The City of Martinez conducts its public business through a variety of legislative and advisory bodies, including the City Council, Council Subcommittees, regional and outside agencies, and the City’s boards and commissions. Each body supports the community by reviewing issues, providing recommendations, or taking formal action within its authority.

For detailed information about all City boards, commissions, committees, membership, duties, and meeting schedules, please visit the City Advisory Bodies webpage.

Public Participation

The City of Martinez is committed to ensuring that community members can observe and participate in the meetings of the City Council and all City advisory bodies. Meetings are held at City Hall’s Council Chamber, 525 Henrietta Street, Martinez, CA 94553, unless an agenda specifies a different location. Members of the public may participate in person, via the City’s remote teleconferencing platform, or by submitting written comments in advance.

Teleconferencing Disruption Notice (SB 707 & Council‑Adopted Policy Compliance)

If remote public access experiences a disruption lasting more than two minutes, the Presiding Officer will announce the issue and the meeting will recess for up to one hour while staff works to restore service. If remote access is restored within the hour, the meeting will resume. If remote access cannot be restored after one hour, the City Council will reconvene and, in accordance with its Council‑adopted Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service Policy (Appendix A), will decide whether to adjourn the meeting, extend the recess, or continue the meeting by adopting the required finding that continuing is in the public interest.

How to Participate

1. Attend In‑Person

Members of the public can provide comments in person when attending a meeting.

How to Participate In-Person:

1. Arrive at Council Chambers or the meeting location listed on the agenda.
2. If you wish to speak, you may fill out a speaker card (encouraged, not required).
3. When the Chair/Mayor announces the public comment period, wait to be called.
4. Each speaker is generally limited to three minutes, unless the Chair announces otherwise.

2. Attend Remotely (Zoom)

Virtual participants may use the “Raise Hand” feature in Zoom to request to speak during periods of public comment.

How to Participate Remotely:

1. Use the Zoom link or call‑in number provided on the agenda.
2. Join the meeting with your full name so the Clerk can identify you.
3. To provide verbal comments:
   • Use the “Raise Hand” button in Zoom; or
   • If calling in, dial *9 to raise or lower your hand.
4. When it is your turn, the host will enable your microphone and call your name.
5. Provide your comments verbally within the time limit announced for the item.

3. Submit Written Comments (in Advance)

How to Submit Written Comments:

1. Written comments must be received by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
2. You may submit comments by:

• Email
• Mail, or
• Hand‑delivery to City Hall.

1. Address your comments to the Clerk of the legislative body holding the meeting.
2. All written comments received by the deadline will be forwarded to the legislative body for review and consideration.
3. Written comments are not read aloud during the meeting but become part of the public record and are included in the published agenda packet.

4. General Public Comment Information

• Members of the public may provide comments on agenda items scheduled for action or discussion, as well as on non‑agendized matters during the general public comment period, as listed on the meeting agenda.
• Public comments may be subject to time limits, reasonable rules of decorum, and meeting management procedures.
• Clerks for each legislative body receive, collect, and transmit all comments to the body in compliance with public meeting laws.

Agenda Materials

Agenda Packets for City Council and Martinez Commissions and Committees can be viewed here.

For past meeting videos, minutes, and agendas, please visit the Available Archives section below. If you cannot find the meeting records you are looking for, you may submit a records request through the City’s NextRequest Portal, linked here.

Agenda Subscriptions

To receive notification of agenda publications and it's materials, you can sign up here.

Proclamation Request 

A proclamation is an official ceremonial document issued by the City to recognize a specific day, week, month, cause, milestone, or noteworthy event that is relevant to the Martinez community. Proclamations are honorary in nature and do not have the force of law.

If you would like to request a proclamation or would like more information, check out the Proclamation Request and Template form.

Televised City Council Meetings  

City Council meetings are televised at 7:30pm on Friday following the regularly scheduled Wednesday meeting on: Comcast channel 28, U-Verse channel 99, and Wave channel 29.

Annual Recess of Meetings 

Recess of all meetings is observed during the month of July.

ADA Accommodations and Interpreter Assistance 

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and California law, the Council Chamber is wheelchair accessible and disabled parking is available at City Hall. If you are a person with a disability and require modifications or accommodations to attend or participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (925) 372-3512. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.

The City will also provide reasonable assistance to members of the public who wish to use personal interpreters, including arranging appropriate space for interpreters and allowing additional time for interpretation when needed. If you plan to attend with a personal interpreter or need related assistance, please contact the City Clerk’s Office as early as possible before the meeting.

Closed Captioning 

Meetings from 2020 to current have closed captioning available, with exception to new meetings that are in que to receive captioning. For 2019 and older, closed captioning will be made available upon request. To request closed captioning for a video, please call the City Clerk's Office at (925) 372-3512.

Brown Act & Open Meeting Requirements – ADD AS LAST WIDGET. City Council and Advisory Body meetings are conducted in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code §54950 et seq.), which guarantees the public’s right to attend, observe, and participate in local government decisions. The City follows all open meeting requirements, including public noticing deadlines, agenda posting rules, and accessibility standards for both in‑person and remote participation.

Meetings are also guided by Rosenberg’s Rules of Order, the parliamentary framework adopted by the City Council to support fairness, transparency, and orderly deliberation. The Brown Act prevails in any instance where parliamentary rules and state law differ.

For more information about public access, decorum expectations, public comment rights, and procedural rules, please refer to the City Council Handbook: Governance Policies & Procedures.