Commission approves charter language for remote participation and remote public comment

The Charter Review Commission approved two measures affecting meeting access and public comment: language allowing virtual attendance for commission, committee and council members, and a separate measure letting residents submit written public comments or pre‑recorded video that will be read or played as part of the official record.

Supporters said remote access lowers barriers for people who cannot attend in person and modernizes public engagement; opponents warned that virtual participation can complicate meeting logistics and expand meeting length, and some commissioners expressed concern about moderation, spamming and the staff workload required to handle high volumes of remote submissions.

The commission set a procedural requirement that pre‑submitted written comments and pre‑recorded video be submitted in advance (the commission discussed a three‑hour deadline in practice) and recommended reasonable length limits for submissions so staff can manage reading and playback during meetings. Staff said the city’s streaming setup and commercial platforms already used for meetings can support managed remote participation but that formal implementation would require additional operational guidelines and moderation roles.

What happens next: The commission approved the general charter language and asked staff to return with recommended technical rules (deadlines, file formats, moderation/ADA accommodations) and a phased implementation plan for remote public‑comment workflows.