DATE: JUNE 30, 2026
DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATION
FROM: PATRICIA M. SORATOS, CITY CLERK
ALEXIS MEJIA, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
TITLE: TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION POLICY FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution adopting the Technology Disruption Policy for City Council Meetings in accordance with Senate Bill 707.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The California Legislature enacted Senate Bill 707 in 2025, amending the Ralph M. Brown Act to require local legislative bodies to provide two-way remote public access for meetings and to adopt formal policies addressing disruptions of telephonic or internet services during meetings. These policies must be adopted by July 1, 2026.
BACKGROUND:
California Senate Bill 707 (SB 707) was enacted in 2025, amending the Ralph M. Brown Act to require local legislative bodies to provide two-way remote public access for meetings and to adopt formal polices addressing disruptions of telephonic or internet services during meetings. Since October 2020, the City of Salinas has conducted hybrid City Council meetings, allowing both in-person and two-way remote public participation via Zoom consistent with SB 707 requirements. To comply with state law, the City must formalize procedures for responding to technology related disruptions for two-way remote public access.
The proposed policy establishes a framework for responding to a disruption in telephonic or internet services that provide two-way remote public and clarify procedures to ensure staff make and document good-faith effort to diagnose and restore two-way remote public access as quickly as possible. The policy also defines how and when the Council may reconvene, either by continuing the meeting or adjourning if service is not restored. The statute further requires that if a disruption occurs that prevents members of the public from observing or participating in a City Council meeting through the two-way telephonic or audiovisual platform, the City Council must recess the open session for at least one hour and make good faith effort to restore service. During this time, the City Council may meet in closed session for agendized closed session matters as permitted by law. If service has not been restored after the hour has passed, the City Council must make findings by roll call vote that good faith efforts were made to restore access and the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access or vote to adjourn the meeting due to not being able to restore remote access.
The provisions of SB 707 apply only to City Council meetings and do not apply to Council subcommittees or council-appointed boards and commissions. The policy does not apply to disruptions of one-way televisions (Comcast) or internet broadcasts (YouTube) of City Council meetings.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378).
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES:
No.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
This policy aligns with the City Council’s Strategic Goal of City Services, Item 6. Engage residents and improve communication with the community.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The City Clerk’s Office collaborated with the City Attorney’s Office to comply with Senate Bill 707.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
Fund
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(Operating/CIP)
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ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Technology Disruption Policy for City Council Meetings
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CITY OF SALINASCOUNCIL STAFF REPORTCITY OF SALINASCOUNCIL STAFF REPORT
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