4925-3151-3219.1 014537.001
Atherton City Council Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service Policy Policy Application
This policy shall apply when, during the open session of a meeting of the City Council, there is a disruption of telephonic or internet service that prevents the public from attending or observing the meeting via a two-way telephonic or audiovisual service (e.g. Zoom).
This policy, and its requirements, shall not apply when a meeting of the City Council is held for any of the following reasons:
• Attend a judicial or administrative proceeding to which the local agency is a party.
• Inspect real or personal property provided that the topic of the meeting is limited to items directly related to the real or personal property. • Meet with elected or appointed officials of the United States or the State of California, solely to discuss a legislative or regulatory issue affecting the Town and over which the federal or state officials have jurisdiction. • Meet in or nearby a facility owned by the Town, provided that the topic of the meeting is limited to items directly related to the facility. • Meet in an emergency situation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.5.
Procedures for Recessing and Reconvening
Upon the disruption of two-way telephonic or internet service that prevents the public from attending or observing the meeting, the Town Clerk, or another member of Town staff, shall immediately notify the City Council. Upon notification, the City Council shall immediately recess the open session meeting and may state that the recess is due to disruption of two-way telephonic or internet service that prevents the public's ability to attend or observe the meeting.
During the recess, the City Council may meet in closed session. ➢ During the recess, a good faith effort to restore the service shall be made. The City Council shall not reconvene the open session of the meeting until at least one hour following the disruption, or until the telephonic or internet service is restored, whichever is earlier.
➢ Upon reconvening the open session, if telephonic or internet service has not been restored after at least one hour of making a good faith effort to restore the service, the City 4925-3151-3219.1 014537.001
Council shall adopt a finding by rollcall vote that good faith efforts to restore the telephonic or internet service have been made in accordance with this policy and that the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access. ➢ Upon adopting a finding by rollcall vote that good faith efforts to restore the telephonic or internet service have been made in accordance with this policy and that the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access, the City Council may continue with the meeting.
Policy Amendment
Any amendment to this policy shall be brought before the Council for consideration and adoption at a noticed public meeting in open session. Any amendments to this policy shall be adopted as a regular agenda item, not on the consent calendar.
This policy was adopted as a regular agenda item during the February 18, 2026, City Council meeting for the Town of Atherton.