Health Service Board keeps hybrid public comment, tasks staff to draft disruptive‑behavior protocol

The San Francisco Health Service Board on a unanimous vote kept its current hybrid public‑comment practice and asked staff to draft a protocol for handling disruptive behavior.

Board staff had presented a six‑month review showing roughly 33 remote public comments over that period and explained the logistics and staff time involved in supporting remote participation. "Our public comment practice has been to offer it on every agenda item," Board Secretary Holly Lopez told commissioners during the presentation, summarizing the review of other boards and the local practice.

Commissioners debated whether the board should limit remote comment to callers requesting disability accommodations. Commissioner Hollins cautioned that pre‑registration rules could dissuade people who rely on late notice or last‑minute participation. An unidentified commissioner who moved the motion said continuing the current practice best serves members who live out of town or those who cannot travel to meetings.

After hearing public‑comment instructions and a brief period with no callers, the board took a roll‑call vote and approved the motion to continue the current practice as described in the opening instructions. President Scott recorded the unanimous vote and asked staff to bring back a disruptive‑behavior protocol for future consideration. The board’s counsel noted a memo on disruptive public comment had been provided under attorney‑client privilege and cannot be discussed in detail in public.

The board’s action preserves the hybrid model used during the pandemic period and maintains the board’s current cueing and platform procedures while directing staff to recommend a protocol to address interruptions or disruptive behavior at public comment.