In order to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the City of Sonoma is providing multiple alternatives to viewing Council meetings and providing comments on items on the agenda. These alternatives allow the City to adhere to social distancing requirements, follow the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20 (which suspends certain requirements of the Brown Act), and provide numerous ways for the public to provide public comment live during the meeting.
VIEWING MEETINGS ONLINE
You are able to view meetings online here:
- Live-streamed on the City’s CivicWeb Portal,
- and YouTube Channel
SUBMITTING COMMENTS BY E-MAIL
If you choose not to attend the City Council meeting but wish to make a comment on a specific agenda item, please submit your comment via email at publiccomment@sonomacity.org at any time.
- Prior to the Meeting as Public Correspondence — Per the City’s standard practice, any comments received prior to the commencement of the meeting will be uploaded to the public correspondence folder on the City’s CivicWeb Portal and available for review by the public and the City Council. It will not be read during the meeting.
- During the Meeting as Public Comment — If you wish for your comments to be read into the record, please submit an email to publiccomment@sonomacity.org after the Mayor calls the meeting to order and prior to the close of Public Comment on that item on the agenda.
VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION BY ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCING
The City of Sonoma is now offering the ability to view and participate in Council meetings via video meetings and telephonic conferencing via “Zoom” video conferencing computer technology. Instructions for participating via Zoom are provided below.
How do I join the City Council meeting via Zoom Video Conferencing?
Please visit: https://zoom.us/j/94943925973 and either sign-up for a free Zoom account or continue as a guest. Once you have downloaded the app on your smartphone, joined from your web browser, or downloaded the Zoom software on your computer you will be ready for the Council meeting.
If you have previously signed up for Zoom, you can enter the following meeting ID to join the meeting: 949-4392-5973.
I don’t have a computer or smartphone; can I still use Zoom?
If you don’t have a smartphone or computer to access the meeting via Zoom, no problem! You can participate on the phone, by calling one of the following numbers: (669) 900-9128 or (253) 215- 8782 or (346) 248- 7799 or (301) 715-8592 or (312) 626-6799 or (646) 558-8656 and entering meeting ID 949-4392-5973.
How can I provide Public Comment on Zoom?
The Mayor will request public comment during the Public Comment period on the agenda and during each Public Hearing and Regular Calendar Item. Once the Mayor has announced the public comment period, please do one of the following.
USING A COMPUTER OR SMARTPHONE:
- Click on the “Raise Hand” feature in the webinar controls. This will notify City staff that you have raised your hand and you would like to speak.
- City staff will unmute your microphone when it is your turn to provide public comment.
- A prompt will appear to confirm you would like to be unmuted. Once you accept the prompt, you will have three minutes to provide public comment.
- Once your public comment has ended, you will be muted again.
USING A REGULAR PHONE:
- Dial *9 (star 9), this will notify City staff that you have “raised your hand” for public comment.
- City staff will unmute your microphone when it is your turn to provide public comment.
- You will hear “you are unmuted” and then you will have three minutes to provide public comment.
- Once your public comment has ended, you will be muted again.
I don’t want to provide public comment live; can I provide my public comment for the record another way?
Of course! Please submit all public comments via email at publiccomment@sonomacity.org.
I am having difficulties preparing for the meeting and learning Zoom, do you have any resources to help me?
Yes, please visit Zoom’s website support page on helpful tips to prepare for the meeting.