CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council will consider whether to end virtual public input at city meetings due to concerns about inappropriate comments.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom.
The agenda can be found here.
On Thursday, the council will have a discussion with staff about the possibility of discontinuing virtual public comments at city meetings, a measure which was instituted in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
City Manager Alan Flora’s report said the emergency orders that allowed these measures were rolled back and virtual participation by City Council, commission members and others is no longer allowed, “except under very specific circumstances.”
Flora continued, “Many jurisdictions, including Clearlake, have continued the use of Zoom to allow more flexibility for public comment. Beginning largely in the fall of 2023 many jurisdictions eliminated a virtual option for public input due to the rise in inappropriate and racist comments at public meetings.”
At its Jan. 18 meeting, the council experienced the same when three individuals gave public comment through Zoom — with their cameras off and, it’s believed, under assumed names — that were antisemitic and racist, and had nothing to do with city business items on the agenda.
“Staff would like to discuss the discontinuation of allowing public comment on City business virtually. Staff recommend the Council continue to allow the use of Zoom for City consultants and contractors as appropriate,” Flora wrote.
Also on Thursday, the council will offer a proclamation declaring February 2024 as Black History Month and a presentation of the Clearlake Police Department's Annual Report.
Under other items of business, the council will consider authorizing a $20,000 amendment to the purchase contract with National Food Equipment for installation of a freezer as part of the Senior Center Kitchen Remodel Project.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants, authorization of an amendment of contract with ProEx Construction for the Senior Center Kitchen Remodel Project in the amount of $20,000, and adoption of a resolution and approval of Mayor David Claffey's appointments of Vice Mayor Joyce Overton and Councilmember Russell Perdock as members.
The council also will hold a closed session following the public portion of the meeting to discuss property negotiations for 14775 Burns Valley Road and a case of anticipated litigation.
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Clearlake City Council to consider discontinuing virtual public comments during meetings
- Elizabeth Larson
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