Ventura County Board of Supervisors

Before you start

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

Streaming and remote public participation for Board of Supervisors meetings are provided pursuant to the Brown Act at Government Code section 54953.4. The County’s policy regarding disruptions of remote access during Board of Supervisors meetings is available at venturacounty.gov/meetingdisruptionpolicy [5]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

Documents including staff materials, comment emails and letters, photos, etc., distributed to the Board of Supervisors regarding any agenda item during an open session or after the meeting concluded, are posted online and made available for public inspection at venturacounty.gov/bosmeetings . [6]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

Public comment is the opportunity for members of the public to participate in meetings by addressing the Board of Supervisors in connection with one or more agenda or non-agenda items. Public comments by a member of the public at a single meeting are limited to three minutes per speaker per listed agenda item unless the time allotment is decreased by the Chair depending on the number of speakers. [7]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

The general public comment period during the opening part of the meeting to address non-agenda items is limited to no more than three minutes per speaker and may be decreased by the Chair depending on the number of speakers for non-agenda items. [8]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

Members of the public who would like to augment their comments with visual or audio presentations using County equipment must submit their materials to the Clerk of the Board for review at least 24 hours before the meeting before use of County equipment will be allowed. The review will be conducted to determine only whether the materials are on matters within the jurisdiction of the Board, would be disruptive of the meeting, or would foster illegality, such as identity theft. If it is determined the materials are about matters not within the Board’s jurisdiction, or would be disruptive of the meeting, or would foster illegality, use of County equipment will not be allowed. [9]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

The Board offers various methods for public participation. Zoom registration is strongly encouraged for remote and in-person public comment participation options. To find out how you may provide public comment, please refer to the instructions below. Public comments may be provided using one of the following options: [10]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

If you wish to make a written comment on a specific agenda item by email or mail, please submit your comment by noon on the day prior to the meeting. Indicate in the Subject Line the Agenda item number (e.g., Item no. 8) on which you are commenting. Your email or written comment will be distributed to the Board of Supervisors and placed into the item’s record of the Board meeting. Public Comments submitted in writing are public records and subject to disclosure. An unredacted version is made available when records are requested by a Public Records Act Request. Please do not submit personal contact information that you do not want to be made public. Please submit your comment to the Clerk of the Board at clerkoftheboard@venturacounty.gov or mail to: [11]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

If you would like to provide a verbal comment in person during the meeting, you may pre-register using the registration link provided at the bottom of this web page for the applicable meeting date. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. You will receive an automated email from Zoom which confirms your registration. You will not need the Zoom connection information provided in the confirmation Email since you will be participating in person. Upon arrival at the meeting location, check in with the Clerk of the Board staff. When your name is called for public comment, please proceed to the podium. If you do not wish to pre-register but would like to provide in-person comments at the meeting, you must check in with the Clerk of the Board staff prior to the agenda item being called. [12]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

To make public comment remotely during the meeting, register using the registration link provided at the bottom of this web page for the applicable meeting date. We encourage you to register in advance of the meeting to ensure that you receive the Zoom credentials prior to the item being heard. Requests to make live public comment on an agenda item will be accepted until the public comment period for each agenda item is complete. If you wish to make comments, you must be connected to the meeting via Zoom prior to the close of the public comment period. Please review the Zoom instructions on the registration page to help ensure there are no technical difficulties during your comments and familiarize yourself with procedures using Zoom. [13]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

The participation information is unique to you, please do not share as it may cause issues with your ability to join the meeting. [14]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

When the final Board of Supervisors’ Meeting agenda is posted for viewing at venturacounty.gov/bosmeetings, registration for public comment will open. [15]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

Fill out the registration form and provide the agenda item number(s) you wish to comment on. [16]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

Please connect to zoom to follow along with the meeting and be prepared to make your comments. Be connected by Zoom Video or Call-in prior to the chair calling for public speakers on the item you will be commenting on. If you are not connected prior to the close of the public comment period for an agenda item of interest, the Board is unable to return to that agenda item. [17]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

Your microphone will remain muted and camera turned off until the Chair calls your name to make comments. [18]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

When your time to comment comes, Zoom will display an on-screen message indicating you are being prompting as a panelist. Accept the prompt. [19]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

Your microphone will remain muted until the Chair calls your name to make comments. [20]

Availability · Published Board/Clerk meeting guidance; check the current posted agenda for meeting-specific arrangements

When your time to comment comes, unmute by pressing * then 6 on your telephone keypad. You will hear “You are unmuted”, to inform you that your microphone has been enabled. [21]