How to Participate in City Council Meetings

City of Lemon Grove

Meeting access, Zoom webinar instructions, and public comment procedures

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The City Council encourages the expression of opinions by residents on any matter of community interest within the Council's scope of authority. Oral presentations during Public Hearings and the Public Comments portion of the agenda, written communications, and remote comments are all appropriate ways to share your views.

In accordance with Senate Bill 707 (Durazo), which amends the Ralph M. Brown Act, the City provides members of the public with the ability to attend and participate in all open and public meetings via a two-way telephonic service or two-way audiovisual platform, in addition to in-person attendance.

Meeting Location & Time

Regular meetings of the Lemon Grove City Council are held the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Lemon Grove City Hall, 3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 91945, unless otherwise noted on the published agenda. Members of the public may participate in person, by computer or smartphone using Zoom, or by telephone.

Agendas

Agendas for all public meetings of the City of Lemon Grove are published online at events.lemongrove.ca.gov/council and posted on the bulletin boards near the front entrance of Lemon Grove City Hall, 3232 Main Street, Lemon Grove, CA 91945.

Consistent with SB 707, the agenda for each regular meeting is also translated into Spanish and posted at least 72 hours prior to the meeting, both at Lemon Grove City Hall and on the City's website, along with instructions in Spanish describing how to join the meeting and how to submit public comment.

Members of the public may subscribe for City Council agenda email notifications here: Agenda Subscription Service

How to Participate

In-Person Comment	Fill out a public comment card and turn it in to the City Clerk prior to the commencement of public comment for the item you wish to speak to.
Written Comment	Email comments to jpablo@lemongrove.ca.gov. Comments received by noon the day of the meeting will be provided to the City Council prior to the meeting. Please identify the agenda item your comments relate to in the subject line. All comments received will be included as part of the official record; written comments will not be read aloud.
Virtual — Computer, Tablet, or Smartphone	Click the Zoom Webinar link on the first page of the Meeting Agenda or Packet, or paste it into your browser. You'll be prompted to open (and if necessary, download) Zoom. Before providing public comment, test that your microphone works and update to the latest version of Zoom. To comment: click “Raise Hand” when the Clerk calls for speakers on your item, then “Unmute myself” when called on. Click “Lower Hand” after your comment.
Virtual — Telephone	Dial one of the numbers listed below. When prompted, enter Webinar ID 843 8418 8312, then Passcode 76587. If a number doesn't connect, try another from the list. To comment: press 9 to raise your hand when the Clerk calls for speakers. The Clerk will call on you by the last four digits of your phone number — press 6 to unmute and speak.

Zoom Meeting Access Information

Topic	City Council Regular Meeting
Zoom Webinar Link	https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84384188312?pwd=TtNzPxTEqZvbQKJH0ZsbIs8UXkSEGz.1
Webinar ID	843 8418 8312
Passcode	76587
Phone One-Tap (New York)	+1 929 205 6099,,84384188312#,,,,*76587#
Phone One-Tap	+1 253 205 0468,,84384188312#,,,,*76587#

Dial-In Numbers

+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 305 224 1968 US
+1 309 205 3325 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 360 209 5623 US

+1 386 347 5053 US
+1 507 473 4847 US
+1 564 217 2000 US
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 689 278 1000 US
+1 719 359 4580 US

International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kciFt2S47O

Time Allocated for Public Comment

Members of the public may speak on any item under discussion for up to three (3) minutes per speaker.
At the time an item is considered, the Mayor will ask those attending in person to line up at the podium or raise their hands, and will ask remote participants to use *9 on the telephone or the “Raise Hand” function in Zoom.
The amount of time allotted to each speaker and to each item may be adjusted by the Mayor depending on the number of speakers and the business before the Council.
All remarks should be directed to the Council as a body rather than to any individual Councilmember, staff member, or member of the audience.
When a group wishes to address the Council on the same subject, the Mayor may request that a spokesperson be chosen by the group.
Applauding and other displays of approval or disapproval are inappropriate during City Council meetings.

Basic Terminology

CONSENT ITEMS are routine items prepared and recommended by staff which the Council votes upon with one combined vote. A member of the public or a Councilmember who wishes to have a Consent Item heard individually may request that it be pulled for separate discussion and a separate vote.

ORDINANCES are legislative acts by the Council, are the most permanent and binding type of Council action, and may be repealed or amended only by subsequent ordinances. An ordinance requires two readings at separate Council meetings, is “passed to print” (for legal advertisement) when introduced, and is “passed and adopted” when given final approval.

RESOLUTIONS are passed to express the policy of the Council on certain items or programs, or to direct certain types of administrative action. A resolution may be changed by adoption of a subsequent resolution. Resolutions require one reading and are approved when adopted.

PUBLIC COMMENTS are accepted on any agendized item on any Council agenda, as well as on non-agendized subjects during regular Council meetings. Any member of the public may speak for up to three (3) minutes.

Language Interpretation & Accessibility

Requests for language interpretation may be made by contacting the City Clerk at jpablo@lemongrove.ca.gov or (619) 825-3841. The City Clerk will make every effort to accommodate requests for interpreter assistance. Requests should be made as soon as possible in advance of any meeting.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in a meeting, please contact the City Clerk's Office at jpablo@lemongrove.ca.gov or (619) 825-3841. Notification at least 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility [28 CFR 35.102–35.104, ADA Title II]. Later requests will be accommodated to the extent feasible.

Guidelines for Public Taping of Meetings

Video recording equipment/crew location:

Video cameras, tripods, and crew should remain in the public seating area, at the end of rows to minimize view obstructions. All public seating is first come, first served; staff will not reserve seating for public access producers.
No tripods are permitted in exit pathways or aisles, including entrances and exits.
Videographers may gather footage using hand-held equipment from the main meeting room floor for a limited period, generally five minutes each, and must not disrupt the presentation or proceedings.
No video recording is permitted behind the dais without the express consent of the meeting chair. Taping of notes or materials on the desk is prohibited.
City staff may limit the number of cameras in the meeting room and/or require a camera pool if necessary.
All audio and electrical cords must be securely taped or covered with a mat, subject to City staff approval, and must not cross a doorway.

Interviews or background footage: Potential interviewees, whether Councilmembers, Commissioners, staff, or members of the public, are not obligated to participate in an interview. Common courtesy should be extended, and interviews should not be conducted in a belligerent manner.