Participate & Watch Public Meetings

PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC MEETINGS

Observing or participating in these meetings can be done in the following ways, depending on meeting type:

City Council and Council Committee Meetings

Including:
- Rules & Open Government / Committee of the Whole
- Community and Economic Development Committee
- Neighborhood Services and Education Committee
- Public Safety, Finance & Strategic Support Committee
- Smart Cities and Service Improvements Committee
- Transportation & Environment Committee
Agendas, Staff Reports, and some associated documents for City Council and Committee items may be viewed at https://sanjose.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Watch or Listen:

Comcast Cable TV Channel 26 (Closed Captioning available)
Online at https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/appointees/city-clerk/council-agendas-minutes/participate-watch-public-meetings#watch (Closed Captioning available)
1. Find the meeting and click on "In Progress" or "Currently in Session" to watch.
On the City’s YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/CityofSanJoseCalifornia (Closed Captioning available)
Via Zoom* using a computer or smart device.
1. Meeting links are provided on the face of meeting agendas. For more information on how to join a meeting, please visit - https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193
By phone (mobile or landline)
1. For City Council, dial in using one of the phone numbers provided:
  US: +1 213 338 8477
  +1 408 638 0968
  877 853 5257 (Toll Free)
  888 475 4499 (Toll Free)
2. Enter the webinar ID number and password, if applicable, as provided on the meeting agenda.
3. For Council Committees, review the dial in and webinar ID information on the agenda.

Participate/Give Public Comment:

Submit written public comments before City Council or Council Committee Meetings:

Use the eComment links located at https://sanjose.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
- eComments are directly sent to Council and Committee staff.
Send an email to city.clerk@sanjoseca.gov by 8:00 a.m. the day of the meeting.
- Please identify the Agenda Item Number in the subject line of your email. Emails will be attached to the Council Item under “Letters from the Public,” but will not be read aloud during the meeting.

Submit written public comments during the City Council Meetings:

Send an email to councilmeeting@sanjoseca.gov during the meeting.
- Please identify the Agenda Item Number in the subject line of your email. Comments received will be included as a part of the meeting record but will not be read aloud during the meeting.

*Zoom Web Browser Requirements
Must have the application installed. Use a current, up-to-date browser: Chrome 30+, Firefox 27+, Microsoft Edge 12+, Safari 7+. Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer. Learn more at zoom.us.

I don’t want to provide a verbal public comment live; can I provide my public comment for the record another way?

Yes. Please submit all public comments to the Commission liaison. The email address is located on the Agenda.

Where can I get internet access to participate in the meeting?

The city has Free Wi-Fi Hotspot Maps and Xfinity Hotspot Locator in San José.

Boards and Commissions Meetings

Select meeting bodies are video recorded based on Sunshine Ordinance requirements. Meeting bodies where video recording is required are also televised and webcast live.

Meeting bodies that are televised and webcast include:
- Planning Commission
- Planning General Plan Task Force
- Federated City Employees’ Retirement Board
- Police & Fire Department Retirement Board
- Station Area Advisory Group

Watch or Listen for just the meeting bodies listed above:

Comcast Cable TV Channel 26 (Closed Captioning available)
Online at https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/appointees/city-clerk/council-agendas-minutes/participate-watch-public-meetings#watch (Closed Captioning available)
- Find the meeting and click on "In Progress" or "Currently in Session" to watch.
On the City’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/CityofSanJoseCalifornia(Closed Captioning available)

Watch or Listen for the meetings bodies listed above and also meetings that are not televised or webcast:

Via Zoom* using a computer or smart device.
- Click on the link provided on the face or second page of the agenda. For more information about joining a meeting, please visit: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193
By phone (mobile or landline)
- Dial in phone numbers provided on the face of the meeting agenda.
- Enter the webinar ID number provided on the face of the meeting agenda.

Where can I get internet access to participate in the meeting?

The city has Free Wi-Fi Hotspot Maps and Xfinity Hotspot Locator in San José.

Community Meetings

Find community meetings on projects or programs by visiting the City’s Calendar
If you are looking for a specific meeting and know the name or subject, you can:
- Filter the City’s Calendar by selecting “Council and Committee Meetings” under the “All Categories” filter or or use the “All Departments” filter to find the meeting you want, OR
- Look through the calendar to find the meeting and click the blue hyperlinked text.

Zoom Controls for All Meetings

Listening to Simultaneous Language Interpretation

Live English to Spanish, and English to Vietnamese language interpretation available only for City Council meetings.

Click Interpretation at the bottom of Zoom window.
Select the language you would like to hear from the following menu:

Zoom Interpretation Controls Image

To hear only the interpreted language (recommended), select “Mute Original Audio”.
Watch the videos below to see these steps in action for English to Spanish and English to Vietnamese language interpretation.

English to Spanish Language Interpretation

English to Vietnamese Language Interpretation

I am having difficulties preparing for the meeting and learning Zoom, do you have any resources to help me?

Yes, here are some additional resources on how to participate in virtual meetings via Zoom:

Instructions on how to participate in Zoom Meetings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oabE8tfl2c

Tutorial De Proyecto Esperanza Para Usar Zoom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urmbqtdfGTI

Hướng dẫn cách tham gia những cuộc họp bằng Zoom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHItyQc0f7o

Information on Americans with Disabilities Act and Accommodations

Virtual Meetings

Any member of the public who needs accommodations should email the ADA Coordinator at ADA@sanjoseca.gov or by calling (408) 535-8430. The ADA Coordinator will use their best efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to provide as much accessibility as possible while also maintaining public safety in accordance with the City procedure for resolving reasonable accommodation requests.

Documents

To request an alternative format agenda under the Americans with Disabilities Act for City-sponsored meetings, events or printer materials, please call (408) 535-1260 as soon as possible, but at least three business days before the meeting.

WATCH PUBLIC MEETINGS

Watch City Council and Committee Meetings here.

How To Watch

Watch live broadcasts of meetings on YouTube, or by clicking on the "In Progress" or "Currently in Session" link in the Currently in Session section below.

Note: Closed Captions are available on YouTube and in the videos linked below. Simply toggle the "CC" option in the video controls overlay to turn on or turn off closed captions.
Watch live broadcasts on Comcast Cable Channel 26.
Watch previously recorded broadcasts on YouTube.

If the content below is not displaying correctly on your mobile device, watch a meeting here.

CivicCenter TV

CivicCenter TV is the media production team of the City of San José. CivicCenter TV, in partnership with CreaTV, produces web and television coverage of San José City Council, Council Committee, Planning Commission, and San José Retirement Services Board meetings, as well as San José original programming.

QUESTIONS OR ASSISTANCE

If you have questions about CivicCenter TV programming, or are having difficulty watching the webcast, please write us at civiccentertv26@sanjoseca.gov.