In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-29-20, suspending open public meeting requirements under the Brown Act and Bagley-Keene Act thereby allowing state and local public agencies – including Boards of Supervisors, City Councils and Planning Commissions – to meet by teleconference without requiring a physical meeting place for members of the public to convene. Since that time, Zoom-based public meetings have become ubiquitous.
Executive Order N-29-20 was set to expire last month on June 15, 2021 – the same date that the state of California marked its official re-opening as the Governor lifted a number of prior COVID-related public health orders and restrictions. However, in a letter to the Governor, an association of cities and other public agencies expressed concern that returning to conducting public hearings in person would require additional time and revamped logistics to ensure continued public health and safety.
Continue Reading As California Opens for Business, Public Hearings Allowed To Continue Remotely Through At Least September 30, 2021
In 1978, California voters passed Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to allow a temporary reduction in assessed value when the market value of a property has fallen below its factored base year value as of the January 1 lien date (a “Prop. 8 Reduction”). Because residential properties change hands much more frequently, California Assessors have access to enough information to understand what the market value of a residential property is for purposes of reviewing applications for Prop. 8 Reductions.
In recent days, the federal government, the state of California, and many local governments have taken action to provide tenant and homeowner protections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.