BAKERSFIELD CITY COUNCIL
POST-MEETING AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING
February 25, 2026, 3:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue
1. ROLL CALL
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
a. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements
b. Agenda Item Public Statements
3. REPORTS
a. Staff Report from City Attorney regarding Changes to the Brown Act.
Council feedback and direction.
*1. PowerPoint presentation
*2. Written materials provided by Michael Turnipseed.
4. CLOSED SESSION
a. Conference with Legal Counsel - Potential Litigation; Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2),(e)(1) (one matter)
5. CLOSED SESSION ACTION
6. ADJOURNMENT
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: February 25, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Reports TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney
DATE: February 12, 2026
SUBJECT: Staff Report from City Attorney regarding Changes to the Brown Act.
[Document Description]
RECOMMENDATION:
Council feedback and direction.
BACKGROUND:
Senate Bill 707 was signed into law in late 2025 and makes significant changes to the Brown Act. The law requires, among other things, opportunity for remote participation by the public and certain policy adoption by the City Council on or before July 1, 2026 which will require operational changes to how City Council meetings are conducted.
The City Attorney’s Office will provide a PowerPoint presentation and look to City Council for feedback and direction.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Undetermined
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Senate Bill 707 & Future Council Meetings
Bakersfield City Council3:30 p.m. – ReportsFebruary 25, 2026Ashley ZambranoDeputy City Attorney
SENATE BILL 707•Significant amendments to the Brown Act•Mandates operational changes to conduct of *City Council meetings effective January 1 and July 1 of 2026•Major “operational” impacts to COB to discuss today:•PUBLIC PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTSEffective July 1 •Must incorporate remote public participation into each public comment period at City Council meetings (two-way phone/audio option)•Remote participants must be given same time allotment for public statements as those attending in person•Requires operational change to current City practice
COUNCIL POLICY REQUIREMENTSEffective July 1•On or before July 1, Council SHALL approve a policy regarding interruption of telephonic or internet service during meetings:•Policy shall address procedures for recessing and reconvening during service disruption –must recess for at least 1 hour or until service is restored•If meeting is reconvened but service is not restored, Council must make findings by rollcall vote in open sessionof good faith efforts to restore service in compliance with adopted policy
CONSIDERATIONS•Must incorporate remote public participation into each public comment period (*same time allotment as those in person)•Must account for possible delays/recess in the event telephone/internet service disruptions•Consider adjustments to current agenda order and public comment periods for both efficiency and flexibility
CURRENT COUNCIL POLICY•Council Resolution No. 206-2021(1) sets order of agenda, start time of meetings, public comment periods and time limits•Regular 3:30 meetings generally reserved for Closed Session/Reports•Regular 5:15 meetings include all other business•Public statements subject to 2 min/20 min limits for EACH:Agenda Items, Non-Agenda Items, Reports, Deferred Bus., New Bus.•Public Hearings are subject to 15 min/side + 5 min rebuttal/side
NEXT STEPS: COUNCIL DIRECTION•STEP 1:•Shift agenda items/order between 3:30 & 5:15 meetings?•STEP 2: •Adjust how public statements are received?•STEP 3: •Adjust total time limits to account for remote participation?
STEP 1:ADJUST 3:30/5:15 MEETING ITEMS•Move routine/quicker items from 5:15 to 3:30 Meetings•Proposed Regular 3:30 Agenda:1.Roll Call2.Public Statements3.Appointments4.Consent Calendar5.Reports6.Closed Session
STEP 1 Cont’d:ADJUST 3:30/5:15 MEETING ITEMS•Proposed 5:15 Agenda:1.Roll Call2.Invocation3.Pledge of Allegiance4.Presentations5.Consent Calendar Public Hearings6.Public Hearings7.Public Statements8.Deferred Business9.New Business10.Council & Mayor Statements
STEP 2: ADJUST HOW STATEMENTS RECEIVED•Hear ALL Agenda Item Public Statements at Once•Proposed Regular 3:30 Agenda:1.Roll Call2.Public Statements1.Non-Agenda Item Public Statements2.Agenda Item Public Statements (*All Agenda Items Listed Below Heard @ This Time)3.Appointments4.Consent Calendar5.Reports6.Closed Session
STEP 2 Cont’d: ADJUST HOW STATEMENTS RECEIVED•Proposed 5:15 Agenda:1.Roll Call2.Invocation3.Pledge of Allegiance4.Presentations5.Consent Calendar Public Hearings6.Public Hearings7.Public Statements1.Non-Agenda Item Public Statements2.Agenda Item Public Statements (*All Agenda Items Listed Below Heard @ This Time)8.Deferred Business9.New Business10.Council & Mayor Statements
STEP 3: DETERMINE TIME LIMITS•Option A: No adjustment to total time limits, divide equally between remote participants and in-person•Example: Non-Agenda Item & Agenda Item Public Statements:•2 MIN PER SPEAKER/20 MINUTES TOTAL:•10 Minutes Total For Remote Participants•10 Minutes Total For In Person Participants•Example: Public-Hearings:•15 MINS TOTAL/PER SIDE FOR ARGUMENT; 5 MINS TOTAL/ PER SIDE FOR REBUTTAL:•Applicant/Appellant•7.5 Minutes Total For Remote Participants/ 2.5 min rebuttal•7.5 Minutes Total For In Person Participants / 2.5 min rebuttal•Opposition•7.5 Minutes Total For Remote Participants / 2.5 min rebuttal•7.5 Minutes Total For In Person Participants / 2.5 min rebuttal
STEP 3: ADJUST TIME LIMITS•Option B: Increase total time limits, divide equally between remote participants and in-person•Example: Non-Agenda Item & Agenda Item Public Statements:•2 MIN PER SPEAKER/30 MINUTES TOTAL:•15 Minutes Total For Remote Participants•15 Minutes Total For In Person Participants•Example: Public-Hearings:•30 MINS TOTAL/PER SIDE FOR ARGUMENT; 10 MINS TOTAL/ PER SIDE FOR REBUTTAL:•Applicant/Appellant•15 Minutes Total For Remote Participants/ 5 min rebuttal•15 Minutes Total For In Person Participants / 5 min rebuttal•Opposition•15 Minutes Total For Remote Participants / 5 min rebuttal•15 Minutes Total For In Person Participants / 5 min rebuttal
SUMMARY OF DECISIONSCouncil Feedback and Direction Needed•STEP 1: •Shift agenda items (Appointments/Consent) to 3:30 meetings•STEP 2: •Hear Agenda Item Public Statements at one time (divided between remote/in-person)•STEP 3: •Keep total time limits the same, divided between in person and remote?OR•Increase total time limits? How much?
NEXT STEPS•Based on Council feedback today – will return with amended Council policy at next regular meeting (March 11, 5:15pm) re: agenda & remote participation•Implement revised agenda/policy by ~April 1•Will return at future Council date for discussion/adoption of Council policy re: procedures in event of telephone/internet service disruption (not on consent)
SUMMARY OF DECISIONSCouncil Feedback and Direction Needed•STEP 1: •Shift agenda items (Appointments/Consent) to 3:30 meetings•STEP 2: •Hear Agenda Item Public Statements at one time (divided between remote/in-person)•STEP 3: •Keep total time limits the same, divided between in person and remote?OR•Increase total time limits? How much?