S
B707 IMPLE
MENTATION
May4,2026
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1 MeetingDisruptionPolicyand
LanguageAccessPolicy
AGENDA
1 - RECAP
Overview and Timeline
4 - POLICIES
2 - KEY PROVISIONS
Summary of key provisions
3 - RECOMMENDATIONS
Review recommendations from
Rules Committee
Overview of Proposed Policies
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SB 707 expands:
Mandatory hybrid public access for City Council meetings Remote attendance flexibility for members
Language access outreach requirements
Staff’s recommendations are focused on meeting legal
requirements without adding significant resource costs.
OVERVIEW
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(Nov 2025 - Jan 2026)
Identify operational
impacts; assess resource
capacity; develop key
policy recommendations.
Assessment
1 TIMELINE
2 3
4 5
(Mar - June)
Configure meeting rooms
and technology; update
procedures; train staff
presiding officers.
Infrastructure
(Ongoing)
Monitor and adjust. Return
to Council as needed with
refinements or budget
requests.
Monitor
(Feb - April)
Establish governance
framework with direction
from Rules Committee &
City Council.
Framework
By July 1, 2026:
Fully implement all
applicable provisions of
SB 707.
Implement
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KEY
PROVISIONS
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There are three different categories of legislative bodies, and the rules apply differently:
City Council
Council Standing Committees
Boards and Commissions
DEFINITIONS
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Application: all legislative bodies
SB707 makes permanent the following rule:
A member of a legislative body shall not directly respond to any communication on an internet based social media platform regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body that is made, posted, or shared by any other member of the legislative body.
This includes comments, likes, emojis, and reposts.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Applicability: City Council
Virtual participation by the public
Council must adopt disruption & continuation policy
Meetings pause up to 1 hour for access disruptions while good faith efforts are taking place to restore access
The meeting may resume when access is restored, or after 1 hour MANDATE: HYBRID
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
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Applicability: Boards and Commissions
Virtual participation by the public
Cost: $30,000 - $150,000
OPTION: HYBRID PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION
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Applicability: City Council
City Council meeting agendas must be translated into applicable languages American Community Survey data for San Leandro:
Spanish (23% of total population; 57% speak English less than “very well”) Chinese (21% of total population; 76% speak English less than “very well”) Related meeting information must be posted prominently online MANDATE:
AGENDA TRANSLATION
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Applicability: City Council
Reasonable efforts to encourage participation by groups that don’t traditionally participate in City Council meetings
Public posting board for additional translations
Assist with meeting translation / interpretation at meetings MANDATE: COUNCIL
MEETING OUTREACH
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Eligible bodies
Council Standing Committees
Arts, Culture, & Library Commission
Human Services Commission
Recreation & Parks Commission
Senior Commission
Youth Advisory Commission
Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission
Ineligible bodies
Community Police Review Board
Personnel Relations Board
Planning Commission
Rent Review Board
OPTION: FULLY REMOTE
MEMBER PARTICIPATION
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Council Standing Committees:
May all participate remotely if
located in San Leandro
Must include location on
agenda and public access at
physical meeting locations
Cost estimates: $0
OPTION: FULLY REMOTE
MEMBER PARTICIPATION
Boards and Commissions:
All members may participate
remotely without providing the
address of their physical location
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Applicable to all:
Council authorization is required
One physical meeting location open to the public with one staff person Council must adopt findings every six months
OPTION: FULLY REMOTE
MEMBER PARTICIPATION
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“Just Cause” circumstances allowing remote attendance by a legislative body member have expanded slightly:
Childcare or caregiving need
Contagious illness
A need related to a physical or mental condition
Travel on official business of the agency or another agency Immunocompromised family member
Physical or family emergency
Military service obligations
Members are allowed to appear remotely under just cause for a maximum of 7 meetings a year if the body meets three or more times per month; 5 meetings a year if the body meets twice per month, and 2 meetings a year if the body meets once a month or less.
REMOTE ATTENDANCE BY
BROWN ACT BODY MEMBERS
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Decision Point Rules Committee Feedback (February 25, 2026) Decision #1: Type of hybrid participation at City Council meetings Staff recommended continuing to use two-way audiovisual platform for hybrid public participation. The City Council could choose telephonic participation instead.
Support for audiovisual platform (i.e., Zoom, Teams, etc.) Consider landline telephone as backup call-in
Decision #2: Disruption policy
Staff requested the Rules Committee provide feedback to staff on the draft disruption policy for City Council meetings.
Support for draft policy as presented
Be clear that meetings will resume if access is restored before 1 hour Decision #3: Implement hybrid public participation for all legislative bodies? Staff recommend taking no action at this time, as it could require additional expenses for the City to do so.
Supportive of staff’s recommendation to take no action at this time regarding Boards and Commissions
Interest in hybrid public participation for Council standing committee meetings
Requested additional information on potential costs
Decision #4: Language access policy
Staff recommend the use of no- to low-cost solutions and requested Rules Committee feedback on the language access policy.
Support for draft policy as presented
Support for no- and low-cost solutions for translation
Look to other local agencies for proven, low-cost options (School District, etc.)
Decision #5: Simplifying public comment
Staff sought Rules Committee input on whether to rely on prior subcommittee comment; or continue taking comment at both levels (committee + City Council).
Support for continuing to receive comment at both levels Decision #6: Authorize members of eligible bodies to be fully remote? Staff recommended taking no action at this time, as it could require additional expenses for the City to do so.
Supportive of staff’s recommendation to take no action at this time regarding Boards and Commissions; but interested in members participating remotely for Council standing committee meetings Requested additional information on potential costs
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MEETING DISRUPTION POLICY
SB707 requires the City Council adopt a meeting disruption policy to address procedure in the event of a technological disruption such as an internet outage.
The proposed policy requires a recess of at least one hour if service is disruption. The meeting may resume before the one hour has finished if service is restored, or after the one hour if certain findings are made.
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LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICY
Under SB707, the Council is required to determine efforts the City will take to perform outreach to underrepresented groups.
The proposed policy describes the manner in which the City will promote participation in public meetings as well as its strategy for providing translated meeting agendas as required by law.
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council
adopt the proposed Resolution that
approves:
1) The City Council Meeting
Disruption Policy; and
2) The City Council Meeting
Language Access Policy
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QUESTIONS?
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