RESOLUTION NO. 2026-_____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ANAHEIM DETERMINING REASONABLE EFFORTS TO
ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS
PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE § 54953.4
WHEREAS, the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.) establishes requirements for open and public meetings of local legislative bodies; and WHEREAS, Senate Bill 707 (2025) amended the Brown Act to include additional requirements intended to encourage participation in public meetings, particularly among communities that do not traditionally participate in public meetings and non-English-speaking communities; and
WHEREAS, Government Code § 54953.4(b)(3)(C) requires the Anaheim City Council to determine and make reasonable efforts to invite groups that do not traditionally participate in public meetings to attend those meetings; and
WHEREAS, such reasonable efforts may include outreach to media organizations serving the jurisdiction, including those serving non-English-speaking communities, as well as civic, neighborhood, and community-based organizations; and
WHEREAS, Government Code § 54953.4(b)(3)(C)(ii) provides legislative bodies with broad discretion in determining appropriate reasonable efforts and clarifies that no action shall arise from failing to provide notice to any specific group; and WHEREAS, the City of Anaheim is committed to promoting transparency, accessibility, and broad public participation in its public meetings; and WHEREAS, the City of Anaheim currently uses a variety of communication methods to inform the public of meetings and opportunities to participate; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Anaheim as follows:
Section 1. Determination of Reasonable Efforts. The City Council determines the following to constitute reasonable efforts to encourage participation in meetings pursuant to Government Code § 54953.4(b)(3)(C):
1. Media Outreach. The City of Anaheim may include media organizations serving the jurisdiction, including media organizations serving non-English-speaking communities, in the distribution of meeting agendas, notices, or other meeting- related information, as appropriate.
2. Electronic Access and Agenda Subscriptions. The City of Anaheim shall continue to maintain methods for members of the public to access meeting agendas and related materials electronically, including through the City’s website, including, where available, the City of Anaheim may also provide options for members of the public to subscribe to receive meeting agendas, notices, or other updates.
3. Multilingual Communication. The City of Anaheim may use multilingual communication methods to increase awareness of meetings and participation opportunities, including translated agendas, translated meeting instructions, multilingual website notices, or other communication tools, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law and available resources.
4. Community and Organizational Outreach. The City of Anaheim may provide meeting information through existing communication channels and partnerships with community-based organizations, neighborhood groups, civic organizations, and organizations serving non-English-speaking communities, as opportunities arise and consistent with available resources.
5. Use of Existing Communication Channels. The City of Anaheim may use existing outreach methods to share meeting information and participation opportunities, including, but not limited to, the agency website, email notifications, agenda subscription services, newsletters, social media platforms, public counters, bulletin boards, community meetings, and other established communication tools.
6. Flexible and Evolving Methods: The efforts identified in this Resolution are intended to provide a flexible framework for outreach and public participation.
The City of Anaheim may modify, expand, or adjust its outreach methods over time based on available resources, evolving communication practices, changes in technology, and the needs of the community.
Section 2. Flexible Framework. The efforts identified in this Resolution are intended to provide a flexible framework for outreach and public participation. The City of Anaheim may modify, expand, or adjust its outreach methods over time based on available resources, evolving communication practices, changes in technology, and the needs of the community.
Section 3. No Requirement to Provide Notice to Any Specific Group. Consistent with Government Code Section 54953.4(b)(3)(C)(ii), this Resolution does not require notice to any specific group or organization, and no action shall arise from the failure to provide notice to any specific group or organization.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective on July 1, 2026.
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION is approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Anaheim this ___ day of __________________ 2026, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
CITY OF ANAHEIM
________________________________
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
ATTEST:
___________________________________ __
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM