[Draft] Policy 1.7
City Council Policy and Procedures Manual
Policy for Disruption of Telephonic or Internet
Service During Public Meetings (SB 707)
Reference: [Add Resolution Amending Policy]
Section 1: Purpose
This policy is adopted in compliance with Senate Bill (“SB”) 707 (2025), amending the Ralph M.
Brown Act, codified at Government Code section 54950 et seq. Amongst other things, SB 707 requires eligible legislative bodies, which by its definition includes the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach, to adopt a policy addressing how the City Council will respond in the event of telephonic or internet service disruptions that prevents a member(s) of the public utilizing such two-way telephonic or audio/visual platform from being able to attend or observe the meeting remotely.
The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for responding to a disruption in the telephonic or internet services that provides two-way remote public access to meetings of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach, as required Government Code section 54953.4. The policy ensures transparency, public participation, and continuity of government during technology disruptions.
Section 2: Definitions
For purposes of this policy:
• “Disruption” means any failure, outage, or other interruption in the remote access services utilized by the City that prevents members of the public from attending or observing the City Council meeting.
• “Remote access services” means the two-way telephonic service and/or two-way audiovisual platform used to provide real-time remote public attendance and observation of City Council meetings.
• “Remote public participation” means the ability of a member of the public to participate in a City Council meeting via remote access services.
Section 3: Applicability
This policy applies to all open and public meetings of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach, as an eligible legislative body, at which remote public participation is required under the Brown Act.
53 [Draft] Policy 1.7
Section 4: Procedures in the Event of a Service Disruption
4.1 Response to Service Disruption
If the Mayor or City Clerk becomes aware of a disruption to the City’s remote access services that prevents members of the public from remote public participation:
1. The Mayor or City Clerk shall immediately announce the disruption to the public.
2. The Mayor may then call for a recess of the open session or convene the legislative body in closed session, consistent with the Brown Act.
3. Staff shall begin efforts to diagnose and restore the disrupted service.
4. The meeting shall remain in recess for at least one hour or until the remote access service is restored, whichever is sooner. The recess period may be extended by the Mayor if restoration efforts remain ongoing.
4.2 Efforts to Restore Service
The City shall make good faith efforts to restore remote access services, which may include:
• Troubleshooting platform or teleconferencing software • Resetting or replacing audiovisual equipment
• Attempting alternative connection methods
• Contacting necessary support staff or service providers • Switching to back-up equipment or platforms, if available The City Clerk and information technology staff shall document the restoration efforts undertaken.
Section 5: Reconvening the Open Session
5.1 Timing
The open session may be reconvened after at least one hour has elapsed from the time of disruption or as soon as remote access service is restored, whichever occurs earlier.
5.2 If Service Is Restored
If the remote access service is restored before or at the time the meeting reconvenes, the meeting shall continue as normal.
5.3 If Service Is Not Restored
If service has not been restored after one hour, the City Council may reconvene and:
1. Adjourn the meeting; or
2. Continue the meeting in open session by adopting, by roll call vote, the following, or a substantially similar, legislative finding:
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“The City of Laguana Beach has made good faith efforts to restore remote access service in accordance with its adopted policy, and the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access.” Prior to the City Council’s vote, the City Clerk shall read into the record the efforts that were undertaken to restore remote access services. The legislative finding shall be made at the sole discretion of the City Council. Upon adoption of the finding, the City Council may continue the open session despite the fact that remote access services have not been restored.
Section 6: Recordkeeping
The City Clerk shall enter a brief statement into the meeting minutes, including the following:
• The nature and time of the disruption
• The restoration efforts undertaken
• The time the meeting was reconvened (if applicable)
• Any finding adopted pursuant to Section 5.3
Section 7: Review and Updates
This Policy may from time-to-time be amended by the City Council at a noticed public meeting in open session as part of regular business, at the discretion of City Council in compliance with the Brown Act.
Adopted: [Add date of adoption]
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