RESOLUTION NO. 11703
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ORANGE DETERMINING REASONABLE
EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
IN CITY COUNCIL 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 to encourage participation in public meetings, particularly among underrepresented communities and non-English-speaking communities; and
WHEREAS, Government Code § 54953.4(b)(3)(C) requires the City of Orange 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, community-based, civil rights, and good government 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 Orange is committed to promoting transparency, accessibility, and broad public participation in its public meetings; and
WHEREAS, the City of Orange currently uses a variety of communication methods to inform the public of meetings and opportunities to participate; and
WHEREAS, the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3), no environmental review is required.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Orange that it determines the following to constitute reasonable efforts to encourage participation in City Council meetings pursuant to Government Code § 54953.4(b)(3)(C):
1. Media Outreach. Proactively include media organizations serving the City of Orange, including non-English-language newspapers and publications, in the distribution of City Council meeting agendas, notices, or other meeting-related information, as appropriate.
2 2. Electronic Access and Agenda Subscriptions. Maintain opportunities for members of the public to subscribe to receive City Council agendas and related materials through the City’s website, and include instructions for accessing and subscribing to such materials on the City’s website.
3. Multilingual Communication . Use multilingual communication methods , including translated agendas and multilingual social media posts (currently in Spanish), to increase awareness of meetings and participation opportunities , with additional languages incorporated as appropriate.
4. Community and Organizational Outreach . Provide meeting information through existing communication channels and partnerships with community -based organizations, neighborhood groups, civic or community organizations, including those serving non - English-speaking communities, as opportunities arise and are consistent with available resources.
5. Flexible and Evolving Methods . Use additional reasonable methods of o utreach as appropriate, including, but not limited to, the City’s website, email notifications, partnerships with community organizations, and other communication platforms that may develop over time.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these efforts are intended to provide a flexible framework for outreach and shall be implemented consistent with available resources and evolving communication practices.
ADOPTED this 9th day of June 2026.
Daniel R. Slater, Mayor, City of Orange
ATTEST:
Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Nathalie Adourian, City Attorney,
City of Orange
3 STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.
CITY OF ORANGE )
I, PAMELA COLEMAN, City Clerk of the City of Orange, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted by the City Council of the City of Orange at a regular meeting thereof held on the 3rd day of June 2026 by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange