Upon further review: Life in the videoconference era

It’s better to do right than be right. I don’t remember where I heard that saying — credited to so many people, I’m not sure who’s right — but I like it. Rather than doubling down for the sake of pride, it’s best to adapt to new information.

So, up front, I’m correcting a misstatement from last week’s column. A county supervisor called to point out that the board no longer takes public comment via Zoom; while online participants can watch meetings and submit remarks via email, anyone who wants to address the board in real time must go to the chambers in Oroville.

That’s a change since returning to fully in-person meetings. Obviously, I haven’t been there recently.

Turns out, state law is evolving. I learned that twice this week: first at the Chico City Council, again at the Vina Groundwater Sustainability Agency. The Brown Act, California’s open meetings law, got an update for the videoconference era that simultaneously eases and complicates the requirements for logging in remotely.

That update is Assembly Bill 2449, which allows local governments to hold Zoom meetings past the expiration of emergency orders that authorized them. An agency may conduct sessions via video during the next four years automatically, without monthly resolutions, but faces tighter restrictions in the process.

The most significant: “In the event of a disruption that prevents the 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 local agency’s control that prevents members of the public from offering public comments using the call-in option or internetbased service option, the 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.”

Or, put more simply: If the Zoom drops, the meeting stops.

Failure to comply has consequences; per the bill, “Actions taken on agenda items during a disruption … may be challenged.”

As such, state law disincentivizes a local board, council or commission allowing public input online.

The Vina GSA, which facilitated Zoom participation throughout the pandemic, will stop doing so in March. The water agency will follow the county’s model of livecasts for viewing, not commenting. I voted for this Wednesday after staff and counsel advised on implications of continuing the status quo. (Note: I chair the GSA board.)

The night before, in the same room, Councilor Deepika Tandon inquired about the city expanding its reach on Zoom.

One citizen in particular — Jesica Giannola, a council candidate last year — frequently advocates, in person, for remote access for residents. City Attorney Vince Ewing responded that he’ll address the issue in the near future when he briefs the council on new legislation, this included.

Based on the decisions of sister entities, I wouldn’t expect Chico to buck the tide.

There’s a school of thought — voiced by one councilor, at least — that the barrier is better, that the effort to come to chambers breeds more constructive input. (Think written-out speeches versus knee-jerk Tweets.)

From where I sit, both in the gallery and on the dais, I don’t think location matters. Cogence comes as much remotely as incoherence comes in person. It’s the message, not the medium.

Want officials to listen? Speak to them the way you want someone to speak to you. Thick skin or not, yelling and insults are hard to take.

It helps to know what the board can do — and can’t. The Planning Commission doesn’t have the authority to restrict houses to one story where the city allows two or three. Councilors may care about wages in town, but the council controls only what the city pays.

Public participation is vital. The hallmark of democracy, locally and beyond, is government for the people, by the people. That gets muted and diluted when residents don’t

(or can’t) speak their truth to power.

With the tech of our time, it’s easier than ever. Just not as easy as it should be.