City of Santa Barbara Brings Back Virtual Public Comments
After Revoking Ability to Give Remote Comment, City Hall Brings Back Feature with New ‘Guidelines’
After pulling the plug on virtual public comment before the Thanksgiving break — a controversial decision Mayor Randy Rowse explained was due to a string of racist callers during City Council meetings — the City of Santa Barbara has reversed course, bringing back the ability for the public to call in remotely to council meetings once again, albeit with some newly laid ground rules.
“We shut off remote public comment because it got abused,” Mayor Rowse said before the public comment period during last week’s council session. ”But this council really wants to have remote public comment as part of the ability to participate for the public at large.”
He said that the city takes public participation very seriously, but that there would have to be “certain guidelines we’d like to adhere to” going forward.
