RESOLUTION NO. RES-2026-051
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA AMENDING CITY COUNCIL MANUAL OF PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS WHEREAS, effective January 1, 2026, SB 707 amended the Ralph M. Brown Act (“Brown Act”) to clarify the presiding officer’s authority to address disruptive behavior by members of the public during Brown Act meetings and now explicitly applies the same rules to members of the public participating remotely that apply to those attending in person, including the authority to remove or limit participation after a notice and warning, and in instances of violence or a threat of violence, a notice and a warning are not required; and WHEREAS, SB707 also amended the Ralph M. Brown Act to require, effective July 1, 2026, the City to provide an option for members of the public to attend and participate remotely in all City Council meetings through either (1) a two-way telephonic service and live web streaming of the meeting or (2) a two-way audiovisual platform; and WHEREAS, the Council wishes to amend the City Council Manual of Procedures and Protocols to provide improved procedural alignment amendments SB 707 made to the Brown Act and create operational efficiencies in light of the additional public comment anticipated at Council meetings starting in July 2026; and WHEREAS, the City Clerk and City Attorney recommend amendments to the following sections within the City Council Manual of Procedures and Protocols:
§ I.H – Disruptions and §V.G – Decorum and Order, Audience § II.E – Public Comments on Agenda Items, and both the first and second Public Comments on Non-agenda Matters – to provide the Presiding Officer discretion to set public comment time allotments to no more than 3 minutes and no less than one minute speaker in light of the anticipated increase in the number of commenters with the new remote public participation requirements for Council meetings. § IV.B – Right to Address Council - to correct previous clerical errors and remove reference to Council Policy 000-34, and add reference to SRCC §1-10.060 – Public Access and Comment. § IV.D – Manner of addressing Council – to update process for further alignment with SRCC §1-10, recognize and identify process for remote participants, and modernize and simplify speaker card language. / / /
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Santa Rosa adopts the City Council Manual of Procedures and Protocols, attached to this resolution as Exhibit A and made a part herein.
IN COUNCIL DULY PASSED this 12th day of May, 2026.
AYES: (6) Mayor Stapp, Vice Mayor Okrepkie, Council Members Alvarez, Bañuelos, MacDonald, Rogers NOES: (0)
ABSENT: (1) Council Member Fleming
ABSTAIN: (0)
RECUSE: (0)
ATTEST: _________________________ APPROVED: ______________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________
Acting City Attorney
Exhibit A – City Council Manual of Procedures and Protocols Reso. No. RES-2026-051
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