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Redwood City Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos said he will consider reinstating virtual public comments during city Council meetings, following residents’ concerns. The option was discontinued in 2023 to avoid antisemitic remarks.
“I want to make sure that the process and the format that we administer, is going to be inclusive and transparent, and really make it worthwhile to bring this back,” Martínez Saballos said.
According to the mayor, reinstating virtual comments is at his discretion. He said he is working with staff to determine the best approach while researching what neighboring cities are doing. However, he does not yet have a timeline for a decision. But advocates say bringing them back is essential for accessibility and may now be legally required under the Brown Act, since some council members participate remotely.
Martínez Saballos said the decision to suspend virtual comments two years ago was made by then-Mayor Jeff Gee, following a series of “Zoom bombing” incidents involving “vile, racist and antisemitic” remarks. Gee did not respond to a request for comment.
At the time, cities across the Bay Area, including Palo Alto, San Carlos, Union City, Milpitas and Pacifica, were encountering hate speech during virtual meetings. The Palo Alto Unified School District also temporarily suspended Zoom access for public comment after several speakers made lewd, racist and antisemitic statements.
In some cities, such as Atherton, the offensive remarks appeared to be part of a broader trolling campaign by extremists targeting public forums nationwide. Similar racist, antisemitic and homophobic comments were reported elsewhere in California, including during city council meetings in San Diego and Monterey.
However, Redwood City, along with South San Francisco and San Bruno, is one of only three cities in San Mateo County that do not offer virtual public comments.
Redwood Shores residents Steven and Nina Goodale recently sent a letter to the council urging the return of virtual comments. They said remote participation would improve accessibility for working parents, seniors, disabled residents and those with transportation challenges, while reducing the carbon footprint.
“The goal should be maximum inclusion and civic empowerment while maintaining orderly and productive meetings,” they wrote.
The Goodales also raised legal concerns, noting that the Brown Act may require virtual public comment when council members participate remotely. They pointed out that some council members are now joining meetings virtually.
David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, said Redwood City is legally obligated to offer virtual public comment when council members participate remotely. Under California’s open meetings law — specifically Government Code Section 54953, subdivision (f) — when a quorum is present in person and one or more members join remotely under “just cause” or “emergency circumstances,” the public must be allowed to observe and comment remotely.
This requirement can be met through a two-way audiovisual platform like Zoom or, at minimum, a two-way phone connection along with a live webcast.
“The more opportunities for public comment, the better,” Loy said. “Government works for the people. People don’t work for the government.”
Loy added that providing virtual public comment is especially important for those who may be unable to attend in person due to work, caregiving responsibilities or physical disabilities. He also warned that if Redwood City continues restricting virtual public comments while allowing remote council participation, it could face legal consequences, including lawsuits or action by the county district attorney.
City Attorney Veronica Ramirez said Redwood City follows traditional Brown Act rules under Government Code Section 54953(b), which require remote locations to be listed on the agenda and open to the public. She added that Assembly Bill 2449 allows officials to participate remotely without disclosing their locations, but only if virtual public comment is offered.
“However, since Redwood City suspended virtual public comment, council members have not utilized the AB 2449 teleconferencing,” Ramirez said in an emailed comment.
Currently, residents can submit public comments in person or by emailing publiccomment@redwoodcity.org by 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Although meetings are viewable on Zoom, public comments are no longer accepted through the platform. Emails submitted by the deadline are read aloud during the meeting and become part of the public record.
