April 7, 2026
TO: City Council
REQUESTED BY: Craig Hayes,
APPROVED BY: Robert A. Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Discussion of Decorum Policy, Senate Bill 707 Brown Act Updates RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and File
DISCUSSION:
Decorum Policy
On March 4, 2025, the City Council adopted the City of San Jacinto Rules of Decorum Policy (“Decorum Policy”). The City Council recognized a need to establish rules of decorum that would promote a higher degree of efficiency in the performance of their duties, while ensuring the free exchange of information and public debate at City Council meetings.
From the March 4, 2025 Staff Report:
The purpose of the City of San Jacinto Rules of Decorum Policy (the “Policy”) is to promote mutual respect, civility, and orderly conduct among elected and appointed City officials, City staff, and members of the public and to promote and maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct in the City's governance. While recognizing there are differing opinions and styles, and disagreement is sometimes a part of the public process, the City Council acknowledges and values its duty to model ethical and civil behavior for City staff and members of the public.
The Policy includes, among other things, general standards of conduct at public meetings, the role of the presiding officer at public meetings, rules of decorum for Councilmembers at public meetings and while in office, and remedial actions for violation of the Policy.
Based on feedback from the Council, there is a desire to review the Decorum Policy and discuss its contents. The City Attorney will provide an overview of, and lead a discussion on, the Decorum Policy at the City Council Meeting.
Senate Bill 707
In 2025, the California Legislature adopted Senate Bill 707 (“SB 707”), which substantially updates and modernizes key components of the Ralph M. Brown Act (“Brown Act”). This is to, among other things, reflect technological changes and promote greater public participation in meetings. The updates include new requirements for specific legislative bodies, expanded and updated teleconferencing options, and other miscellaneous changes.
Several of the most significant new requirements under SB 707 apply to “eligible legislative bodies,” a new term introduced and defined in Government Code section 54953.4. As such a body, the City must follow these requirements starting July 1, 2026. Overall, these new requirements mandate hybrid meetings that allow the public to view and participate in meetings remotely to increase public accessibility to open meetings. These requirements also include specific measures to be taken to avoid potential meeting disruptions. In addition, these new requirements mandate reasonable efforts to ensure open meetings are accessible to non-English speaking populations, as well as any other populations potentially less engaged with the City’s public meetings.
In 1988, the California Legislature first adopted provisions allowing for teleconferencing under the Brown Act. Within the past five years, the Legislature has greatly expanded teleconferencing provisions, first under AB 361 (teleconferencing during declared emergencies) and then under AB 2449 (teleconferencing for “just cause” or personal medical emergency reasons). SB 707 largely maintains the existing teleconferencing options for legislative body members, but reorganizes the provisions and adds new teleconferencing options under certain circumstances.
This includes teleconferencing as a reasonable accommodation and updates to alternative teleconferencing rules.
Finally, SB 707 makes miscellaneous updates to the Brown Act, such as providing copies of the Brown Act to City Council members and other minor updates and clarifications.
The City Attorney will present an overview of SB 707 at the City Council Meeting.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution No. 4065 - Decorum Policy