For the past 18 months, the City of Ripon has made City Council and Planning Commission meetings available via livestream.

"This temporary teleconferencing provision was set to expire (Sept. 30) so AB 361 was proposed and signed (Sept. 16)," according to City Clerk Lisa Roos in her recent council meeting report.

No discussion by elected leaders was necessary at the Oct. 12 meeting.

Ripon and other state agencies were provided an extension to continue using internet-based and telephonic-based options during open meetings.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov, Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency by allowing for all public meetings of a legislative body of a local agency to continue using teleconferencing technology.

This executive order was first issued on March 17, 2020, which allowed local government to meet remotely without having to adhere to the traditional teleconferencing rules mandated by the Brown Act,

The Ripon City Council will be required to approve this resolution on a monthly basis in order to continue to meet virtually, according to ASB 361.

Staff intends to bring this back to Council for approval each month "based upon the need for continued virtual meetings during this state of emergency," Roos noted