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[ROLL CALL]
PRESENT VICE CHAIR.COMMISSIONER WILLIAM PATTERSON.
COMMISSIONER MORGAN WHEELER HERE.
AND, UH, COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE QUORUM.
I WAS JUST ANNOUNCING THAT WE HAVE QUORUM.
UM, WE'LL MOVE INTO THE REGULAR AGENDA, A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION COMMISSION MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH, 2026.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MINUTES? UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NONE SEEN.
[1. 26-55503 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Technology and Innovation Commission meeting of Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
MOTION CARRIES.ITEM NUMBER TWO, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND PLEASE? MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CALLAHAN.
AND SECOND IN BY VICE CHAIR WOODMAN NAZ.
UM, I HAND IT TO THE, DO WE HAVE A DIRECTOR? WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
[2. 26-55504 Recommendation to receive and file Director’s Report. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
NAME IS MEREDITH REYNOLDS AND I'M THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY.
UM, THIS IS MY 83RD DAY IN THE ROLE
SO, UH, IN THIS CONTEXT, UM, I AM HERE, UH, TO BE A CARETAKER FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE WORK, UH, THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING, UH, WHILE WE, UH, AS A CITY RECRUIT AND HIRE A PERMANENT, UH, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DIRECTOR.
UM, UH, MYSELF, AS A WAY OF BACKGROUND, UH, INTRODUCTION TO YOU ALL, UM, I'VE LONG BEEN A PARTNER AND PARTICIPANT IN T'S INITIATIVES AND MY CAREER WORKING IN SEVERAL CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, AND IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
SOME OF THESE ROLES HAS HAD ME WORKING IN A LEAD CAPACITY AND ADVANCING CITYWIDE TECHNOLOGY EFFORTS, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE MODERNIZATION OF PERMITTING AND LAND MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND DIGITAL SERVICES, UM, AND OTHER WORK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING COVID, UH, PANDEMIC, I ASSISTED IN STANDING UP THE CITY'S COVID-19 TESTING AND LATER VACCINATION PROGRAMS, UH, WITH A VARIETY OF OTHER TEAM MEMBERS.
AND THAT SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED THE TECHNOLOGY THAT SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS AND SHARED INFORMATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UM, MY, UH, UH, REGULAR ROLE IS AS DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, ONE OF SEVERAL IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
AND IN MY PORTFOLIO, UH, OF GROWTH AND RESILIENCE INCLUDES INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE AND EXPAND THE CITY'S LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY CAPACITY AND MODERNIZATION, WHICH INCLUDES A VARIETY OF TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES.
UH, SO FOR EXAMPLE, I'VE SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE SMART CITY INITIATIVE, OUR CITY'S COLAB, UH, PROGRAM.
AND I'M A SPONSOR OF ONE OF THE PROJECTS THIS YEAR, UM, OUR PITCH LONG BEACH PROGRAM.
I'VE ALSO LED THE DEVELOPMENT ART OF OUR LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT DATA DASHBOARD AND OUR CLIMATE DATA PORTAL, UM, AS WELL AS HELPS ADVANCE THE CITY'S USE OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, UH, THINGS LIKE AUTOMATION, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, BY PILOTING TOOLS ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, SO I'VE HAD SUCH A WARM WELCOME FROM OUR TEAM IN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION, AND I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSION TODAY.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME, AND I'M HERE, UH, AND AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, UH, FOR YOU ALL, UH, ON MY BACKGROUND.
BUT I DO HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
UM, WE, UH, HISTORICALLY, I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE SHOW AND TELL HERE, UH, FILL OUT THESE, AND, AND SOME OF YOU MAY SEE THESE, THESE ARE OUR GREEN PAPER TIMECARDS, RIGHT? SO THIS IS HOW WE, UH, CATEGORIZE ALL OF THE HOURS SPENT ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
UM, AND FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME, SINCE I'VE WORKED FOR THE CITY, THAT HAS BEEN THE STANDARD.
UM, WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE AND HAVE BEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME INTO THE MODERN AGE OF, UH, DIGITAL TIME CARDS.
AND SO WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED PHASE ONE OF THE TOP UPLAND TIME ENTRY PROJECT.
UH, AND THAT IS OUR DIGITAL WAY OF NOW, UH, CALCULATING AND COLLECTING OUR TIME AND BEING ABLE TO SUBMIT THAT FOR APPROVAL, UH, THROUGH THE PROPER SUPERVISOR APPROVAL PROCESS.
SO WE'VE ROLLED THAT OUT WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, AND OUR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND PHASE TWO, UH, WHICH IS COMING IN A FEW MONTHS, WE'LL INCLUDE HUMAN RESOURCES, CITY MANAGER.
AND THEN THE FOLLOWING, UH, MONTH WILL BE THE, UH, VAST MAJORITY OF THE REST OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY.
SO, FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE WORKED HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, UH, WE ARE REJOICING THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO USE PAPER TIME CARDS ANYMORE.
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UH, AND I'VE WORKED FOR OTHER, UH, ANOTHER CITY.I WORKED FOR THE CITY OF IRVINE, WHERE WE HAD THE ELECTRONIC TIME CARDS.
UM, AND, AND THEY WERE, UH, REALLY EFFICIENT AND FAST WAY TO PROPERLY, UH, UH, CATEGORIZE YOUR TIME.
AND SO THIS MEANS NO MORE PAPER, GREEN PAPER TIME SHEETS FOR STAFF AND THE PROCESSING OF ALL OF THAT PAPER, AND WE'RE ABLE TO DIGITIZE AND AUTOMATE A LOT OF THOSE PROCESSES.
SO OUR TEAM IS REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING SMALL, UH, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WITH A CITY OF MORE THAN 6,000 EMPLOYEES, DIFFERENT SCHEDULES, FIELD STAFF, OFFICE STAFF CAN BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO.
UM, AND SO THIS EASY AND MODERN METHOD OF TRACKING OUR TIME, UM, IS OUR NEW WAY FORWARD.
AND SO THE TEAM IS REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
UM, ALSO WANNA SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR, UM, CITYWIDE HIRING DASHBOARD.
SO, UM, IF YOU, UH, RECALL LAST MAY, THE CITY COMPLETED THE MERGER OF OUR CIVIL SERVICE AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENTS THROUGH A CHANGE OF THE CITY CHARTER CALLED MEASURE JB.
UM, THIS, UH, WAS A, UH, APPROVED BY VOTERS AND REFORMED THE 109 YEAR OLD HIRING SYSTEM, MERGING THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS INTO ONE, CREATING LOCAL HIRING PREFERENCES, UM, PRESERVING EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND APPEALS, AND MODERNIZING, UH, A A VARIETY OF OTHER PIECES OF OUR HIRING SYSTEM.
UM, AND AS A PART OF THAT EFFORT, WE REALLY SET A GOAL OF HIRING MOST POSITIONS ON AVERAGE WITHIN 90 BUSINESS DAYS.
AND PRIOR TO THE MERGER, UM, HIRING ON AVERAGE TOOK ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS.
AND FOR SOME POSITIONS, THE REALITY WAS, UH, MANY TOOK OVER A YEAR AND SOMETIMES EVEN INTO TWO.
UH, SO WE HAD THIS GOAL OF 90 DAYS, AND WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR US TO BE AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE AND TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE COULD FILL VACANCIES QUICKLY.
SO WE COULD DO VERY SIMPLE THINGS LIKE PICK UP TRASH AND OPEN LIBRARIES AND OFFER SUMMER PROGRAMS IN OUR PARKS.
UM, AND SO WE HAD A PRESENTATION RECENTLY WITH OUR HR DEPARTMENT AND OUR CITY MANAGER, UM, AT COUNCIL THAT ANNOUNCED THAT OUR NEW COMBINED SYSTEM HAS ACHIEVED ITS GOAL.
SO WE NOW HAVE AN AVERAGE TIME TO HIRE ACROSS CLASSIFIED POSITIONS, UH, 90.29 BUSINESS DAYS DOWN FROM THAT SEVEN MONTH PERIOD, THE REQUISITION APPROVAL PROCESS, UM, WHICH IS REALLY THE, THE, UM, THE TRIGGER FOR HIRING A NEW EMPLOYEE IS NOW AN AVERAGE OF, UH, 9.7 DAYS DOWN FROM 20.9 DAYS.
UH, OUR COMMUNITY CENTER HIRING PREFERENCES, UM, CENTERED HIRING PREFERENCES STARTED LAST OCTOBER, AND WE'VE HAD 22 RECRUITMENTS WITH 247 CANDIDATES, UH, THAT QUALIFY FOR THOSE, UH, LOCAL HIRE PREFERENCE POINTS.
UM, AND OUR VACANCY RATES AS A CITY HAVE DROPPED, UH, FROM 22% TO ABOUT 16 POINT 0.4%.
AND SO ALL OF THOSE STATS ARE, YOU KNOW, UH, FOR US, IMPRESSIVE IN THEIR OWN RIGHT AND SOMETHING THAT WE WERE VERY COMMITTED TO DOING AS A CITY.
UH, BUT WITH LIKE, UH, MANY OF OUR CITY'S SUCCESSES, TAD IN THE BACKGROUND CONTRIBUTES GREATLY TO THAT.
UH, AND SO OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, UH, AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS OF OUR BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE TEAM, UM, WHO CREATED THE VACANCY DASHBOARD.
AND SO THIS VISUALIZES A LOT OF THIS DATA.
SO YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE VISIBILITY INTO THE METRICS FOR AVERAGE TIME TO HIRE, VACANCY RATES, REQUISITION APPROVAL, AND THEY'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO MERGE ALL OF THESE MULTIPLE SOURCES OF DATA THAT EXIST IN THE BACK END OF OUR SYSTEMS, UM, TO CREATE THAT MEANINGFUL VISUAL THAT REALLY HELPS US, UH, DEMONSTRATE SUCCESS AND COMMITMENT TO WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD DO, UH, DURING MEASURE JB AS A CITY.
UM, AND ALSO THAT HELPS US DRIVE FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROCESS, UH, IN THROUGH THOSE BUSINESS DECISIONS.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR DIGITAL LEARN AND EARN PROGRAM.
UM, THAT IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, THROUGH OUR DIGITAL, UH, SKILLS PROGRAMS AND THE OFFICE OF DIGITAL EQUITY.
UH, AND SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE RUN AS THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND THE MOST RECENT ONES, UH, WERE AT BILLIE JEAN KING, MAIN LIBRARY AND MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY.
UH, AND THE GOAL THERE WAS TO TRAIN 90 PARTICIPANTS AND GIVE OUT 90 COMPUTERS, UH, TO THOSE WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE CLASSES.
UM, THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED, UH, THROUGH A GRANT BY THE, UH, CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.
UM, AND THE, UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE A COHORT OF THREE OUT OF THE FIVE WITH 57 RESIDENTS, UH, PARTICIPATING, UM, IN SO FAR, COMPLETING THEIR EIGHT HOURS, RECEIVING THEIR CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT, UM, THAT THAT'S PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND AS A RESULT OF THOSE, UM, CLASSES, THEY EARNED THEIR OWN LAPTOPS.
SO THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE HOME THEIR, THEIR LAPTOP.
SO I WAS PRESENT AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY.
UM, IT WAS A VERY, UH, HEARTWARMING THING TO SEE WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY, UH, THEY WERE VERY PROUD OF THEMSELVES.
A LOT OF THEM SHARED THEIR STORIES ABOUT HOW NERVOUS THEY WERE, UH, USING TECHNOLOGY OR EVEN BEING ABLE TO SORT OF NAVIGATE A LAPTOP.
THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME, UH, THEY, THEY, YOU KNOW, USED, UH, PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AND LEARNED ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, PRIVACY AND CYBERSECURITY, WHAT TO CLICK ON, WHAT NOT TO CLICK ON.
THERE WAS A REALLY HEARTWARMING STORY OF A WOMAN, UH, WHO, WHO SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T WAIT TO CALL MY FAMILY AND TELL THEM THAT I DID THIS.
BECAUSE THEY WERE ALWAYS SAYING, MOM, YOU GOTTA LEARN.
AND SHE'S LIKE, AND I, I MADE A PLAN.
AND I FEEL, YOU KNOW, SHE FELT VERY, VERY PROUD OF HERSELF, AND THAT
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WAS SO NICE TO SEE.WE HAVE TWO MORE COHORTS LEFT, UH, IN THIS PROGRAM AT MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY.
UM, WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON A PROGRAM TO LAUNCH A MICRO ENTREPRENEUR DIGITAL SKILLS LEARN AND EARN PROGRAM AS WELL, UH, TO TRAIN THING FOLKS LIKE STREET VENDORS ON DIGITAL LITERACY, FINANCIAL LITERACY, UH, AND, AND WAYS THAT THEY CAN HELP, UH, MODERNIZE THEIR BUSINESSES.
WE ALSO, UH, HAVE ONE AT, UM, SILVERADO PARK DIGITAL SKILLS PROGRAM FOR BASIC, BASIC DIGITAL SKILLS FOR RESIDENTS ON THE WEST SIDE AS PART OF OUR WEST SIDE PROMISE PROGRAM AS WELL.
UH, WE ALSO, UH, I GUESS LASTLY FOUND OUT THAT MORE RECENTLY WE HAVE FOUR PROGRAMS, UM, THAT ARE GRANT FUNDED THAT WE WERE RECEIVING GRANTS FOR, UH, TOTALING JUST ABOUT $200,000.
AND THOSE ARE APPROVED FOR FUNDING LAST WEEK.
AND WE'LL GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR OFFICIAL ACCEPTANCE VERY SOON.
AND SO WE CONTINUE TO SEEK OUT GRANT FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THESE PROGRAMS, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER THEM AT MORE AND MORE SITES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, AND IN MANY CASES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL, TRUSTED, UH, NONPROFITS AND VOICES, UH, THAT ARE, UH, CONNECTED WITH OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, UH, YOUTH, SENIORS, AND OTHER GROUPS, UH, THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
SO, VERY PROUD OF STAFF, UH, FOR BEING ABLE TO OFFER THOSE, UM, AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR, UH, UH, DIGITAL EQUITY PROGRAMS. UH, SO WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I'M WELCOME.
UM, SOME DAYS LATE, WE'LL PUT WELCOME, BUT WELCOME.
I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE GOT TO MEET YOU.
UM, ANY, UH, COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? NO.
UM, I CAN SAY WELCOME TO THE TEAM, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE HOW FAST YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED TO DIVE IN AND START TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND, UM, I, TRADITIONALLY, WE WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO, UH, PARTICIPATE IN ALL THE WAYS THAT WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT, UH, THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, KEEP US, UH, KEEP US IN YOUR MIND.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, UH, LET'S MOVE TO VOTE.
ALRIGHT, MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE RALPH M. BROWN ACT AND THE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
UM, MAY I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND? WE HAVE THAT CHAIR.
[3. 26-55505 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the Ralph M. Brown Act and Robert’s Rules of Order from the City Attorney’s Office. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
HANDING IT OVER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THEN.UH, DEUS, UH, VICE CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.
UH, REAL POINT, QUICK POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
I USE THIS CLICKER TO GO THROUGH EACH SLIDE.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, WE'RE GONNA BE DISCUSSING THE RALPH M. BROWN ACT, WHICH, UH, STATE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, WHICH OUTLINES KIND OF WHEN, WHERE, AND, AND WHY YOU CAN HOLD MEETINGS.
AND ALSO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, UM, WHICH, UH, IS IN SHORT, AND TO SIMPLY PUT IT, THE RULES AND PROCEDURES THAT WE USE, UH, TO EFFECTIVELY RUN, UM, MEETINGS.
UH, SO I'LL START WITH A, UH, A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BROWN ACT.
UH, IT WAS AN ENACTED IN 1953 IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC CONCERNS OVER INFORMAL, UH, AND UNDISCLOSED MEETINGS HELD BY LOCAL OFFICIALS.
UM, A COOL POINT OF HISTORY IS THIS, THIS CONCERN, UM, WAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT AND KIND OF STEMS FROM A ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY A REPORTER NAMED MIKE HARRIS IN 1952.
IT WAS, UH, IF YOU CARE TO LOOK IT UP, IT WAS ENTITLED YOUR SECRET GOVERNMENT.
AND HE BASICALLY OUTLINED, UH, THE THEN COMMON PRACTICE OF, UM, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES HOLDING THESE SECRET MEETINGS AND CAUCUSES, UH, TO GET THINGS DONE AND TAKE, UH, PUBLIC ACTIONS WITHOUT GIVING, UH, DUE ACCESS, UH, TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, SO IN RESPONSE TO THAT, UH, THE BROWN ACT WAS ENACTED.
IT'S, UH, ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S MAIN SUNSHINE LAWS.
AND THE POINT OF A SUNSHINE LAW, AND WHERE THEY GET THEIR NAME FROM IS, IS THE IDEA THAT, UM, THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF A SUNSHINE OR PUBLIC SCRUTINY, UH, SCRUTINY IS THE BEST DISINFECTANT AGAINST, UH, INEPTITUDE NEGLIGENCE CORRUPTION, UM, IN A DEMOCRATIC
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GOVERNMENT.UM, SO IT REALLY, UM, SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT, UH, GOVERNMENT ACTIONS, UH, ARE DONE OUT IN THE OPEN WITH PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
SO THERE'S REALLY FOUR GENERAL PRINCIPLES UNDER THE BROWN ACT, UM, THAT ALL MEETINGS ARE HELD OPEN AND PUBLIC, THAT ACTIONS AND DELIBERATIONS MUST BE TAKEN OPENLY, THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS, AND ONLY MATTERS ON THE AGENDA CAN BE DISCUSSED, UM, UNLESS THERE IS, UH, AN EXCEPTION.
UH, NOW I DO WANT TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS A MEETING.
UH, A MEETING UNDER THE BROWN ACT IS ANY CONGREGATION OF A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF A LEGISLATIVE BODY AT THE SAME TIME AND LOCATION.
THIS INCLUDES, UH, TELECONFERENCE LOCATIONS.
UM, AND IT IS A MEETING TO HEAR, DISCUSS, DELIBERATE OR TAKE ACTION ON ANY ITEM THAT IS WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THAT LEGISLATIVE BODY.
UH, NOW THIS IS A BROAD DEFINITION, AND, UH, IT APPLIES EVEN IF A LEGISLATIVE BODY TAKES NO ACTION AND JUST TALKS AMONGST THEMSELVES ABOUT ITEMS THAT ARE WITHIN, UH, THAT BODY SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION.
UH, IF THERE IS A MEETING, IT IS A SUBJECT TO THE AGENDA AND OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE BROWN ACT.
UM, AND I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT ONLY MATTERS ON THE, UH, AGENDA CAN BE DISCUSSED DURING MEETINGS.
UM, THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT EFFECTIVE NOTICE, UM, IS GIVEN, UH, FOR AN OPEN AND PUBLIC, UH, MEETING.
IF A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S TO BE DISCUSSED AT A MEETING, HOW CAN THEY, UM, EFFECTIVELY COMMENT ON IT AND PARTICIPATE IN THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT? UM, SO THE BROWN ACT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR DISCUSSION ON AN ACTION OR ITEM THAT IS NOT ON AN AGENDA, BUT JUST FOR CLARITY, UH, UH, MEMBERS OF A LEGISLATIVE BODY OR STAFF, OR PERMITTED TO BRIEFLY RESPOND TO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, UH, OR PROVIDE A REFERENCE, UH, TO STAFF OR OTHER RESOURCES FOR FACTUAL INFORMATION, OR TO DO DIRECT STAFF TO PLACE THE ISSUE ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
AND THE UNDERLYING POLICY UNDER THE BROWN ACT IS, IS REALLY TO AVOID, UH, THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE, THE GUIDING LIGHT.
UM, IF YOU EVER ARE UNSURE, UM, ABOUT WHETHER SOMETHING IS A BROWN ACT VIOLATION, A GOOD QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF IS IF, UH, FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN ON THE SITUATION, WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, THERE WAS SOME IMPROPRIETY, UM, GOING ON.
UM, AND THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY MEANS THAT THERE IS SOME PERCEPTION THAT THERE'S WRONGDOING OR MISCONDUCT THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED BY A PUBLIC OFFICIAL NOW WHO IS SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT.
SO, LEGISLATIVE BODIES ARE SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT, UM, AND THAT INCLUDES, UH, GOVERNMENT BODIES LIKE CITY COUNCILS, UH, INCLUDING, UH, IN ADDITION TO COMMISSIONS LIKE THIS ONE, UH, COMMITTEES, BOARDS, UM, AND OTHERS CREATED BY CHARTER ORDINANCE RESOLUTION OR OTHER FORMAL ACTION BY LEGISLATIVE BODY.
UM, IN ADDITION TO STANDING COMMITTEES.
UM, IT ALSO INCLUDES, UM, SUCH ENTITIES THAT RECEIVES FUNDS FROM THE CITY, UM, HOWEVER IT EXCLUDES, UH, TEMPORARY AND, AND AD HOC COMMITTEES, UH, MADE UP SOLELY OF COMMISSIONERS OR, OR THOSE CONSUMING LESS THAN A QUORUM.
SO, JUST FOR CLARITY IS APPLICABLE TO, UH, THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION COMMISSION.
THIS COMMISSION ITSELF IS SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT, BUT, UH, NOT ANY, UH, AD HOC COMMITTEES.
SO NOW I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SOME TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE PROHIBITED.
UH, MAINLY SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROHIBITED.
AND A SERIAL COMMUNICATION OR MEETING, UH, MEANS ANY COMMUNICATION OR MEETING THAT INVOLVES LESS THAN THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS.
BUT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF COMMUNICATIONS OR MEETINGS IN THAT SERIES INVOLVES A MAJORITY OF THE BODY OUTSIDE OF A NOTICE PUBLIC MEETING.
AND THERE ARE SOME COMMON EXAMPLES OF SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS OR MEETINGS, UM, HUB AND SPOKE, WHICH IS BASICALLY WHEN ONE MEMBER CONTACTS, UM, THE OTHER MEMBERS OUTSIDE OF A MEETING TO DISCUSS, UH, UH, AN ITEM WITHIN THE COMMITTEE'S JURISDICTION.
UH, THERE'S THE DAISY CHAIN, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A, A GAME OF TELEPHONE, SO TO SPEAK, UH, ALSO BY REPRESENTATIVE.
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KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE OR A FRIEND, ANY INTERMEDIARY THAT ARE, THAT IS SPREADING, UH, THE MESSAGE, UH, TO, UH, OTHER MEMBERS OF A COMMITTEE, UH, THAT IS PROHIBITED, UM, IN ADDITION TO, UH, EMAILS, TEXTS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.UH, SO OBVIOUSLY, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE FREE TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOU'RE, UH, IT'S NOT A TOTAL RESTRICTION, BUT, UH, IF YOU, UH, OR EMAILING EACH OTHER OR, UH, LIKING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS MADE BY ANOTHER MEMBER, THAT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF, OF THIS COMMITTEE THAT COULD BE, UH, AND OR IS A, UH, BROWN ACT VIOLATION IF IT RESULTS IN A, UH, UH, MAJORITY COMMUNICATION.
UM, SO NOW I'D LIKE TO, UH, UH, I THINK EXAMPLES ARE KIND OF THE, THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING.
SO I'M JUST GONNA GO THROUGH, UM, SOME EXAMPLES OF, OF EACH TYPE OF, UH, PROHIBITED COMMUNICATION.
UM, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THESE EXAMPLES, WE'RE JUST GONNA ASSUME THAT, UH, WE'RE DISCUSSING A, A BODY THAT HAS FIVE SEATS.
SO A MAJORITY OF THAT BODY WOULD BE THREE MEMBERS.
UM, SO AGAIN, UH, UH, HUB AND SPOKE.
THIS IS WHERE ONE MEMBER CONTACTS ALL OR A MAJORITY OF OTHER MEMBERS.
UM, AN EXAMPLE OF A HUB AND SPOKE COMMUNICATION WOULD BE A, UH, YOU KNOW, A MEMBER OF A COMMITTEE, UM, CONTACTS ALL OTHER MEMBERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY VOTE YES TO SUPPORT AN ITEM.
AND UNDER THE BROWN ACT, SINCE THE MAJORITY OF HIS BODY'S THREE MEMBERS, THE ORIGINAL MEMBER CAN ONLY COMMUNICATE TO ONE OTHER MEMBER, UH, ABOUT BODY BUSINESS WITHOUT VIOLATING THE BROWN ACT.
HOWEVER, IN GENERAL, THE GOAL OF COMMUNICATION SHOULD NOT BE DUE ATTEMPT TO FORM A COLLECTIVE DECISION OR CONCURRENCE WITH ANOTHER MEMBER JUST AS A BEST PRACTICE.
THE NEXT IS A, UH, A DAISY CHAIN.
AGAIN, YOU COULD THINK OF THIS AS A, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LIKE A GAME OF TELEPHONE.
UM, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR A DAISY CHAIN MEMBER, UH, BLUE, UH, CONTACTS MEMBER GREEN TO SEE IF THEY WILL BE A CO-SIGNER FOR AN ITEM ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
MEMBER GREEN CONTACTS MEMBER ORANGE ABOUT THE ITEM, WHO THEN CONTACTS MEMBER PINK.
IN THIS EXAMPLE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, THE WHOLE RAINBOW OF MEMBERS CONTACTING EACH OTHER, UM, UM, WHICH ADDS UP TO FOUR MEMBERS, WHICH IS MORE THAN A MAJORITY OF THE BODY.
UM, SO IN THIS INSTANCE, MEMBER BLUE CAN ONLY CONTACT MEMBER GREEN ABOUT THE AGENDA ITEM.
ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS BY MEMBER BLUE OR MEMBER GREEN ABOUT THE AGENDA ITEM OUTSIDE OF THE MEETING WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT.
AND KEEP IN MIND THAT DAISY CHAIN COMMUNICATIONS AND ANY BROWN ACT COMMUNICATIONS IN GENERAL, UM, IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, SPOKEN, IT, IT CAN ALSO BE THROUGH TEXT MESSAGES, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE NEXT EXAMPLE IS BY REPRESENTATIVE.
UM, SO YOU CAN'T CIRCUMVENT THE BROWN ACT BY, BY GOING THROUGH A, A, A MIDDLEMAN OR THROUGH A FRIEND.
UM, IF YOU'RE USING AN AGENT, UH, TO, UH, CONTACT OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS OR AGENTS OF OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THAT IS STILL A VIOLATION.
AND LASTLY, THE LAST EXAMPLE OF PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS IS, UH, THROUGH EMAIL TEXTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, COMMUNICATIONS INVOLVING A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS CAN, UH, SOMETHING YOU WANNA BE MINDFUL OF 'CAUSE IT CAN, UH, INADVERTENTLY ESCALATE INTO A BROWN ACT VIOLATION IF, YOU KNOW, MEMBER BLUE POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THEN IT'S LIKE SHARED, COMMENTED, YOU KNOW, RETWEETED, UM, BY A MAJORITY OF A COMMITTEE THAT IS INDEED A BROWN ACT VIOLATION.
AND I, I, IT'S A RULE OF THUMB, I, I IT'S BEST PRACTICE TO, TO SIMPLY NOT ENGAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH OTHER MEMBERS, UM, OF A COMMITTEE ABOUT MATTERS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF, OF DUTIES, UH, OF THIS BODY.
UM, THAT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, AVOIDING GROUP TEXTS OR EMAILS WITH OTHER MEMBERS.
UM, THE SOME GOOD PRACTICE IS THAT IF THE STAFF SENDS A COMMUNICATION TO THE WHOLE BODY, DO NOT HIT THE REPLY ALL BUTTON, UM, AND INSTEAD SEND A BLIND EMAIL.
UM, AND OF, OF COURSE, YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT AND ARE COURAGE TO ENGAGE, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS COMMITTEE IS SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT, I WOULD JUST BE MINDFUL THAT ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, ABOUT ISSUES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF YOUR DUTIES, RISKS, UM, THAT OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR BODY MAY REACT TO THAT POST, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT.
UM, ALSO BE MINDFUL THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, UH, MAY, UH, INADVERTENTLY CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE BROWN ACT IF THEY COME UP TO SPEAK TO YOU AND COMMUNICATE ABOUT HOW OTHER
[00:25:01]
MEMBERS OF A COMMITTEE PLAN TO VOTE ON A MATTER.UH, THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO ASK THE INDIVIDUAL TO STOP SHARING SUCH INFORMATION AND OR DISCONTINUE THE CONVERSATION CITING YOUR BROWN ACT OBLIGATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
UH, AND, UH, ALSO THE BEST THING TO DO IS INVITE THEM TO, UH, FORMALLY PARTICIPATE BY ATTENDING THE NEXT MEETING SO THEY CAN, UH, MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM.
SO, WHAT, UH, WHAT KIND OF COMMUNICATIONS ARE ALLOWED? WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN'T DO.
UM, SO IT'S A TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO.
UH, THE BROWN ACT DOES HAVE EXCEPTIONS THAT ALLOW FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF COMMUNICATIONS, UH, BY MEMBERS OUTSIDE OF A PUBLIC MEETING.
UM, AS A MEMBER, YOU CAN SPEAK TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE BODY OR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS ABOUT AN ISSUE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF DUTIES ASSIGNED TO THE BODY.
THIS EXCEPTION UNDER THE BROWN ACT RECOGNIZES THE RIGHT TO DISCUSS MATTERS WITH CONSTITUENTS, ADVOCATES, CONSULTANTS, REPORTERS, STAFF, AND COLLEAGUES.
UH, HOWEVER, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION, IF YOU SPEAK TO OTHER MEMBERS ABOUT SOMETHING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF YOUR DUTIES, YOU MUST SPEAK TO LESS THAN A MAJORITY TO COMPLY WITH THE BROWN ACT.
SO THIS ALSO MEANS THAT, UH, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UH, YOU MAY MEET WITH CITY STAFF, UH, OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, WITHOUT VIOLATING THE BROWN ACTS, SO LONG AS IT'S NOT DONE WITH A MAJORITY OF OTHER MEMBERS.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE A FEW OTHER EXCEPTIONS, UH, TO THE MEETING REQUIREMENT UNDER THE BROWN ACT.
THE BROWN ACT ALLOWS FOR A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, A LOCAL PUBLIC MEETING, UH, SUCH AS A COMMUNITY MEETING, AN OPEN MEETING OF ANOTHER BODY, LIKE A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, FOR EXAMPLE, OR A SOCIAL OR CEREMONIAL EVENT LIKE A BIRTHDAY PARTY, A RIVER CUT, A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY, UH, FOR A, A NEW BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
HOWEVER, WHILE YOU CAN ATTEND, YOU CANNOT DISCUSS MATTERS, UM, OF THE BODY WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AT THESE EVENTS.
UM, SO IF YOU GO TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY TOGETHER, THAT'S GREAT.
YOU JUST CAN'T TALK ABOUT, UH, MY GREAT PRESENTATION THAT I'M GIVING TODAY,
UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS, UH, COMING AT YOU WITH A LOT OF, UH, INFORMATION TO TODAY.
AND THE BROWN ACT, UM, IN PARTICULAR, IS A VERY FACT SPECIFIC SITUATION.
SO I, I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERN, OR WANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, UH, PLEASE DO REACH OUT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UM, AND, UH, WE'RE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY OR, OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE OVER, OVER EMAIL IN ANY INSTANCE.
UH, MEETING AGENDAS ARE A CRUCIAL PART TO COMPLYING WITH THE BROWN ACT.
IT PUTS THE PUBLIC ON NOTICE OF ITEMS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE, AT THE MEETING, SO THAT THEY CAN DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO ATTEND AND PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT OR NOT.
UM, REGULAR MEETINGS, UM, WHICH ARE MEETINGS OCCURRING AT THE DATES, TIMES, AND LOCATIONS SET BY, UH, THE RESOLUTION ORDINANCE OR FORMAL ACTION, UH, GOVERNING THE BODY.
UH, UH, THESE ARE REGULAR MEETINGS.
AND REGULAR MEETING AGENDAS MUST BE POSTED 72 HOURS PRIOR TO A BODY MEETING, SPECIAL MEETINGS OR MEETINGS CALLED BY THE CHAIR OR MAJORITY OF THE BODY TO DISCUSS ONLY, UH, DISCRETE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND ARE SUBJECT TO 24 HOUR POSTING REQUIREMENTS.
UH, AGENDA DESCRIPTIONS, UH, NEED TO PROVIDE A BRIEF AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EACH ITEM, UH, INCLUDING TIME, UH, DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF THE MEETING, AND MUST INFORM THE PUBLIC OF SCOPE OF THE BODY'S INTENDED PLANS SO THE PUBLIC CAN DECIDE WHETHER TO PARTICIPATE.
AND, UH, AGENDAS MUST BE POSTED IN LOCATION FREELY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, SO THE AGENDA DESCRIPTION REALLY, IT NEEDS TO GIVE THE PUBLIC ENOUGH INFORMATION SO THEY'RE EQUIPPED, UM, WITH THE SPECIFICS TO ATTEND AND, AND, AND ADEQUATELY COMMENT, UM, IF THEY DESIRE TO.
UH, WHERE CAN MEETINGS BE HELD, UH, NEEDS TO BE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, UNLESS AN EXCEPTION APPLIES.
UM, AND THEY, UH, MEETINGS MUST ALSO BE ACCESSIBLE UNDER THE AMERICANS, UH, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
UH, NOW THE BROWN ACT DOES AFFORD, UH, THE PUBLIC WITH RIGHT TO ACCESS PUBLIC MEETINGS AND, UH, RECORDS OF PUBLIC AGENCIES, UH, AGENCIES, WHICH INCLUDES THE RIGHTS, UH, LISTED ON THIS PAGE.
UM, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER ON THE AGENDA WITHIN THE BODY SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, UH, EVEN IF THE MATTER IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, THIS IS KNOWN AS NON AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE PUBLIC ALSO HAS THE RIGHT TO RECORD THE MEETING WITH AN AUDIO OR VIDEO TAPE RECORDER, OR TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS IN A NON-DISRUPTIVE MANNER.
UH, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO REVIEW AGENDAS AND OTHER NON-CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED TO MAJORITY OF THE BODY.
THERE ARE STRICT RULES THAT REQUIRE THE PUBLIC TO RECEIVE COPIES.
UM, AT THE SAME TIME, ANY WRITINGS ARE DISTRIBUTED
[00:30:01]
TO THE MAJORITY OF THE BODY AND THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO ATTEND A BODY MEETING WITHOUT REGISTERING OR IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES, SUCH AS BY GIVING THEIR NAME.UH, SECRET BALLOTS, UH, BY MEMBERS OF A LEGISLATIVE BODY ARE PROHIBITED.
ALL VOTES MUST BE CAST IN PUBLIC, UM, EXCEPT FOR VOTES ALLOWED IN CLOSED SESSION.
UH, THIS PROTECTS THE RIGHT OF THE PUBLIC TO WITNESS VOTES OF A BODY.
UM, SO VIOLATIONS OF OF THE BROWN ACT.
UM, UH, THERE ARE VERY REAL CONS, UH, CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATING THE BROWN ACT.
UH, THIS INCLUDES CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
IT CAN RESULT IN LAWSUITS, UM, ATTORNEY'S FEES, UH, INVALIDATING AN ACTION.
IT'S ALSO, UH, POTENTIALLY PUNISHABLE AS A MISDEMEANOR, UM, AS A CRIMINAL MATTER, IF THERE WAS INTENT TO DEPRIVE PUBLIC OF, UH, OF INFORMATION, UH, SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, A VIOLATION OF A BROWN ACT IS A MISDEMEANOR IF IT WON.
IF ONE, A MEMBER OF A LEGISLATIVE BODY ATTENDS A MEETING WHERE ACTION IS TAKEN IN VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT TWO, THE MEMBER INTENDS TO DEPRIVE THE PUBLIC OF INFORMATION THAT THE MEMBER KNOWS OR HAS REASON TO KNOW, THAT THE PUBLIC, UH, IS ENTITLED TO.
UH, SO I DON'T WANNA SCARE ANYBODY.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE VERY, UH, REAL, UM, AND IMPACTFUL PUNISHMENTS.
BUT IF THERE'S AN INADVERTENT VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT, UH, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE HIT WITH A A MISDEMEANOR.
THERE IS A, UH, INTENT ELEMENT INVOLVED FOR, UH, CRIMINAL PROSECUTION FOR, UH, BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS.
UH, UM, SO NOW MOVING TO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
UH, THESE ARE THE RULES AND, UH, KIND OF PROCEDURES OF HOW A MEETING IS RUN, UM, WHICH I THINK, UH, THIS COMMISSION DOES A TERRIFIC, UH, UH, PRACTICE OF DOING.
UM, THE BASIC PRINCIPLES, UH, IS THAT THE CHAIR RUNS THE MEETING CONSISTENT WITH THE BROWN ACT BYLAWS, UH, AND THE ROBERT, UH, ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER DECISIONS ARE MADE BY MAJORITY VOTE.
THE COMMISSION, UH, CONDUCTS BUSINESS IN AN ORDERLY AND EFFICIENT FASHION.
EVERY MEMBER AND ALL VIEWPOINT SHOULD HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND BE HEARD BEFORE VOTING, AND, UH, RULE SHOULD HELP AND NOT HINDER.
UM, ROBERT'S RULES ARE MEANT TO BE, UM, PROCEDURALLY, UM, EFFICIENT GUIDING PRINCIPLES, NOT, UH, A BALL AND CHAIN TO INHIBIT, UH, THE, UH, MEETING, UH, PROCESS.
UH, SO SPEAKING ON THE ROLE OF, UH, A CHAIR OF A MEETING, UH, CHAIR'S ROLE, UH, GENERALLY IS TO INTRODUCE BUSINESS IN A PROPER ORDER PER THE AGENDA, GETTING THROUGH AGENDA ITEMS IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND, UH, DETERMINING IF A MOTION IS IN ORDER, UH, KEEPING DISCUSSION FOCUSED ON THE AGENDA ITEM, AND ENFORCING TIME LIMITS FAIRLY AND NEUTRALLY FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
ADDITIONALLY, UH, THE CHAIR, UH, SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT CLEAR DECISIONS ARE MADE, UH, RECOGNIZES COMMISSIONERS WHO WISH TO SPEAK ENSURES DEBATE IS CONTROLLED TO ENSURE FAIRNESS, BALANCE, AND EFFICIENCY ENSURES EVERY MEMBER AND ALL VIEWPOINTS HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND BE HEARD.
UM, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR A CHAIR TO ACTIVELY LISTEN TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL POINTS OF AGREEMENT AND TESTING THOSE POINTS FOR ACTUAL AGREEMENT, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, MANAGING ANY CONFLICTS THAT ARISE DURING DISCUSSIONS.
UH, ONE COMMON, UH, ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER INSTRUMENT IS A MOTION, AND A, A MOTION, UM, IS, IS STARTED.
UH, ONCE A COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIR, THEY CAN MAKE A MOTION.
A MOTION MUST BE SECONDED BY ANOTHER MEMBER.
UH, THE MOTION IS THEN DEBATED OR VOTED UPON.
UH, TYPICAL TYPES OF MOTION INCLUDE A MAIN MOTION, A SECOND, A FRIENDLY, UH, AMENDMENT, AND A SUBSTITUTE MOTION IN TERMS OF VOTING.
UH, THE, THE PROCESS IS A CHAIR MUST CALL FOR A VOTE.
AS DISCUSSED EARLIER, SECRET BALLOTS ARE PROHIBITED UNDER THE, THE BROWN ACT.
UM, AND, UH, IF A VOTE, UH, RESULTS IN A TIE, THAT'S THE SAME THING AS AS, AS FAILING, UM, BECAUSE, UH, TO PASS A VOTE MUST BE, UH, MAJOR, COME FROM MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS.
SO, THAT'S MY PRESENTATION TODAY.
UM, I KNOW IT WAS RIVETING, AND I KNOW THERE WAS A TON OF INFORMATION.
UM, I KNOW THERE CAN BE, UH, TYPICALLY, UH, INFORMATION OVERLOAD WITH RESPECT TO THE, THE, THE BROWN ACT.
UM, SO I ENCOURAGE, UH, MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE TO REACH OUT.
UH, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS NOW FOR CLARITY, BUT JUST GIVEN THE NATURE OF THAT, UH, SITUATIONS ARE INCREDIBLY FACT, UH, SPECIFIC AND NUANCE UNDER THE BROWN ACT, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND MYSELF ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE, UH, TO MEET WITH YOU OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UM, OR PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ON THE BROWN ACTOR ROBERTSON RULES OF ORDER, UH, FOR THAT MATTER.
[00:35:04]
THANK YOU.THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMISSION? I APPRECIATED THE LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR YOU INJECTED THERE FROM TIME TO TIME.
I WAS TRYING TO PREVENT ANYBODY FROM FALLING ASLEEP, SO HOPEFULLY IT SUCCESS.
DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE BROWN ACT, WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF IT BEING, BEING CREATED? S SO PRIOR TO THE BROWN ACT, UM, THIS WAS BACK IN THE FIFTIES, UH, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH, UH, LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT AND, UH, RULING GOVERNMENT BODIES, BASICALLY MAKING DEALS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
UM, SO THE PURPOSE OF THE BROWN ACT WAS BASICALLY TO BRING THAT INTO THE LIGHT AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A, UM, A LEGAL MECHANISM, UM, WITH TEETH TO ENSURE THAT, UH, UH, PUBLIC BODIES, UM, IN CALIFORNIA CONDUCT BUSINESS OUT IN THE OPEN OR TRANSPARENT AND, UH, UH, ENSURE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
UM, AND JUST TO HOLD, UH, PUBLIC BODIES ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE SURE THAT, UH, DECISION DECISIONS ARE MADE, UH, TRANSPARENT, UH, TRANSPARENTLY, AGAIN, TO ENSURE THAT, UH, UH, A GOVERNMENT IS BEING RUN, UH, EFFICIENTLY, UM, AND IN A OPEN AND HONEST MANNER.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, LET'S MOVE TO VOTE.
UH, MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, RECOMMENDATION TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION COMMISSION'S 2025 ANNUAL REPORT.
UH, JUST A FEW, UH, OPENING COMMENTS ON THIS AND AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, THIS IS, UH, THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION COMMISSION'S ANNUAL REPORT.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE, UH, IN TERMS OF PREVIOUS YEARS.
[4. 26-55506 Recommendation to review and approve Technology and Innovation Commission’s 2025 Annual Report. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
COMPILE ALL OF THE INFORMATION OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE, UH, AND KIND OF PUT IT IN A FORMAT, UH, FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ABOUT ALL OF THE ACTIONS AND ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY'S PRIORITIES.SO, THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT IS TO PROVIDE THE LONG BEACH MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL WITH A SUMMARY OF, OF THE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION COMMISSION'S ACTIVITIES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD OF JANUARY, 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2025, AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON TECH'S FUTURE OPERATION.
UH, IN THIS REPORT, YOU WILL SEE THE COMMISSION HELD THE NINE MEETINGS IN 2025 AND MAINTAIN THREE AD HOC COMMITTEES, INCLUDING GENERATIVE AI, TID 28, AND A NEWLY FORMED COMMITTEE FOR THE 2028 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES TECH ALSO DISSOLVED THE DATA PRIVACY AD HOC COMMITTEE, UM, AT THE CONCLUSION OF, UH, ITS TASKS.
YOU'LL SEE IN THE REPORT OF SUMMARY OF THE 2025, UH, UH, KIND OF TOPICS AND WORK THAT THE COMMISSION COVERED, INCLUDING, UM, CITY'S WEBSITE REDESIGN PROJECT, THE LB, UH, TID 28 STRATEGIC ROADMAP FOR IT, UM, T'S RACIAL EQUITY ACTION PLANNING EFFORTS, UH, LONG BEACH AI STRATEGY FOR 2025, UH, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER, UH, ALIGNED, UH, PRIORITIES AND DISCUSSIONS, UM, THAT YOU ALL HAD.
UH, THE REPORT AT THE END, UH, DOES ASK FOR STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, AND THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION COMMISSION, UH, CONTINUE AS ESTABLISHED IN THE YEAR AHEAD.
UM, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF MORE DETAILS IN THIS REPORT.
UM, BUT THAT'S A, A GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE PURPOSE, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT IS SUMMARIZED, UH, AND SOME, SOME REALLY NICE IMAGERY, UH, IN THE REPORT AS WELL.
UM, SO THESE REPORTS, UH, GET APPROVED BY COMMISSIONS, UH, AND THEN GET REPORTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS A PART OF THE PROCESS OF REPORTING OUT ALL OF THE WORK THAT EACH OF THE COMMISSIONS HAVE DONE.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO, UM, ADOPT, UH, OR APPROVE THE REPORT TODAY.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR PRESENTING THIS.
UM, I'M ACTUALLY, UH, ONLY ONE QUESTION.
IT'S KIND OF THE DATE ON 1 2 3 ON THE MEETING ATTENDANCE PAGE, BUT ACTUALLY THE CHAIR,
[00:40:01]
UM, IS THIS 3 26, IS THAT 2025 BECAUSE OF THE REPORT DATE? OR IS THAT, IT'S, UM, SO THE, THE DATES FOR MEETING ATTENDANCE SHOULD BE YOUR DATES FROM, IT'S NOT THE YEAR, IT'S YEAH.I, I MEAN, UH, THE, THE DATES UNDERNEATH THE CHAIR AND THE VICE CHAIR WHEN THE TRANSITION DATE FROM LISA MAY BRUNSON.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE, THE 3 26.
WAS THAT 2026? THAT WOULD BE 2025.
UM, AS WE FINALIZE THE REPORT FOR THE NEXT STEP, UH, TO CITY COUNCIL, JUST TO BE CLEAR.
WE'RE IN AN INTERESTING TIME WHERE WE'RE 20 25, 26.
SO TO MAKE THIS EVERGREEN, WHICH IS THE INTENT, UH, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PRESENTING THIS.
UM, I DIDN'T SEE ANY COMMENT FROM THE COMMISSION.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL MOVE TO VOTE.
MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, RECOMMENDATION TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION COMMISSION'S 2025 TOPICS AND DISCUSS POTENTIAL 2026 TOPICS, UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PATTERSON AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHEELER.
UM, THAT WOULD BE THIS, MOVING TO THIS LARGE PAPER.
UM, DO WE HAVE, UH, INPUT FROM STAFF ON THIS
[5. 26-55507 Recommendation to review and discuss the Technology and Innovation Commission’s 2025 topics and discuss potential 2026 topics. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ITEM? THIS IS REALLY YOUR OPPORTUNITY CHAIR FOR YOU AND THE COMMISSION, UH, TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH IF SOME OF THESE PRIORITIES REMAIN THE SAME FOR DISCUSSION, UM, AND IN THE EVENT THAT YOU WANTED TO DISCUSS 'EM IN A PARTICULAR MANNER, UH, REPORT BACK FROM STAFF.IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO MOVE TO AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, UM, YOU KNOW, ADD, I'M, I'M FOLLOWING THE PROCESS THAT YOU NORMALLY WOULD'VE DONE, UH, TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD NEW TOPICS, UH, WE'RE HAPPY TO ADD THEM.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE COMMISSION AND THAT THEY ARE FURTHERING THE GOALS OF TID 28 IT STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, AND THAT IS REALLY WHERE IT'S THE, UH, UH, COMMISSION'S PREROGATIVE, UH, TO HELP GUIDE STAFF.
BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH YOU AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
SO I'LL GIVE, UH, MY COLLEAGUES A PEER A MOMENT TO REVIEW THE LIST.
UM, I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER CHITTICK IS, UM, EXCUSED ABSENCE STILL, AND, UM, OUR LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE HAVE AN INCOMING SOON, UH, SO THAT'S RIGHT.
WE DO, UH, WE MAY HAVE MORE SHIFTING NEXT.
JUST THROW THAT OUT THERE FOR DISCUSSION AND CHAIR, WE CAN ALWAYS ADD WHATEVER, OR, OR REMOVE OR, OR ALTER, EXCUSE ME, ANYTHING THAT IS ON THIS LIST TODAY.
UH, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE AS YOU HAVE IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, HAVE REFERENCING THIS MATRIX AND CAN MAKE FUTURE CHANGES TO IT AS WELL.
UM, I THINK THE ON THE ONLY ASK, UH, IS FOR AN ASPECT OF CONSISTENCY FOR STAFF, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T INCLUDE THE, THE FUTURE NEW COMMISSIONER AS WELL.
OH, AND ALSO FRAMING THIS IS ABOUT THE TOPICS, NOT ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP ON WHO'S WORKING ON WHAT.
THAT'S IN THE LATER ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
I'M JUST WONDERING, UM, ON THE BACK PAGE WHERE IT SAYS, ASSIST WITH PLANNING EXECUTION OF COMMUNITY TECH FESTIVAL AND LONG BEACH DEMO DAY AS PART OF SMART CITY INITIATIVE, LIKE SOME OF THE COMPLETED THINGS, IS THAT GONNA BE DROPPED OFF? BECAUSE I KNOW WE DECIDED NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
IT'S JUST GONNA STAY ON, OR DOES IT GO AWAY BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE LAST YEAR'S.
[00:45:01]
THIS IS FROM, SOME OF THESE DO, HAVE, HAVE CONTINUED FROM LAST YEAR.WE HAVE INDICATED THAT THAT ONE IS COMPLETED.
SO WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THAT ONE WOULD ROLL OFF OF THIS LIST AS WE UPDATE IT.
SO ALL THE ONES THAT SAY COMPLETED WILL THAT RIGHT, WILL ROLL OFF LIKE THE NEXT TIME WE SEE THEM? THAT'S RIGHT.
AND THEN ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE IN PROGRESS WOULD REMAIN UNLESS THERE'S ADDITIONAL DIRECTION FROM COMMISSION.
AND THEN WE CAN ENTERTAIN IF THERE ARE NEW ITEMS OR NEW TOPICS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO COVER.
AND AGAIN, WE CAN START THAT CONVERSATION TODAY, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS, UH, BRING IN THE VOICE OF THE NEW COMMISSIONER ONCE THEY JOIN AS WELL.
I THINK FOR, FOR MYSELF, I'M NOT SUGGESTING ANY CHANGES FROM MY CHAIR TODAY.
UM, BUT I'M TAKING THE HOMEWORK TO BRING THIS BACK NEXT, NEXT MONTH.
UM, ANY, ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS OR ITEMS FROM THE COMMISSION? NO.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, LET'S MOVE TO VOTE PLEASE.
MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, RECOMMENDATION TO CONSIDER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL AD HOC COMMITTEES AND OR DISSOLUTION OF EXISTING AD HOC COMMITTEES.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALLAHAN AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WHEELER.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES TO ANY OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES?
[6. 26-55508 Recommendation to consider the establishment of additional Ad Hoc Committees and/or dissolution of existing Ad Hoc Committees. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
I DON'T SEE ANY AND NOT, NOT HAVING CHANGED OUR TOPICS.UM, CHAIR, JUST ONE, ONE, UH, POINT OF INFORMATION THAT WILL BE HELPFUL MOVING FORWARD AS WE THINK ABOUT WHATEVER THE ADDITIONAL ITEMS MIGHT BE, EITHER FROM THIS GROUP OR FROM OUR NEW MEMBER, UM, IS IF THOSE ARE GOING TO, UH, RESULT IN ANY OF THOSE AD HOC COMMITTEES, UM, LIKE YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, IS THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU TIME THOSE APPROPRIATELY TO BRING THE ITEMS BACK SO THAT THEY'RE MANAGEABLE FOR THE GROUP AND FOR STAFF.
SO JUST A, A POINT OF INFORMATION THERE, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO SUPPORT.
ANY PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE TO VOTE PLEASE.
UH, WE'VE REACHED THE END OF THE AGENDA.
UH, AT THIS TIME WE'D LIKE TO TAKE NON-AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, UM, ON ANY ITEM NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE LINE UP IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE, SEEING NOBODY THERE THEN.
[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Technology and Innovation Commission on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.]
ANNOUNCEMENTS.ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? NONE TODAY.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION AT 4 27, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
GOOD JOB.