Section 54953.8 - [Effective until 1/1/2026] Teleconferences; neighborhood councils(a)(1) An eligible legislative body may use teleconferencing without complying with paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 54953 if the eligible legislative body complies with paragraphs (2) to (4), inclusive.(2) An eligible legislative body may only use teleconferencing as described in this section after all the following have occurred:(A) The city council for a city described in subdivision (c) considers whether to adopt a resolution to authorize eligible legislative bodies to use teleconferencing as described in paragraph (1) at an open and regular meeting.(B) If the city council adopts a resolution described in subparagraph (A), an eligible legislative body may elect to use teleconferencing pursuant to this section if two-thirds of the eligible legislative body votes to do so. The eligible legislative body shall notify the city council if it elects to use teleconferencing pursuant to this section and its justification for doing so.(C) Upon receiving notification from a legislative body as described in subparagraph (B), the city council may adopt a resolution to prohibit the eligible legislative body from using teleconferencing pursuant to this section.(3) After completing the requirements in paragraph (2), an eligible legislative body that holds a meeting pursuant to this subdivision shall do all of the following: (A) In each instance in which notice of the time of the teleconferenced meeting is otherwise given or the agenda for the meeting is otherwise posted, the eligible legislative body shall also give notice of the means by which members of the public may access the meeting and offer public comment. The agenda shall identify and include an opportunity for all persons to attend via a call-in option or an internet-based service option.(B) In the event of a disruption that prevents the eligible legislative body from broadcasting the meeting to members of the public using the call-in option or internet-based service option, or in the event of a disruption within the eligible legislative body's control that prevents members of the public from offering public comments using the call-in option or internet-based service option, the eligible legislative body shall take no further action on items appearing on the meeting agenda until public access to the meeting via the call-in option or internet-based service option is restored. Actions taken on agenda items during a disruption that prevents the eligible legislative body from broadcasting the meeting may be challenged pursuant to Section 54960.1.(C) The eligible legislative body shall not require public comments to be submitted in advance of the meeting and shall provide an opportunity for the public to address the legislative body and offer comment in real time.(D) Notwithstanding Section 54953.3, an individual desiring to provide public comment through the use of an internet website, or other online platform, not under the control of the eligible legislative body, that requires registration to log in to a teleconference may be required to register as required by the third-party internet website or online platform to participate.(E)(i) An eligible legislative body that provides a timed public comment period for each agenda item shall not close the public comment period for the agenda item, or the opportunity to register, pursuant to subparagraph (D), to provide public comment until that timed public comment period has elapsed.(ii) An eligible legislative body that does not provide a timed public comment period, but takes public comment separately on each agenda item, shall allow a reasonable amount of time per agenda item to allow public members the opportunity to provide public comment, including time for members of the public to register pursuant to subparagraph (D), or otherwise be recognized for the purpose of providing public comment.(iii) An eligible legislative body that provides a timed general public comment period that does not correspond to a specific agenda item shall not close the public comment period or the opportunity to register, pursuant to subparagraph (D), until the timed general public comment period has elapsed.(F) At least a quorum of the members of the eligible legislative body shall participate from locations within the boundaries of the city in which the eligible legislative body is established.(G) At least once per year, at least a quorum of the members of the eligible legislative body shall participate in person from a singular physical location that is open to the public and within the boundaries of the eligible legislative body.(4) An eligible legislative body that holds a meeting pursuant to this subdivision shall do the following, as applicable:(A) If the meeting is during regular business hours of the offices of the city council member that represents the area that includes the eligible legislative body, the eligible legislative body shall provide a publicly accessible physical location from which the public may attend or comment, which shall be the offices of the city council member who represents the area where the eligible legislative body is located, unless the eligible legislative body identifies an alternative location.(B) If the meeting is outside regular business hours, the eligible legislative body shall make reasonable efforts to accommodate any member of the public that requests an accommodation to participate in the meeting. For the purposes of this subparagraph, "accommodation" means providing a publicly accessible physical location for the member of the public to participate from, providing access to technology necessary to participate in the meeting, or identifying locations or resources available that could provide the member of the public with an opportunity to participate in the meeting.(b) The legislative body shall comply with all other requirements of Section 54953.(c) As used in this section, "eligible legislative body" means a neighborhood council that is an advisory body with the purpose to promote more citizen participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs that is established pursuant to the charter of a city with a population of more than 3,000,000 people that is subject to this chapter.(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.Added by Stats 2023 ch 605 (SB 411),s 2, eff. 10/8/2023. See Stats 2023 ch 605 (SB 411), s 4. See Stats 2023 ch 605 (SB 411), s 3.