Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will restrict public comments at its regular meetings on Zoom until the yearend due to “escalating challenges of maintaining civility,” according to the county administrator’s office.

Public comments will be allowed only in person or via email for Board of Supervisors meetings, as well as meetings for the Board of Directors for Sonoma Water and the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District through the end of the year, the administrator’s office said Thursday.

County officials emphasized that those who wish to address the board during meetings, which are usually held on Tuesdays, must attend in person at 575 Administration Drive, Room 100A in Santa Rosa. The public is also invited to submit comments to bos@sonoma-county.org.

“We will take a break from virtual comments while we try to figure out a solution to the racism, the antisemitism and the hate that has been spread online by bad actors over the last several weeks.” Supervisor Chris Coursey

Community members can still watch or listen to the meeting through Legistar, Zoom or phone but will not be able to comment virtually, the administrator’s office said.

“We will take a break from virtual comments while we try to figure out a solution to the racism, the antisemitism and the hate that has been spread online by bad actors over the last several weeks,” Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, said in a statement. “Until we have a better way of doing that, we will only allow public comment within the Board Chambers.”

A series of hate-filled comments bombarded the board’s meetings on Sept. 12 and Sept. 19. County officials responded by switching back to pre-pandemic rules, when public comment could only be delivered in-person or through email.