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EXHIBIT “A”
LOMITA CITY COUNCIL MEETING DISRUPTION POLICY
1. Purpose
This policy is adopted pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act, as amended by Senate Bill 707, to ensure meaningful public access to City Council meetings and to address disruptions affecting public participation or the orderly conduct of meetings.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all open and public meetings of the City Council at which remote public participation is required under the Brown Act, or authorized by both the Brown Act and the City Council. Consistent with the Brown Act, this policy shall not apply to the following meetings:
a. Meetings held to attend a judicial or administrative proceeding to which the [Agency] is a party.
b. Meetings held to inspect real or personal property provided that the topic of the meeting is limited to items directly related to the real or personal property. c. Meetings held to 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 [Agency] and over which the federal or state officials have jurisdiction. d. Meetings held to meet in or nearby a facility owned by the [Agency], provided that the topic of the meeting is limited to items directly related to the facility. e. Meetings held in an emergency situation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.5.
3. Definitions
• Service Disruption means a failure or interruption of the City’s provision of telephonic or internet-based public access that prevents the public from observing or participating in a meeting; or
• Disrupting means engaging in behavior or conduct that actually disrupts, disturbs, or impedes the orderly conduct of a meeting and includes but is not limited to one of the following: (a) a failure to comply with reasonable and lawful regulations adopted by the Council; or (b) engaging in behavior that constitutes use of force or a true threat of force. • Remote public access means the two-way telephonic service and/or two-way audiovisual platform used to provide real-time remote public attendance and observation of meetings.
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• Presiding officer means the Mayor or other authorized chair of the meeting.
4. Technology and Access
The City shall provide remote public access and opportunity for two-way listening and public comment as required by law and shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that meeting technology functions properly and instructions on how to access meetings are clearly posted on meeting agendas.
If a two-way audiovisual platform is used, the Council will:
a. Publicly post and provide a call-in option as well; and b. Activate any automatic captioning function that is available in the audiovisual platform.
If a two-way audiovisual platform is not provided, the Council will provide a two-way telephonic service.
5. Procedure in the Event of a Service Disruption
If remote public access experiences a service disruption during a meeting:
1. The presiding officer shall announce the disruption on the record.
2. The City Council shall recess the open session portion of the meeting for at least one (1) hour while staff makes a good-faith effort to restore access. During the recess, the Council may convene in an authorized closed session consistent with the Brown Act.
3. If access is restored, the meeting shall resume.
4. If access is not restored within one (1) hour, the City Council may resume the open session portion of the meeting only upon a roll-call vote finding that:
o Good-faith efforts were made to restore access; and
o Proceeding with the meeting serves the public interest.
5. All actions taken, including the service disruption, efforts to fix it, and findings shall be reflected in the meeting minutes.
6. Alternatively, the Council may at any time adjourn the meeting, in which case all items that have not been completed shall be continued to the next regular meeting of the City Council.
6. Behavioral Disruptions
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The presiding officer may address disruptive conduct by any participant, including remote participants, consistent with the Brown Act. Disruptive conduct includes, but is not limited to, repeated interruptions, refusal to follow reasonable time and manner rules, or threatening behavior. Prior to removal or muting, the presiding officer shall issue a warning and provide an opportunity for corrective behavior, unless immediate action is necessary to maintain order or safety or address a use of force or true threat of force.
7. Removal and Continuation of Meeting
If removal or muting of a disruptive individual is necessary, the meeting may continue unless the disruption renders the orderly conduct of the meeting infeasible. Law enforcement involvement should only be used if necessary and appropriate. The remedies provided under this policy for addressing disruptive behavior are general in nature; this policy is not intended to limit the Council’s remedies for addressing such behavior or the orderly conduct of meetings consistent with the Brown Act or other applicable law.
8. Administration
The City Clerk and City Manager are responsible for administering this policy and ensuring staff training and compliance.
9. Review and Updates
This policy may be amended by the Council at a noticed public meeting in open session and may not be placed on the consent calendar unless allowed under State law.