City of Fillmore

The City of Fillmore is prepared to ensure continuity of government during this pandemic. Based on the guidance from the California Department of Public Health and the California Governor’s Office to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the City Council meeting will be available online and broadcasted on Channel 10 and via the City’s website as described below. The Council Chambers will not be available to the public. On March 17th, Governor Newsom implemented Executive Order N-29-20, which excuses a legislative body, under the Brown Act, from providing a physical location (while social distancing requirements are mandated) for the public to observe and comment if certain conditions are met. A physical location does not need to be provided if the legislative body:

1. “[H]olds a meeting via teleconferencing and allows members of the public to observe and address the meeting telephonically or otherwise electronically;”

2. Implements a procedure for receiving and “swiftly resolving” requests for reasonable modification or accommodations from individuals with disabilities, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and resolving any doubt in favor of accessibility;

3. Gives advance notice of the public meeting and posts agendas according to the timeframes and procedures already prescribed by the Brown Act (i.e. 72 hours for regular meetings and 24 hours for special meetings); and 4. Gives notice of the means by which members of the public may observe the meeting and offer public comment, in each instance where notice or agendas are posted.

If there is a change in the means by which the public may observe and comment, this requirement can be satisfied by advertising this change using “the most rapid means of communication available at the time” within the meaning of Government Code section 54954(e). This includes posting the change to the body’s website.

The City of Fillmore remains committed to continuing to employ social distancing, holding online meetings, and, as a result, is requiring the public to interact with us online or via mail and phone. Accordingly, to participate in our public process for Council and Planning Commission meetings, please review the guidelines below:

1. You are strongly encouraged to observe the live stream of the City Council’s meeting by logging to our website and clicking on the link for the applicable meeting date. Please note that for streaming to take place, the meeting must be live. If you are unable to join us during the live streaming period, the recording of the video should be available the morning of the next business day on our website.

2. To make public comments, under the public comment portion of the agenda or on any agenda item, a new City Manager’s policy, the Temporary eComment Policy has been implemented. Please submit your comment to the Deputy City Clerk via email at eherrera@fillmoreca.gov . The comment period for each regular meeting agenda will begin at 4:30 p.m., the Friday before the Tuesday meeting. The comment period will close once the applicable section of the agenda has been completed at that meeting. Although eComments will be distributed to the City Council and read out loud during the “Public Comment” time of the Council meeting or at the applicable item for an item on the agenda, eComment users should not expect responses to their comments made under “Public Comment” time.

3. Personal information volunteered by the user in their eComment is treated as a public record and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law.

4. The City Manager’s Office will be responsible for the administration of eComment constituent submittals in accordance with the foregoing user policy requirements.

As the Deputy City Clerk is undertaking several functions during the Council meeting, to endeavor to have your comments provided at the appropriate time, please format your eComment as follows before emailing the comment to eherrera@filmoreca.gov:

• Title of email message: Public Comment Meeting Date: XX-XX-XXXX (add date of the meeting) Agenda Item XXX (identify which item)
• Name
• Contact Information
• Comment on subject matter jurisdiction or specific Agenda Item (please keep comments to under 500-word count)

If you have any questions, please contact Erika Herrera at 805-946-1712 or email at eherrera@fillmoreca.gov. Next City Council Meeting is Scheduled for April 14th, 2020.