City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: June 23, 2026
Agenda Item: 11.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson Warren, Interim City Clerk, Records and Election Services Department
Subject: Adoption of a Resolution to Implement a Policy Addressing Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service During Public Meetings and Encouraging Public Participation Pursuant to SB 707, Amending Government Code Section 54953.4
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt:
1. A finding that the resolution is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; and
2. The attached resolution addressing disruption of telephonic or internet service and reasonable efforts to encourage participation in meetings pursuant to Senate Bill 707 (2025).
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Executive Summary
At the June 9, 2026, meeting, Council considered options to amend the Council Rules of Order that included updates to teleconferencing and accessibility under SB 707.
Council directed staff to return with:
1) a separate resolution addressing the SB 707 requirements at the next meeting, because the policy must be adopted by July 1, 2026; and 2) the remaining amendments at a later meeting.
The attached resolution adopts a policy on addressing disruption of telephonic or internet service during public meetings and determines reasonable efforts to encourage public participation in meetings.
Discussion
The Ralph M. Brown Act establishes requirements for open and public meetings of legislative bodies. SB 707 amended Government Code sections 54950 through 54963 regarding teleconferencing, remote participation, accessibility, and disruptions to meetings. The amendment requires Council to:
1) adopt a technology disruption policy by July 1, 2026; and 2) make reasonable outreach efforts to encourage public participation in meetings.
The resolution establishes service restoration procedures during a telephonic or internet service disruption that include:
1) calling a recess to restore services for at least one hour or telephonic or internet service is restored, whichever occurs first;
2) documenting the nature, time of occurrence and restoration efforts of the disruption in the meeting minutes; and
3) adopting a finding that, if services cannot be restored after good faith efforts to restore service were made, resuming the meeting serves the public interest rather than delaying it.
The resolution also determines efforts to invite groups, particularly underrepresented and non-English-speaking communities, that do not traditionally participate in public meetings to attend. Efforts include:
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1) outreach to media serving non-English-speaking communities; 2) electronic access and subscriptions to meeting agendas and packets; 3) using multilingual communications methods such as translating meeting instructions and web content; and
4) using existing communication methods and partnerships with local organizations.
Environmental Review
The resolution is not a “project” subject to CEQA. The resolution is administrative in nature for the establishment of rules, policies, and procedures. Pursuant to CEQA Section 21065, the resolution does not meet the definition of a “project” subject to CEQA as it will not “cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.” Additionally, per Section 15378(b) of the CEQA Guidelines, a “project” does not include organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. Therefore, the resolution is not subject to CEQA.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action. Staff will return to Council if specific budget actions are required in the future.
Prepared By: Maria Dacanay-Wisner, Assistant City Clerk Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Proposed Resolution
B. Written Comments