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Open Government Commission praises outreach week, approves online ordinance training and translation steps
Summary
The commission reviewed its Open Government Week activities (Nov. 17–21), endorsed posting ordinance training online with FAQs, and agreed to pursue translation/ADA compliance tied to SB707; election of chair and vice chair was deferred to the next meeting.
The Open Government Commission reviewed its Open Government Week after-action report and agreed to post ordinance training online and expand translation and FAQ resources to improve public access.
Chair Samovia said the week (Nov. 17–21) included a mayoral proclamation, a group photo and several public engagement activities — including a table in the library lobby and an outreach event at the Free Speech Pavilion at Gavilan College — that helped residents learn how to address council and file public comment. "We did a group photo. We also had a table out front for public engagement," Samovia said.
Commissioners highlighted a conversation with a participant from Carry the Vision who had not known how to present comments to council; staff said those interactions showed a need for accessible guidance. Commissioners asked staff to add a final slide to the recorded ordinance training with a contact link and instructions for submitting questions and to maintain a running FAQ alongside the posted video.
Staff and commissioners discussed making the recorded training, previously presented to the council and posted on the boards-and-commissions page, the commission's official orientation resource. Bryce and other staff said they will post the updated training, add a slide directing viewers to the open-government email routed through the city clerk for questions, and begin compiling FAQs for future updates.
The commission also discussed translation and SB707 implementation. Staff said the city is developing website translation capacity to meet SB707-related requirements for agenda translation and to improve ADA access. Commissioners agreed to monitor the city’s implementation and to bring additional concerns to council correspondence if outside action is needed.
Selection of the 2026 chair and vice chair was deferred so the newly appointed commissioner can participate at the next meeting. The commission plans to present its annual report to council in November and to make Open Government Week an annual event.
The commission did not take a binding vote on the training or translation steps; staff will post the revised materials and route public questions to the clerk for follow-up.
