TO: Napa-Vallejo Waste Management Authority Board of Directors
FROM: Richard Luthy, Executive Director
REPORT BY: Richard Luthy, Executive Director
SUBJECT: Remote Teleconference Meetings
RECOMMENDATION
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Approval of Resolution No. 2023-05 making findings and declaring the Board's intent to continue remote
teleconference meetings pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e), based on the Governor's declaration
of a state of emergency and local recommendation for continued remote attendance at Brown Act meetings due
to the threat of COVID-19.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Board meetings have been held via teleconference pursuant to executive orders issued by the Governor to help
reduce the spread of COVID-19. Those executive orders have expired, having been replaced by Assembly Bill
("AB") 361. AB 361 amended the Brown Act to allow local legislative bodies to continue meeting remotely
during a state of emergency declared by the Governor, if state or local officials have also proposed or
recommended measures to promote social distancing. These conditions currently exist. Staff is recommending
the Board adopt Resolution 2023-05 to continue to meet by teleconference pursuant to AB 361. The Board will
need to revisit the need to meet by teleconference at every regular meeting if it desires to continue meeting
remotely.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: This activity is not a project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section
15378; therefore CEQA does not apply.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Due to the health and safety risks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Board meetings have been held via
teleconference pursuant to executive orders issued by the Governor. Those executive orders have expired,
having been replaced by AB 361. AB 361 amended the Brown Act to allow local legislative bodies to continue
meeting remotely during a state of emergency declared by the Governor, if state or local officials have also
proposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing. These conditions currently exist.
On September 27, 2021, the Napa County Executive Officer and Public Health Officer issued a memorandum
recommending that boards and commissions continue to meet remotely in order to help minimize the spread and
transmission of COVID-19. The Governor’s state of emergency due to COVID-19 is also still in effect.
Staff continues to monitor the health and safety conditions related to COVID-19, the status of the Governor’s
state of emergency, and state and local health orders related to social distancing. Today’s resolution confirms
that the Board of Directors has considered the circumstances of the state of emergency due to COVID-19 and
that state or local officials continue to recommend measures to promote social distancing and, therefore, intends
that all Authority meetings subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act continue meeting via teleconference and to
invoke the provisions of AB 361 related to teleconferencing as provided in Government Code section 54953(e)
due to the threat of COVID-19.