Live From Lake Forest California...

Live, from Lake Forest California, this is Your City Council starring Dr. Jim Gardner, Leah Basile, Col. Tom Cagley, Scott Voigts, and Dwight Robinson.

With Debra Rose, Keith Neves, Matt Richardson, Carlo Tomaino, Jennifer Connally, Scott Wasserman, Brett Channing, Brad Valentine, and Gayle Ackerman.

And tonight’s guest star is Parks Commissioner Loretta Herrin.

ALL KIDDING ASIDE

We are live now, and even better than Saturday Night Live, you can participate. Here’s how to do it.

1. Go up to the city’s website (Click Here) to see what’s on the agenda.
2. Follow the instructions
3. About 6:30 you can log onto the city's website (Click Here)
4. Comments to the City Council will be allowed when public comments are accepted at the beginning of the meeting or as each agenda item is discussed. City staff will update the thread with this information as the meeting progresses.
5. Posts that begin with “COMMENT TO COUNCIL:” in all caps will be read to the City Council at the appropriate time. Posts that do not begin with this phrase will not be read to the City Council.
6. Your comment will be read verbatim with your name. Comments with inappropriate words will not be read.
7. All comments posted to the event become part of the meeting record, whether they are comments to be read to the City Council or not.
8. Chances are that the Council members are not reading your comments as they are posted, because they are busy with the meeting. However, your comments can be read later.
9. When it comes time for public comments, the Council will hear first from the people present at the meeting. If there is sufficient time, comments from the live broadcast will be read.
10. As is the case when people appear in person, Council members may or may not respond to your comments or questions. In any event, Council responses to comments or questions are required by law to be brief and can only provide information, direction to staff, or schedule the matter for a future meeting.

BROWN ACT

Bear in mind that the live broadcast and participation is still governed by the Brown Act (Click Here). Some of the relevant provisions are from Section 54954.3.

(a) Every agenda for regular meetings shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body on any item of interest to the public, before or during the legislative body’s consideration of the item, that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body, provided that no action shall be taken on any item not appearing on the agenda unless the action is otherwise authorized by subdivision (b) of Section 54954.2….

(b) (1) The legislative body of a local agency may adopt reasonable regulations to ensure that the intent of subdivision (a) is carried out, including, but not limited to, regulations limiting the total amount of time allocated for public testimony on particular issues and for each individual speaker.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), when the legislative body of a local agency limits time for public comment, the legislative body of a local agency shall provide at least twice the allotted time to a member of the public who utilizes a translator to ensure that non-English speakers receive the same opportunity to directly address the legislative body of a local agency….

(c) The legislative body of a local agency shall not prohibit public criticism of the policies, procedures, programs, or services of the agency, or of the acts or omissions of the legislative body. Nothing in this subdivision shall confer any privilege or protection for expression beyond that otherwise provided by law.

See you tonight

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Jim Gardner is on the City Council for Lake Forest where he serves as Mayor. You can check him out on LinkedIn and/or Facebook and you can share your thoughts about the City at Lake Forest Town Square on Facebook. His Twitter handle is @DrJimGardner. His comments are not meant to reflect official City Policy.

Dr. Gardner has office hours every Tuesday from 4 pm to 6 pm at the City Hall. In addition, he holds a town hall meeting every quarter. The next meeting will be May 17 at 7 pm at the Lake 1 Clubhouse (Ridge Route).