Board of Trustees and All Other Public Meetings Convene Online Using Zoom
By Caoilinn Goss
cgoss2@mail.ccsf.edu
Staff Writer
All meetings of public bodies transitioned to online sessions via Zoom video conferencing in compliance with Mayor London Breed’s citywide shelter in place order on March 16.
This includes meetings of The City’s Board of Supervisors and the City College Board of Trustees (BOT). Activist groups such as the Higher Education Action Team (HEAT) have held meetings via Zoom as well.
Digital meetings are permissible under Executive Order N-29-20 issued by Governor Gavin Newsom on March 12. The order amended the Brown Act to allow public bodies to meet online as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.
Most of the Brown Act requirements remain in place under the new order, such as the expectation that agendas be made public at least 72 hours in advance as well as the conditions for meeting quorum.
The new requirements still allocate time for public comment, most frequently submitted via email and read aloud by members of the governing bodies rather than by the commenters themselves.
The BOT’s first foray into videoconferencing, the March 19 Board Facilities Master Planning and Oversight Committee Meeting transpired without any major issues. The first regular meeting of the Board via Zoom was on March 26.
Trustees heard public comment at both meetings via emails read aloud by Linda Shaw, a liaison to the BOT. During the March 26 meeting, a participant expressed difficulty hearing Shaw’s recitation, but otherwise there were very few technical difficulties.
A recording of both meetings can be found, along with archived sessions as before, on the City College website.
The Board will hold a Town Hall meeting with Interim Chancellor Dianna Gonzales via Zoom on Tuesday, April 7 at 6 p.m. in order to field questions and concerns from the City College community.
Participants who do not have the Zoom app can join the meeting by phone at 1 (669) 900-6833.
Town Hall questions must be submitted in advance by emailing publiccomment@ccsf.edu or by using this form before midnight on April 6.