City Council and Authorities Concurrent
May 26, 2026

1 Council Policy 057:(Internet Disruption Policy)Item #8 (General Business)May 26, 2026 Senate Bill 707•Effective January 1, 2026•Significant modifications to the Ralph M. Brown Act–Teleconferencing rules for different types of legislative bodies–Remote appearance and ADA compliance–Social media prohibitions are extended–Translation of materials in certain circumstances2 1 2
2 Teleconferencing Rules•Many cities reverted to fully in-person meetings after the pandemic ended•Public increasingly comfortable with online meetings -- advocacy groups pushed to require online access for Council meetings•SB 707 requires city to make remote participation available for the public, and sets ground rules3 Teleconferencing Rules (con’t.)•7/1/26: All City Council meetings must use a two-way telephonic service or a two-way audiovisual platform for public meetings•Before 7/1/26: City Council must approve a policy addressing procedures to be followed in the event of a disruption of telephonic or internet service during a meeting4 3 4
3 SB 707 Policy Requirements•If disruption prevents public from attending/observing, then recess for at least one hour and make a good faith attempt to restore the service. •The Council may meet on an agendized closed session item •The Council shall not reconvene the open session until at least one hour has lapsed, or until service is restored, whichever is earlier.•Upon reconvening the open session, if telephonic or internet service has not been restored, then the Council must decide if they want to adjourn the meeting or continue with the meeting•If Council wants to continue with the meeting, then adopt a finding that good faith efforts to restore the telephonic or internet service have been made and that the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access.5 Proposed Disruption Policy•First determine whether there is in fact a disruption that is affecting public access•Announcements to be made to attendees•Good faith efforts to restore service – 1 hour•If unsuccessful, then Council may either adjourn or choose to continue the meeting6 5 6
4 Recommendation•Adopt a Resolution Approving and Adopting Council Policy 057 Establishing Procedures to be Followed in the Event of a Disruption of Telephonic Service or Internet-Based Audio-Visual Platform During a Council Meeting, in Accordance with Senate Bill 707.77