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SPECIAL MEETING - Transportation Technical Committee
Date:
Time:
Place:

Friday, October 8, 2021
8:30 AM

COG Sequoia Conference Room
2035 Tulare St., Suite 201, Fresno, CA



Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations
The Fresno COG offices and restrooms are ADA accessible. Representatives or individuals with disabilities should contact Fresno COG at (559) 233-4148, at least 3 days in advance, to request auxiliary aids and/or translation services necessary to participate in the public meeting / public hearing. If Fresno COG is unable to accommodate an auxiliary aid or translation request for a public hearing, after receiving proper notice, the hearing will be continued on a specified date when accommodations are available.

SPECIAL MEETING

The Transportation Technical Committee will take place

in person at the Fresno COG Sequoia Room and via Zoom.

 

Joining the meeting:

 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82398193216?pwd=SW16c3BJNWNCTHhLQXJiQWVESFQ3QT09

Join by Phone:  (669) 900-6833

Meeting ID: 823 9819 3216

Passcode: 679523

 

If you wish to address the Committee during the public comment portion of the agenda, click on the “Reactions” at the bottom center of your PC or Mac screen. Select the Hand icon, click the icon to “RaiseHand”.  Your digital hand will now be raised.

 

When on the phone, if you wish to address the Committee during the public comment portion of the agenda, Press *9 to “RaiseHand” and we will select you from the meeting cue.

 

**If joining by phone use *6 to unmute and mute yourself.  When joining the meeting all participants are automatically muted.  Do NOT use the mute function on your LAN line phone or cell phone. 

 

Those addressing the Committee must state their first and last name and agency for the record.

 

To facilitate electronic access, no person shall speak until recognized by the Chair.

TTC agenda and annotated agenda in PDF format - ALL EXHIBITS ARE AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE

I.AB 361 -- Future Committee Meeting Format (Phipps) [ACTION]

Summary: On September 15, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 361, amending the Ralph M. Brown Act to allow local agency councils, boards and committees to continue conducting public meetings remotely during a state of emergency after October 1, so long as they make specific findings every 30 days, and ensure conditions related to public participation are satisfied. Under the Brown Act, both TTC and PAC are considered "legislative bodies," according to the Fresno County Counsel's office.

Under the urgency legislation, a local agency may use the more “relaxed” Brown Act teleconferencing/videoconferencing requirements in any of the following circumstances:

  • There is a proclaimed state of emergency, and state or local officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing; or
  • There is a proclaimed state of emergency, and the local agency’s meeting is to determine, by majority vote, whether as a result of the emergency, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees; or
  • There is a proclaimed state of emergency, and the local agency has determined, by majority vote, that as a result of the emergency meeting in person would present an imminent risk to the health or safety of attendees.

AB 361 defines a “state of emergency” as a state of emergency proclaimed pursuant to Section 8625 of the California Emergency Services Act. Importantly, this includes the Governor's proclaimed state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To continue to rely on the relaxed video/teleconferencing provisions, the local agency must reconsider the circumstances of the state of emergency and make the following findings by majority vote, every 30 days:

  • The state of emergency continues to directly impact the ability of members to meet safely in person; or
  • State or local officials continue to impose or recommend measures to promote social distancing.

The recommended finding under this option would be that "The TTC/PAC, meeting during a proclaimed state of emergency, has determined by majority vote, pursuant to AB 361 subparagraph (B), that, as a result of the emergency, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees." 

While the Committee has the option of using teleconferencing, as was available prior to COVID restrictions, the Brown Act requires: 1) a quorum of the legislative body to participate from within the boundaries of the agency’s jurisdiction, 2) the public agency to post notice of each teleconference location, and 3) the public be allowed to address the legislative body from each teleconference location.  These requirements place a significant burden on both Board members and staff.

Action: Discussion and Committee direction.


II.PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

A.
Public Presentations

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Committee on items within its jurisdiction but not on this agenda.  Note:  Prior to action by the Committee on any item on this agenda, the public may comment on that item.  Unscheduled comments may be limited to three minutes.