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Council adopts new agenda format to allow remote attendance and tighten public-comment rules
Summary
The council adopted Resolution 7104 to update the agenda format for SB77 compliance: adding remote call-in and Zoom access, reducing public-comment time from five to three minutes, and generally prohibiting public live video during comment periods.
The Los Banos City Council adopted Resolution 7104 on June 3 to revise the council agenda and meeting format to comply with SB77 remote-participation requirements.
The new format adds instructions for Zoom and call-in access, requires notification details and translation requests (48 hours prior), and changes the city’s public-comment rule from five minutes per speaker to three minutes, aligning Los Banos with Merced County practice. Councilmembers discussed mechanisms to limit total public-comment time on hot topics and to manage large speaker turnouts.
Council also debated whether members of the public should be allowed to broadcast live video during their comments. By council direction the adopted agenda format generally prohibits members of the public from appearing on camera during public comment; council may allow exceptions in specific circumstances. Staff added clarifying language about ‘yield/surrender’ to describe speakers ceding their time.
The resolution passed by voice vote. Staff said the updated agenda will also include references to relevant campaign contribution notices and government-code citations and will go into effect when the council returns to the council chamber.
