Council can continue allowing remote speakers, with restrictions

After much back and forth, Mayor Steve Adler says audio testimony may continue at city meetings, per the city legal department. In a post on the City Council Message Board, Adler said audio testimony can resume at Council’s Sept. 30 meeting, but will necessitate “batching” of speakers. Throughout the pandemic, Council has heard public testimony on its own, divorced from agenda items. Adler said that would continue if audio testimony continues, as “(t)aking up the speakers during the discussion of a pulled item is challenging when we have remote speakers.” In addition, if remote speakers are allowed, speaker signup will continue to close the day before the meeting both for in-person and remote speakers, instead of allowing the public to sign up on meeting days.