Petaluma council appears likely to limit officials' use of iPads, other devices

<p>The Petaluma City Council appeared likely to support restrictions on officials' use of electronic devices during meetings after a wide-ranging discussion Monday night that frustrated many members.</p><p>The council took no action, instead asking the city attorney to return in March with a resolution codifying the intent.</p><p>After much back-and-forth about what should be allowed and what not, Vice Mayor Tiffany Renee said the issue boiled down to trust.</p><p>“We all took an oath,” she said. “We have to maintain the law when we're not on the dais. But somehow things change when we're up here and we get a device? It just floors me.”</p><p>Councilman Gabe Kearney asked the council to formalize a policy after his use of an iPad at a Planning Commission meeting last month drew questions from Commissioner Dennis Elias, who said he was worried about transparency and open government.</p><p>Mayor David Glass echoed those concerns Monday, saying that's what he'd been hearing from the public since a Press Democrat article Sunday explored the topic.</p><p>“This is a game-changer, and some people don't trust it,” he said.</p><p>Throughout the country, the use of electronic devices by public officials has been scrutinized as the devices have become ubiquitous. Critics worry officials are being secretly lobbied during meetings or their attention is being diverted from public business.</p><p>Sonoma County agencies have varying policies, from no policy to allowing extensive use of iPads in Windsor and at the county Board of Supervisors. Santa Rosa prohibits sending or receiving electronic messages during meetings and Rohnert Park allows laptops for accessing documents.</p><p>Petaluma's technology manager, Tim Williamson, recommended that the city encourage the use of electronic devices to save money and staff time and reduce environmental impacts but restrict the use of outside messaging during meetings, except for personal emergencies.</p><p>But the council strayed into broader territory, discussing whether such devices should be required to have password protection on them, the visual quality of documents on them and whether the policy should be more restrictive than existing open meetings and open records laws.</p><p>Kearney, Renee and Councilman Mike Harris — the three youngest and most tech-savvy on the council — all have used their personal iPads during city meetings to view documents.</p><p>A draft policy could come before the council on March 5.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Lori A. Carter at 762-7297 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com.</p>