Huntington Beach City Council meetings switched off the option for making public comments virtually as of Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Councilmember Natalie Moser tried Tuesday night to have the option reinstated, but the council majority of Mayor Tony Strickland and councilmembers Pat Burns, Casey McKeon and Gracey Van Der Mark instead supported a return to the council’s pre-coronavirus meeting procedures.
Strickland has increased the time allotted for community members who attend meetings to make public comments to 3 minutes for each person, up from 1 minute.
“I think it is important people show up,” he said, pointing out along with McKeon that there are a variety of ways for people to view the meetings and communicate their thoughts with the council.
More than a dozen Orange County cities also don’t allow comments to be delivered virtually online through Zoom or a similar program.
“I do believe the expansion of public participation through technology was one of those things that was a positive outcome (of the pandemic),” Moser said. “We should never be taking away the ability of people to actively and robustly participate in our government.”
If community members submit email comments at City.Council@surfcity-hb.org by 2 p.m. the day of meetings, they will be shared with the council in time for the meeting, but will not be read out loud. All comments received are entered into the public record.
Those wishing to speak in person must fill out a form with the City Clerk at the meeting.
Meetings can be watched on the city’s website and cable channel, as well as on social media and YouTube.
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