Public participation options expand for County boards and commissions
SAN JOSE – Since the return of in-person Board of Supervisors meetings at the start of 2023 the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has been wrestling with the challenge of providing remote public participation for all County Boards and Commissions that are subject to the Brown Act (the State’s open meeting law). Public participation for other Board and Commission meetings has been mostly limited to in-person only. Potentially as soon as this August, members of the public will be able to attend in-person or watch online via a web portal. They will also be able to make public comment in person, online or by phone.
Until recently, technology gaps and facility limitations have meant that only meetings of the Board of Supervisors and its policy Committees have allowed for remote public participation. The move to provide remote participation was welcomed by County Supervisor Joe Simitian, who was among those Board members pushing for the accommodation.
“Frankly, it’s been frustrating,” said Simitian. “In the midst of the pandemic we used new technologies because we had to. We didn’t have a choice really. But now we know, we have the tools if only we’ll use them – use them to engage more people more conveniently. The ‘new normal’ looks a bit different, and candidly, our County wasn’t as quick to pivot as we should have been. There was some bureaucratic back and forth, but I think at this point it’s all been sorted out and adequately funded. Public participation isn’t something it’s just nice to have, it’s essential to democratic governance.”
Over the summer, the County will acquire the necessary hardware and train existing staff to begin remote public participation. The County will also hire two staff members for the Office of the Clerk of the Board and a multi-media specialist for the Technology Services and Solutions department.
“The County’s Boards and Commissions are made up of dedicated volunteers that do good and important work. State law mandates that Commissions and Boards meet in person, and that will continue,” said Simitian, who pushed for the additional funding. “But many members of the public live far from the County Government Center in San Jose. Many folks have work or family commitments. Or commuting challenges. And some folks have difficulty with mobility. For them, the only practical way to participate in these meetings is remotely.”
“All of our Boards and Commissions benefit from public participation,” said George Tyson, Commissioner of the Los Altos Hills County Fire District and Los Altos Hills Councilmember. “Broader public input and feedback help us make better decisions, and with this measure we can access the talents of many more of our residents.”
“In the digital age, and post COVID, the public’s come to expect remote public participation. And that’s a good thing; it’s entirely reasonable. We want folks engaged with their governments including the County’s 52 Boards and Commissions. And we ought to make it as easy as possible for folks to watch, listen, and comment,” Simitian noted.