CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
June 15, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Karla Shipman, Acting City Clerk
SUBJECT: REVIEW SENATE BILL 707 BROWN ACT UPDATES AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION FOR A TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION POLICY ______________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Review new Brown Act public meeting requirements and staff implementation Provide direction to staff regarding limiting the time period for non-agendized public comment Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-70-A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, TO ADOPT A TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION POLICY FOR REMOTE MEETING PARTICIPATION AS REQUIRED BY SENATE BILL 707 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On October 3, 2025, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 707 (SB707) into law with the intent to increase public engagement in local government and modernize the Ralph M. Brown Act. Effective July 1, 2026, SB 707 requires “eligible legislative bodies”, which includes the City of Pomona City Council, to meet new public meeting requirements.
SB1439/GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLICABILITY:
☐ When this box is checked, it indicates the agenda item is subject to the Levine Act SB1439 requirements. Councilmembers are reminded to check their campaign contributions and determine whether they have received a campaign contribution of $500 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $500 or more made 1) by any person or entity who is identified in the agenda report as the applicant or proposer or 2) on behalf of the applicant or participant, including a parent, subsidiary or otherwise related business entity, or 3) by any person who has a financial interest in the agenda item requires a councilmember to comply with SB1439.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact at this time.
DISCUSSION:
Senate Bill 707 (SB707) amends the Brown Act for new requirements to take effect in two phases.
Effective January 1, 2026:
New teleconferencing provisions for all Brown Act bodies, including updates to “just cause” provisions and participating remotely as a reasonable accommodation for a disability. SB 707 authorizes remote teleconference meetings for eligible subsidiary bodies by City Council approval only.
Local agencies must provide a copy of the Brown Act to all persons elected or appointed to a legislative body. Staff have complied with this requirement.
Removes the sunset from AB 992 regarding social media communications. Legislative members may use public social media to share or gather information, but they cannot discuss agency business with each other or respond to one another’s posts about such matters.
Effective July 1, 2026:
Requirements include remote participation for members of the public, expanded public access and outreach, and language access. Staff will address these requirements through the following actions:
Allow remote participation via Zoom platform
The council chambers has this capability. Staff are working through the implementation of this technology to go live for the meeting of July 6.
Adopt a technology disruption policy related to two-way remote access participation. This policy only applies to a disruption in remote two-way access services (Zoom) that prevents members of the public from listing and speaking at the meeting remotely. This policy does not apply to members of the public that are watching the meeting by live stream or on TV.
Included as a part of this item, is the adoption of Resolution No. 2026-70 (Attachment No. 1 and Attachment No. 2) Translate City Council meeting agendas into Spanish. SB 707 requires translation into “applicable languages” based on the most recent American Community Survey (ACS) data of the population served. Based on the criteria, Pomona is required to translate agendas to only Spanish. This requirement does not extend to the agenda packet.
The City’s agenda management software, Granicus, already has this functionality.
Create a dedicated public meetings information webpage to:
Explain the meeting process
Provide instructions on how to participate remotely and in person Link to the calendar of meetings
Link to posted agendas
Provide instructions on how to translate agendas into alternate languages Provide a public space to post additional translations of the agenda One bulletin board outside council chambers will be made available. The City is not responsible or liable for the content, accuracy, or posting of these translations.
Make reasonable outreach efforts to underrepresented groups and non-English speaking communities to participate in meetings. There is broad discretion on fulfilling this requirement.
Staff already use the City’s website and social media platforms to advertise City Council meetings.
Given the expanded opportunity for members of the public to participate and give public comment and in an effort to allow reasonable time for the City Council to conduct the business of the meetings, staff recommends limiting the public comment period for non-agendized items to 45 minutes. An additional public comment period can be added at the end of the meeting after all business matters on the agenda have concluded to allow for those who did not get the opportunity to speak. Speaking priority will be given to those in person at the meetings.
Accordingly, the City Council meeting agenda will be updated to include the limit on the public comment period for non-agendized items, the possibility that the length of time each speaker receives will depend on the number of speakers, and the second public comment period at the end of the meeting.
Additionally, the agenda will be updated to have instructions on how to participate remotely and instructions on how to translate agendas into a different language.
Prepared by:
________________________
Karla Shipman, CMC
Acting City Clerk
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution No. 2026-70
Attachment No. 2 – Exhibit A- Disruption of Internet Service or Two-Way Remote Access Technology During Public Meetings Policy SB 707-New Public Meeting Requirements