was amended to add subdivisions (e) and (f). (Attachment 1). Section 54953 subdivision (e) paragraph (3) requires the legislative body to make findings, no later than 30 days after the first teleconference and every 30 days thereafter, that (1) the body has reconsidered the circumstances of the state of emergency and (2) the state of emergency continues to directly impact the ability of its members to safely meet in person, or that state or local officials continue to recommend or impose social distancing measures. Satisfying this requirement will ensure compliance with AB 361 and allows the continued utilization of teleconferencing without having to publish each location from which a member attends via teleconference and granting physical access of that location to the public during the state of emergency. As of the date of this report, the State of California is still under a declared state of emergency. However, as of Saturday February 19, 2022, masks will no longer be required for fully vaccinated employees and visitors to most City facilities and will be in alignment with the County of Riverside and State of California guidelines. The County of Riverside Public Health website refers to the California Department of Public Heath "Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings" at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face- coverings.aspx. As of the date of this report's submittal, Cal/OSHA still recommends all individuals wear face coverings while indoors. (See https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/3205.html). Cal/OSHA rules still require unmasked persons who are not fully vaccinated to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet apart from all other persons. (See Cal/OSHA Regulations Title 8 Subchapter 7 Section 3205(c)(6)(F)). Given the ongoing state of emergency due to COVID-19 and the current recommendations and policies of various state and local agencies, the City Council may make the finding that state and/or local officials continue to recommend social distancing measures and/or that the state of the emergency continues to directly impact the ability of the members to meet safely in person. Such a finding will permit the meetings to continue in the currently hybrid format of in-person and teleconferenced meetings where members of City Council, Boards, and Commissions and the public may participate in one of several available methods without, among other things, publishing and giving public access to the address of each member attending meetings by teleconference. Should the City Council decide not to make such a finding, the open and public meetings of the City will no longer be able to utilize the teleconferencing option without compliance with the publication and access requirements of the California Government Code Section 54953 subsections (a),(b), and (c).