Arts Commission to end routine remote public comment starting December

President Collins announced during the meeting that the San Francisco Arts Commission will discontinue routine remote public comment for all public meetings beginning in December 2023, while preserving remote access for individuals who require ADA accommodations.

The commission's public-meeting instructions described how in-person and remote participation will otherwise be handled: speakers attending in person will use a podium and card system, and remote participants will use WebEx and a queued "raise hand" system. The chair said requests for ADA accommodations must be made at least 48 hours before a meeting pursuant to government code section 97.7, and provided the agency contact (art-info@sfgov.org) for accommodation requests and troubleshooting.

Commission staff clarified that meetings will still be streamed on SFGovTV and WebEx and that the change applies specifically to public-comment intake: "Please note that the San Francisco Arts Commission is discontinuing remote public comment for all public meetings beginning in December 2023," the chair stated during the instructions.

The policy change was presented as an operational update; commissioners did not take a separate vote on the change during the meeting. Staff said remote participation will remain available for people who need accommodations, and that further instructions and on-screen guidance will be provided during public-comment periods.