San Francisco health board adopts new hybrid meeting guidance, sets remote comment rules
March 23, 2023 | San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
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The San Francisco Health Service System board on March 23 said it will adopt new city guidance for hybrid meetings and remote public comment, using the city's WebEx platform and standard instructions displayed for SFGovTV and online viewers.
President Scott told commissioners that, beginning March 1, the city advised policy bodies to provide additional time-limited remote public comment to facilitate participation. "Each agenda item will have at least 30 minutes total of time-limited remote public comment," Scott said during his president's report. He added that in‑person comment will be heard first, followed by remote callers and WebEx participants.
The board explained the procedures the public should follow to participate remotely, including telephone dial‑in codes and the WebEx "raise hand" feature. The Board Secretary read the instructions aloud and described queue and muting procedures used by SFGovTV. The board also clarified that remote public comment submitted as an ADA accommodation will not count against the 30‑minute limit.
Commissioners asked how the board would determine disability-based accommodations. The Board Secretary said members of the public should contact the health service board email or phone to request accommodations and that the board would follow guidance from the Department of Disability Services. Commissioner Zivanski noted many SFHSS members live outside San Francisco and urged the board to preserve remote comment access for off‑site members regardless of ADA status.
The board implemented the guidance as described and will post remote comment instructions on agendas and meeting pages in advance, and provide brief reminders for agenda items as needed. There was no public comment on this topic at the meeting.
The board did not take a separate vote specifically to adopt the guidance at this meeting; the procedures were announced as the board's operational approach going forward.
President Scott told commissioners that, beginning March 1, the city advised policy bodies to provide additional time-limited remote public comment to facilitate participation. "Each agenda item will have at least 30 minutes total of time-limited remote public comment," Scott said during his president's report. He added that in‑person comment will be heard first, followed by remote callers and WebEx participants.
The board explained the procedures the public should follow to participate remotely, including telephone dial‑in codes and the WebEx "raise hand" feature. The Board Secretary read the instructions aloud and described queue and muting procedures used by SFGovTV. The board also clarified that remote public comment submitted as an ADA accommodation will not count against the 30‑minute limit.
Commissioners asked how the board would determine disability-based accommodations. The Board Secretary said members of the public should contact the health service board email or phone to request accommodations and that the board would follow guidance from the Department of Disability Services. Commissioner Zivanski noted many SFHSS members live outside San Francisco and urged the board to preserve remote comment access for off‑site members regardless of ADA status.
The board implemented the guidance as described and will post remote comment instructions on agendas and meeting pages in advance, and provide brief reminders for agenda items as needed. There was no public comment on this topic at the meeting.
The board did not take a separate vote specifically to adopt the guidance at this meeting; the procedures were announced as the board's operational approach going forward.
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