CITY COUNCIL
100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Room10
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: 707-543-3010 Fax: 707-543-3030
September 22, 2025
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
California Governor
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Senate Bill 707 (Durazo) – Request for Veto
Dear Governor Newsom:
On behalf of the City of Santa Rosa, I am writing to respectfully request your veto on Senate Bill (SB) 707. This bill proposes broad mandates related to public meeting access and teleconferencing requirements under the Brown Act. While we support the goal of increased transparency and public participation, the bill imposes significant operational and fiscal burdens on local governments and removes important flexibility currently available to cities.
SB 707 would require all legislative body meetings to include real-time public participation via two- way telephonic or audiovisual platforms. While Santa Rosa has voluntarily provided hybrid meetings since the pandemic, codifying this approach as a statewide mandate eliminates local discretion and could significantly increase staff workload, overtime costs, and technology demands. Additionally, managing virtual public comment can introduce challenges, including repeat speakers, inappropriate content, and security concerns that are harder to control in remote environments.
The bill also introduces ambiguity around accommodations for members with disabilities. We support remote participation for those with qualifying needs, but SB 707 lacks clarity regarding the process and compliance expectations. This is particularly relevant for Santa Rosa, where we currently have a member facing mobility limitations that may impact meeting attendance.
Further, SB 707 would require agendas to be translated into all "applicable languages" spoken by 20% or more of the local limited-English proficient population. While Santa Rosa can accommodate this with our digital tools, smaller jurisdictions may face substantial financial and logistical challenges meeting this requirement without adequate resources or translation infrastructure.
Additionally, SB 707 would require that the public be allowed to post their own translations of agendas in any language. While we appreciate the intent, the possibility for abuse is high. There is no limit to the number of alternative translations that could be posted and the City has limited space on its posting board. Although the City would not be liable for any inaccurate translations, there is still the potential for bad actors to create confusion with intentionally misleading translations.
CITY COUNCIL
100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Room10
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: 707-543-3010 Fax: 707-543-3030
We believe that the goals of transparency and accessibility can be achieved without a rigid, one- size-fits-all approach. SB 707 would significantly expand state-imposed mandates without offering the necessary flexibility or support for effective implementation.
For these reasons, the City of Santa Rosa must respectfully request your veto on SB 707. Should you have any questions, please contact our legislative advocate Dane Hutchings with California Public Policy Group at 916- 974-9270.
Sincerely,
Mark Stapp
Mayor, City of Santa Rosa
cc: The Honorable Mike McGuire, Senate District 2
The Honorable Chris Rogers, Assembly District 2
The Honorable Damon Connolly, Assembly District 12
Brady Borcherding, Deputy Legislative Secretary, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom