Entertainment Commission adopts teleconference findings under Gov. Code 54953(e); public urges retention of remote comment

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission on Jan. 17 adopted a resolution making findings to allow teleconference meetings under California Government Code section 54953(e). The motion was introduced by staff and received recorded ayes from the commissioners present.

The resolution comes as the mayor prepares to end the local emergency on Feb. 28 and the office expects post-emergency meeting rules to take effect March 1. Staff said the Brown Act provisions enacted in 2022 allow limited teleconference exceptions (for subcommittees, parental leave, and disability accommodations) but generally return commission members to in-person physical presence.

During public comment on the item, Michael Petrellas urged the commission to take a stand to retain remote public comment options, arguing that ending phone and Zoom participation would create barriers for people with disabilities, working people and those who rely on unreliable transit. "It is really important that every commission take a stand in favor of allowing everyone to make comments on telephone," Petrellas said.

Staff noted that while commissioners generally must attend in person under the new rules, policy bodies must still allow remote public attendance and public comment when a member participates remotely under an exception. The commission’s resolution was adopted by recorded vote after the public comment period.

The action leaves in place narrow teleconference allowances for specified circumstances, while staff and commissioners said they would continue to permit remote public attendance and public comment in the limited situations dictated by the Brown Act teleconference rules.