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The ability for residents to comment at Santa Clara County Boards and Commissions meetings is at risk. The end of the state’s emergency pandemic order is resulting in members of those bodies going back to meeting in person. The County can, however, continue to allow members of the public to provide public comment virtually. Please ask County Supervisors to extend remote public participation to key Boards and Commissions. 

What’s Happening

During the COVID state of emergency, public bodies like City Councils and Boards of Supervisors were permitted to conduct meetings remotely – something that is normally very difficult to do under the Brown Act. The COVID state of emergency is expiring at the end of February, at which point the elected and appointed officials will have to go back to attending those meetings in person. However, the Brown Act does not prohibit these bodies from allowing members of the public to participate remotely for purposes of making public comment. Some cities and counties will continue to allow remote public participation and some will not. Santa Clara County announced that they would allow remote public participation for Board of Supervisors meetings and for five Board policy committees. The Supervisors appear to be supportive of extending remote public participation to some boards and/or commissions, but a decision may not be made for months and the outcome is not guaranteed.

Why It Matters

Some County Boards and Commissions have authority to make final decisions, make high impact recommendations, or are likely to be of great interest to diverse communities. This includes the Planning Commission. It is critical that the public have the opportunity to comment to such Boards and Commissions. Remote public participation fosters equity for the following reasons:

• With the widest range of virtual options, people like busy parents and caregivers, those working two jobs, and those without transportation can provide input without having to commute to downtown San Jose. The elimination of a virtual option would create a hardship for some and likely reduce community engagement and the diversity of participants.
• Providing virtual options also makes meetings accessible for those with certain disabilities and older adults, including those unable to risk their health by attending in-person meetings.
• The negative effects of eliminating virtual options would especially affect communities of color.

The more people that emphasize the need to extend remote public participation, the more likely the Supervisors will choose to provide it for some Boards and Commissions.

What You Can Do

Send an email to County Supervisors asking them to extend remote public participation to some Boards and Commissions to allow as many people as possible to be able to participate, thereby promoting equity, inclusion, and the diversity of participants.