103-B - Palo Alto Policy.pdf0
City Council Procedures Handbook
Closed Sessions can be part of regular or special n,e,-lings. Closed sessions are
the only kuid of Council ineedrig that the public cannot attend. State law allows
clod sessions to discuss pending litigation, employment issues, real estate
negotiations and certain other matters. Members of [Kc public arc .permitted to make
public comments on closed session matters, The CounciI rnu5t make a public report
after 1 he session when certain kinds of actions are taken.
These are guidelines, not rules. The Council intends that City staff and Council
Members will follow these guidelines. However, these guidelines should not be
used in a way that leads to inefficiency, unfairness, or the promotion of farm over
substance, State law establishes a variety of mandatory mcenng rules the City must
follow in order to assure open and public government, regardless of unusual
situations and consequences.
13. General Requirements.
1. Regular meetings.
a) Attendance Required. C nuinciI Members, the City Clerk, City
Attomcy, and Girt' Manager, along with any other city officers and
depariment heads that have been requested to be present, shall take
their regWar stations in the Council chamber at 7:00 p.m, on the first,
second and EWrd Mondays... of each month, except dtQing the
established Council vacation,."` The Council expects its members to
attend regularly and notify the City Clerk of any plarumed absences.
The Council may levy fines of up to $250.00 against Council
mcmbers who willfully or negligently fail to attend meetin !
(1) Telephonic Attendance Of Council Members Al
Council Meetings: The City Council Procedures
provisions concerning Telephonic Altendance shall
apply to all Boards and Commissions as well as the City
Council. Requests by Council Members to attend a
C uacil meeting via telephonic appearance are acli-yely
discouraged. Telephonic attendance shall crOy be permitted
in the event of extraordinary event% such as a medical,
family or similar emergency requiring a Council Member's
absence. In addition, at least a quorum of the Council must
participate from a location within the City (Government.
Code Section 54953(b)(3)).
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[:iry Council rloccdwas Handbook (Revised I If I7M9)
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(W City Council Procedures Handbook
If these two threshold requirement-, are met, the Council
Mernher who will be appearing telephonically must ensure
that:
a. The meeting agenda identifies the teleconference
loczdon and is posted at that location in an area that
is accessible and visible 24 hours a day for at least 72
hours prior to the rneering,
b. The teleconference location is open axed fully
accessiblc to the public, and fully accessible under
the Americans with Disabilities Act, throughout the
entire meeting. These requirements apply to private
residences, hotel rooms, and similar facilities. ali of
which must remain fully open and accessible
throughout the 'meeting, without requiring
identification or registraiion_
c, '1he teleconference technology used is open and filly
accessible to all members of the public, including
these with disabilities.
d. Members of the public who attend the meeting at the
teleconference location have the wine opportunity to
address the Council from the remote location thal
they would if they were present in Counci]
C'hambcrs_
e. The teleconference location must not require am
admission fee or any payment for attendance.
If the Council Member determines that any or all of these
requirements camiol be met, he or she shall not participate
in the meeting via teleconference,
(2) Approved 'teleconference Guidelines for Council
Members:
a_ One week advance written wtice must be given by the
Council Member to Lhe City Clerk's office; the notice muss
include the address at which the teleconferenced meeting
will rxccur, the address the Council packet should be rnai1ed
to, who is to initiate the phone call to cst�blish the
teleconference coTmection, and the phone number ul` the
teleconference location. Cellular telephones shall not be
used to participate in teleconferenced meetings.
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City CAUnSil PloeedUCS IIandbook (Revised IV17X9)