TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
Wendy Kaserman, City Manager
Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney
FROM: James Jeffries, City Clerk
DATE: June 10, 2026
SUBJ: Updated Meeting Materials – June 10, 2026, City Council Meeting CONTINUED BUSINESS:
(5) Resolution Adopting Legislative Policy Memorandum (LPM) 2026-01 Related to General Council Meeting Operating and Outreach Procedures, Implementing SB 707 (2025). (City Clerk/City Attorney – Jeffries/Hagerty) Staff is providing an updated draft LPM 2026-01 attachment to the Agenda documents.
The update is specifically to section 14.1.1 regarding the submission of requests to speak by telephonic attendees. The revised language allows staff to be able to adapt and update the process without the need to bring the entire policy back to City Council. While it is currently envisioned for individuals to email the City Clerk’s office their requests, the updated language would allow for other options such as online forms to be used should the process prove to be reliable or more efficient for staff.
Original proposed wording
14.1.1 In person attendees shall be required to submit their request via a request to speak form (speaker slip). Telephonic/virtual attendees shall be required to submit their request to speak via email to Clerk staff at [email protected].
Telephonic/virtual speakers must identify their call in number and, if so desired, a name they choose to be identified as when speaking so Clerk staff may properly identify the individual. Failure to provide a call in number may result in staff’s inability to identify the individual.
Revised proposed wording
14.1.1 In person attendees shall be required to submit their request via a request to speak form (speaker slip). Instructions on submitting telephonic/virtual requests to speak will be listed on the City Council Agenda and City website.
Attachment: Updated Draft LPM 2026-01
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CITY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE POLICY MEMORANDUM
Number: LPM 2026-01
Date:
Initiated By: James Jeffries, City Clerk
Shawn Hagerty, City Attorney
Reviewed by City Council: June 10, 2026
Approved by City Council:
SUBJECT: City Council Meeting Operating and Outreach Procedures SUPERSEDES:
Legislative Policy Memorandum 2019-1.
PURPOSE:
To establish policies for City Council meetings and operations, including SB 707 requirements, parliamentary procedures, due process, disclosure of conflict of interest, appointment of the Vice Mayor, roles of Mayor and Vice Mayor, agenda procedures, public participation at meetings, and the preparation of minutes.
ORGANIZATIONS AFFECTED:
City Council
City Commissions and Committees*
*Note: Except as otherwise noted throughout this Policy, this Policy shall also apply to the City's Commissions and Committees. In applying this Policy to City Commissions and Committees, the term “Council” shall be interpreted to mean the name of the City Commission or Committee, the term “Mayor” shall be interpreted to mean “Chairperson”, the term “Vice Mayor” shall be interpreted to mean “Vice Chair”, the term “Manager” shall be interpreted to mean “Director”, and the term “City Clerk” shall be interpreted to mean the staff member responsible for providing support to the Commission/Committee.
REFERENCES:
The Ralph M. Brown Act (Gov. Code § 54950, et seq.)
DRAFT
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POLICY:
1. Meetings Generally
1.1 Regular Meetings (Gov. Code § 54954). Except as modified by Resolution of the City Council, Regular Meetings of the City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, located at 10601 Magnolia Avenue, Santee, California, on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, except for the months of November and December. There will be one Regular Meeting held on the second Wednesday in November and one Regular Meeting held on the second Wednesday in December. Council may, by Resolution, cancel any scheduled Regular Meeting.
The City Council endeavors to finish its consideration of all agenda items by 11:00 p.m. at each meeting, but meetings may continue beyond that time, as needed.
1.2 Adjourned Meetings (Gov. Code § 54955). The City Council may adjourn any Regular, Adjourned Regular, Special or Adjourned Special Meeting to a time and place specified in the order of adjournment as permitted by law.
Less than a quorum may so adjourn from time to time. If all members are absent from any Regular or Adjourned Regular Meeting, the City Clerk may declare the meeting adjourned to a stated time and place and shall cause a written notice of the adjournment to be given in the same manner as provided in Government Code section 54956 for Special Meetings, unless such notice is waived as provided for Special Meetings. When a Regular or Adjourned Regular Meeting is adjourned, the resulting Adjourned Regular Meeting is a Regular Meeting for all purposes. When an order of adjournment of any meeting fails to state the hour at which the Adjourned Meeting is to be held, it shall be held at the hour specified for Regular Meetings.
1.3 Special Meetings (Gov. Code § 54956). A Special Meeting may be called at any time by the Mayor, with the approval of the City Manager or the City Clerk and at least one Council Member, by the Vice Mayor (when acting in the absence of the Mayor and subject to the same approval requirements), or by a majority of the City Council, by delivering written notice to each Council Member and to each local newspaper of general circulation and radio or television station requesting notice in writing and posting a notice on the City’s web site. The notice shall be delivered personally or by any other means and shall be received at least 24 hours before the time of the meeting as specified in the notice. The call and notice shall specify the time and place of the Special Meeting and the business to be transacted or discussed, and shall be posted at least 24 hours prior to the Special Meeting in a location that is freely accessible to members of the public. The City Council shall consider only the business listed on the notice. The written notice may be dispensed with as to any Council Member who at or prior to LPM 2026.01 - General Council Procedures
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the time the meeting convenes files with the City Clerk a written waiver of notice. The written notice may also be dispensed with as to any member who is actually present at the meeting at the time it convenes.
1.3.1 The City Council shall not call a Special Meeting regarding the salaries, salary schedules, or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits, of a City executive.1 However, the City Council may call a Special Meeting to discuss the City’s budget.
1.4 Emergency Meetings (Gov. Code § 54956.5). In the case of an emergency situation, as defined below, involving matters upon which prompt action is necessary due to the disruption or threatened disruption of public facilities, the City Council may hold an Emergency Meeting without complying with either the 24-hour notice requirement or the 24-hour posting requirement of Government Code section 54956 or both of the notice and posting requirements.
1.4.1 Each local newspaper of general circulation and radio or television station that has requested notice of Special Meetings pursuant to Government Code section 54956 shall be notified by the Mayor, or the Mayor’s designee, one hour prior to the Emergency Meeting, or, in the case of a dire emergency, as defined below, at or near the time that the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee notifies the Council Members of the Emergency Meeting. This notice shall be given by telephone and all telephone numbers provided in the most recent request of a newspaper or station for notification of Special Meetings shall be exhausted. In the event that telephone services are not functioning, the notice requirements of this section shall be deemed waived, and the City Council or the City Council’s designee, shall notify those newspapers, radio stations, or television stations of the fact of the holding of the Emergency Meeting, the purpose of the meeting, and any action taken at the meeting as soon after the meeting as possible.
1.4.2 During an Emergency Meeting, the City Council may meet in closed session pursuant to Government Code section 54957 if agreed to by a two-thirds vote of the Council Members present, or, if less than twothirds of the Members are present, by a unanimous vote of the Members present.
1 A “City executive” is any person employed by the City who is not subject to the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3500)), Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 45100) of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code, or Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 88000) of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, and who meets any of the following requirements:
(1) The person is the chief executive officer, a deputy chief executive officer, or an assistant chief executive officer of the City.
(2) The person is the head of a department of the City. (3) The person’s position within the City is held by an employment contract between the City and that person. (See Gov. Code § 3511.1.)
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1.4.3 All Special Meeting requirements, as prescribed in Government Code section 54956 shall be applicable to an Emergency Meeting, with the exception of the 24-hour notice requirement.
1.4.4 The minutes of the Emergency Meeting, a list of persons who the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee notified or attempted to notify, a copy of the roll call vote, and any actions taken at the meeting shall be posted for a minimum of 10 days in a public place as soon after the meeting as possible.
1.4.5 For the purposes of this section, “emergency situation” means either of the following:
1.4.5.1 An emergency, which shall be defined as a work stoppage, crippling activity, or other activity that severely impairs public health, safety, or both, as determined by a majority of the City Council.
1.4.5.2 A dire emergency, which shall be defined as a crippling disaster, mass destruction, terrorist act, or threatened terrorist activity that poses peril so immediate and
significant that requiring the City Council to provide onehour notice before holding an Emergency Meeting may endanger the public health, safety, or both, as determined by a majority of the City Council.
2. Closed Sessions
2.1 The City Council may hold closed sessions during duly-noticed Council Meetings on issues authorized by State law. A description of the item to be addressed in closed session will be included in the Meeting Agenda, in accordance with the Brown Act.
2.2 A City Commission or Committee may hold closed sessions during dulynoticed meetings of its body on issues authorized by State law, the City Council, and the City Attorney.
2.3 All proper closed session information, verbal or written, is confidential, and no member of the City Council, employee of the City, or any person present during a closed session shall disclose to any other person the content or substance of discussion or action which took place during the session, except as expressly authorized in the Brown Act.
2.4 Closed sessions shall be limited to members of the City Council, City Manager, City Attorney and/or City legal counsel, as well as staff members and experts designated by the City Manager or City Attorney to attend portions of closed sessions relating to specific issues, as permitted by law.
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2.5 To the extent possible, the public will be notified prior to the time that the City Council recesses to closed session as to whether or not a public announcement of action is anticipated following the closed session.
2.6 Where potential plaintiffs and defendants have manifested or communicated their awareness of facts and circumstances and a legal theory connecting those facts and circumstances to potential litigation involving the City, those facts and circumstances, together with (i) the identity of potential parties or (ii) related documentation, shall be disclosed prior to a closed session to discuss anticipated litigation, in accordance with Government Code section 54956.9.
3. Meeting Procedures and Due Process
3.1 At all meetings of the City Council, a majority of the Council members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the event less than a quorum of the City Council is present, the City Clerk shall adjourn the meeting (which may include adjourning to an Adjourned Regular Meeting), post a Notice of Adjournment, and prepare minutes that reflect that the meeting was adjourned due to lack of a quorum.
3.2 The Mayor, or in the Mayor’s absence the Vice Mayor, shall take the chair at the hour appointed for the meeting and shall immediately call the City Council to order. Upon the arrival of the Mayor, the Vice Mayor shall immediately relinquish the chair at the conclusion of the business presently before the City Council.
3.3 Before the City Council shall proceed with the business before it, the City Clerk shall enter into the minutes the names of those Council Members present. The later arrival, or the excused absence, of any absentee shall also be entered into the minutes.
3.4 If a Council Member knows that he or she will be absent from an upcoming City Council meeting, he or she must contact the City Clerk prior to the meeting and state the reason for his or her inability to attend the meeting.
The City Clerk will determine whether the absence is excused. Examples of an excused absence may be an absence due to illness, maternity/paternity leave, religious observance, family emergency, or travel for City business.
When calling the roll for the meeting, the City Clerk will indicate whether a Council Member’s absence was ruled excused or unexcused, and the City Clerk will make an appropriate notation in the minutes.
3.5 If a Council Member is absent from a City Council meeting during roll call and did not report this absence to the City Clerk, the City Clerk will note in the minutes that the absence is unexcused. After the meeting, but before the next meeting, the absent Council Member may contact the City Clerk and state the reason for his or her absence. If the City Clerk determines LPM 2026.01 - General Council Procedures
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that the absence is excused, the minutes will be amended to reflect the excused absence. If the absent Council Member does not contact the City Clerk regarding the absence before the next City Council meeting, the absence will remain on the record as unexcused.
3.6 If a City Council Member is absent without permission from all Regular City Council meetings for 60 days consecutively from the last Regular Meeting he or she attended, his or her office becomes vacant and shall be filled as any other vacancy. (Gov. Code § 36513.)
3.7 During the course of the meeting, should the Mayor note a City Council quorum is lacking, the Mayor shall call this fact to the attention of the City Clerk. The Mayor shall issue a quorum call. If a quorum has not been restored within two minutes of a quorum call, the Mayor may declare a recess for a reasonable period of time in order to reestablish a quorum or the meeting shall be adjourned.
3.8 The City does not follow Robert's Rules of Order for parliamentary procedure, preferring to allow more flexibility in processing meeting matters.
To provide a basic structure to the meetings, however, the following definitions apply to motions which may be made by a Council Member during a City Council meeting.
3.8.1 “Amend” means to change a motion only if the maker of the motion agrees.
3.8.2 “Call for the Question” means to immediately end debate and vote on the issue; requires a vote of the majority of Council Members present. The Council first votes on the motion for Call for the Question (to end debate) and if the motion is approved, debate is immediately closed and the Council must then vote on the issue.
3.8.3 “Division of the Motion” (sometimes called splitting the motion) means to divide a motion into two or more propositions. A motion may be split whenever the motion contains two or more parts, each of which may stand alone as a complete proposition, if the other(s) is(are) removed. Each separate question must be a proper one for the Council to act upon, even if the other(s) is(are) not adopted. A Council Member wishing to make this motion says, for example, “I call for a separate vote on Resolution No. 2.” If this motion is approved by a majority of the Council, the issue for which a separate vote was called must be taken up and voted on separately at any time before the vote is taken on the other proposition(s).
3.8.4 “Note and File” means to have the City Clerk’s office record and file the matter. This direction is most often given when staff provides an update on a project or an item that does not require official action.
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3.8.5 “Point of Information” means to request information.
3.8.6 “Point of Order” means to protest a breach of rules or conduct.
3.8.7 “Point of Personal Privilege” means a concern about inability to hear, noise, or a problem, where integrity, character, or motives are questioned, or where the welfare of the Council is concerned.
3.8.8 “Pulling an item off the Consent Calendar of the Agenda” means to remove an item from the group considered routine or
noncontroversial for separate action. Any items pulled from the Consent Calendar shall be heard immediately following Council’s action on the Consent Calendar.
3.8.9 “Table the item” means to temporarily suspend consideration of an issue as specified.
3.8.10 “Trail the item” means to deal with the item later as specified.
3.8.11 “Withdrawal of Motion” means the motion is withdrawn by the mover.
Until the Mayor has stated the question for a vote by the Council, the mover may withdraw the motion at any time without the consent of the Council or the Council Member who seconded the motion. If the Mayor has already stated the question, the maker of the motion must request the Council’s permission to withdraw or modify the motion.
In such a case, the Mayor will ask if there is any objection to the withdrawal of the motion, and if there is none, the motion is withdrawn. If there is an objection, the Mayor may put the question of withdrawal up for a vote by the Council, in which case the motion requires a majority vote for approval. Unless the Mayor specifies to the contrary, a withdrawn motion is not recorded in the meeting minutes.
3.9 The City Council also adheres to the following general procedural rules:
3.9.1 Motions must be seconded in order to proceed to a vote.
3.9.2 Substitute motions are prohibited.
3.9.3 Amendments to motions are prohibited without the approval of the maker of the motion.
3.9.4 A rule change must be announced by the Mayor or requested by a Council Member before the item is heard. No rule change is allowed until after an item is heard and vote is taken on the item.
3.9.5 All rule changes must come before Council for approval. No unilateral rulemaking shall occur.
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3.10 Ex parte communications are communications received outside of Council meetings or hearings. When the Council acts in a legislative role (for example, to adopt general plan or zoning amendments or to adopt ordinances), Council Members may consider information and viewpoints received both inside and outside the Council meeting process.
When acting in a quasi-adjudicatory role (including hearings on permits, revocations, and similar non-legislative decisions), principles of fairness and due process favor consideration of information presented through the public hearing process, where all interested persons have access to the same information and opportunity to hear and respond to the evidence and testimony presented.
Nothing in this section is intended to create disclosure, disqualification or other obligations beyond those required by applicable law. However, Council Members should be mindful that ex parte communications may raise issues relating to fairness, due process, and applicable legal requirements. Each Council Member who receives any ex parte communication about a matter to be considered by the Council from an applicant or person with an interest in the outcome of the matter should consider whether disclosure of the contact on the record would mitigate the risk of challenge or appearance of impropriety even if not legally required to do so.
4. Conflicts of Interest and Disqualification.
4.1 The Political Reform Act (Gov. Code § 81000 et seq.) prohibits a public official from using his or her official position to influence a governmental decision in which he or she has a financial interest. Government Code Section 1090 prohibits the City Council from entering into a contract in which a Council Member is financially interested, unless an exception applies.
4.2 When the Mayor or a Council Member has a financial interest in a City Council decision or contract, that individual is disqualified from voting on the matter, unless an exception applies. The interested individual shall openly state that he or she is abstaining because of a disqualifying financial or other conflict of interest. The Mayor or any Council Member who is disqualified due to a financial interest shall publicly identify the financial interest in detail sufficient to be understood by the public except that disclosure of the exact street address of a residence is not required. A Council Member who is disqualified by a conflict of interest in any matter shall not remain in the room during the discussion and vote on such matter unless the matter has been placed on the Consent Calendar. In that case, the Council Member must identify the conflict and abstain from voting on the Consent Calendar, but may remain in the room while the Consent Calendar is voted upon. (2 Cal. Code Regs. § 18707(a)(3)(A).)
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5. Appointment of Vice Mayor
5.1 The Vice Mayor is appointed by the City Council for a one-year term. The Vice Mayor is appointed in December at the Regular Meeting or the meeting at which the declaration of the election results for a general municipal election is made, whichever occurs first. (See Gov. Code § 36801.) To be eligible for appointment as Vice Mayor, a Council Member must have served at least one year of his or her current term on the Council. The office of Vice Mayor shall annually rotate by Council District to the next eligible Council Member.
5.2 The Vice Mayor position shall be filled in accordance with the following rotation, beginning in December 2025:
2025 District 2
2026 District 3
2027 District 4
2028 District 1
2029 District 2
2030 District 3
2031 District 4
2032 District 1
2033 District 2
2034 District 3
2035 District 4
6. Roles of Mayor and Vice Mayor
6.1 The Mayor shall act as the primary spokesperson and official representative of the City Council, unless such responsibility is delegated by the Mayor, or otherwise assigned by a majority of the City Council.
6.2 The Mayor shall preside at all Regular, Adjourned Regular, Special and Emergency Meetings of the City Council, including joint meetings with commissions and committees and closed sessions.
6.3 The Mayor shall execute all official City documents, warrants and correspondence approved by the City Council.
6.4 The Mayor is authorized to issue Proclamations, Commendations and Certificates of Recognition, which may be presented at Council meetings under Presentations. The total time allotted to Presentations should, if possible, be limited to 15 minutes per meeting. (This section does not apply to Commissions or Committees.)
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City Council; rather, the person serving as Mayor is to be recognized as the chairperson of the Council.
6.6 Vice Mayor shall serve and perform the functions of the Mayor in the absence of the Mayor. If both the Mayor and Vice Mayor are absent from a City Council meeting, the Council Members present shall select a Council Member from those Members present to perform the functions of Mayor at that particular meeting.
7. City Council Correspondence
7.1 The City Manager, or his/her designee, is authorized to open and examine all mail or other written communications addressed to the City Council as a body, but shall not open correspondence addressed to an individual Council Member without their express authorization.
7.2 The City Manager may take action, or direct that action be taken, on issues or requests that do not require Council action. The City Manager shall inform Council when actions are taken on matters of significance or that are likely to be of interest to the City Council.
8. City Council Meeting Agendas
8.1 The City Manager shall be responsible for determining items to appear on City Council meeting agendas.
8.2 Unless modified by Council by majority vote, the order of business for Regular Meetings of the City Council shall be as follows:
• Roll Call
• Legislative Invocation
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Presentations
• Consent Calendar
• Non-Agenda Public Comment (3 In-Person and 3 Telephonic/Virtual or 15 total minutes if either does not contain 3 individuals requesting to comment)
• Public Hearings
• Continued Business
• New Business
• Non-Agenda Public Comment (All remaining requests)
• City Council Reports
• City Manager Reports
• City Attorney Reports
• Closed Session (if any)
• Adjournment
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8.3 The City Manager shall have the authority to reorganize the order of business on a case-by-case basis if he or she believes that a variation in the normal order of business is appropriate.
8.4 A Member of the City Council may propose to the City Manager that an item be agendized for future Council discussion, consideration, and/or action.
Council Member agenda items must be submitted to the City Manager’s office no later than the Monday proceeding the Wednesday on which staff assembles agenda packets for the subsequent Wednesday City Council meeting. A Council Member may submit an agenda item for inclusion in the agenda only if he or she has not submitted an agenda item related to the same subject matter in the preceding six months. The City Manager shall determine whether two agenda items submitted or proposed to be submitted by the same Council Member relate to the same subject matter.
8.5 In addition to the process for submission of agenda items set forth in Section
8.4, a Member of the City Council may propose at a Council meeting that an item be agendized for future Council discussion, consideration, and/or action. If the proposal is supported by a majority vote of Council members present, subject to notice and hearing requirements, it shall be agendized for a future meeting and noticed as required by law.
8.6 Notwithstanding Section 8.5, a proposal to reconsider any action taken by the City Council may be raised only at the same meeting or the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council after the action is taken and may be raised only by one of the Council Members who voted with the prevailing side.
8.7 The City Clerk shall be responsible for the assembly of Council meeting agendas and shall cause copies to be posted on the City Hall bulletin board(s) and City website. Whenever feasible, Regular and Adjourned Regular Meeting agendas shall be posted at least five (5) calendar days prior to meetings, but in no event less than the posting time requirements as set forth in State law. In the case of Special Meetings, agendas shall be posted as soon as practical, but in no event less than the posting time requirements as set forth in State law.
8.8 Consent Calendar items shall be comprised of items that are expected to be noncontroversial. Unless an item is removed from the Consent Calendar by a member of the Council, staff, or the public for separate discussion and action, the Consent Calendar may be acted upon by one motion.
8.9 The City Council may waive the reading in full of all Resolutions and Ordinances. The reading of Resolution titles shall be optional.
8.10 The City Clerk or Mayor shall announce an agenda item before discussion on that item commences.
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9. Items Not on the Agenda
9.1 With narrow and limited exceptions, the City Council may not take any action or engage in discussion of an item not on the posted agenda. Council Members may only:
9.1.1 Briefly respond to statements/questions from the public,
9.1.2 Ask a question for clarification,
9.1.3 Make a brief announcement,
9.1.4 Make a brief report on his or her activities,
9.1.5 Provide a reference to staff or other sources for factual information,
9.1.6 Request staff report back at a later meeting, or
9.1.7 Direct staff to place the matter on a future agenda. (Gov. Code § 54954.2(a)(3).)
9.2 The City Council may take action on items of business not appearing on the posted agenda when one of the following conditions exists:
9.2.1 A majority of the Council determines there is an “emergency situation” as defined in State law for emergency meetings;
9.2.2 Two-thirds of the Council Members present (or all members if less than two-thirds are present) determine there is a need for immediate action and the need to take action came to the attention of the City after the agenda was posted; or
9.2.3 The item appeared on the agenda of, and was continued from, a meeting held not more than five days earlier.
(Gov. Code § 54954.2(b).)
10. Staff Reports and Presentations
10.1 Staff shall compose Staff Reports in a clear and concise manner. Staff shall strive to write reports in a manner that can be easily understood by persons that do not have training in the report’s subject matter.
10.2 Staff presentations at Council meetings are to be condensed to the briefest extent possible, while still providing a basic overview of the issue under consideration. Staff is encouraged to refrain from reiterating issues previously addressed in the Staff Report. However, staff engaged in such LPM 2026.01 - General Council Procedures
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communications shall not use these opportunities to communicate with the members of the City Council the comments or position of any other member of the City Council on City Council business.
10.3 To expedite Council meetings, Council Members are encouraged to contact the City Manager prior to Council meetings to obtain answers to questions and to obtain clarifications as needed.
11. City Council Meeting Minutes
11.1 All meetings of the City Council shall be audio-recorded or video-recorded.
Meeting minutes will be prepared and made available on the City’s website.
11.2 The City Clerk shall have exclusive responsibility for the preparation of the minutes.
11.3 The minutes of City Council meetings shall be submitted to Council for approval/modification at a City Council meeting. Modifications to the City Council minutes may be made by the Council by a majority vote.
11.4 Minutes shall be prepared in brief concise form, in what are commonly referred to as “action minutes.” Action minutes memorialize what was done at a meeting, as opposed to what was said at a meeting. Additionally, the identity of Council Members who make motions, second motions, and cast votes on motions are to be included in the minutes.
11.5 Unless the reading of the minutes of a City Council meeting is ordered by a majority of the Council, such minutes may be approved without reading if the City Clerk has previously furnished each Council Member with a copy thereof.
11.6 The approved minutes shall be executed by the City Clerk upon approval by the City Council and shall constitute the official record of the City Council meeting.
11.7 The City Clerk shall enter the original executed minutes into the official records of the City as a permanent document.
12. SB 707 Implementation and Policy Regarding Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service During Meetings
12.1 Background
Senate Bill 707 (2025) amended the Brown Act to require eligible legislative bodies to adopt, on or before July 1, 2026, a policy addressing how the agency will respond to disruptions in telephonic or internet service that prevent members of the public from participating remotely.
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12.2 Purpose
This policy establishes procedures for responding to a disruption in the telephonic or internet services that provide two-way remote public access to meetings of the City Council of the City of Santee, as required by the Brown Act (Government Code section 54953.4). The policy ensures transparency, public participation, and the continuation of meetings during technological disruptions.
12.3 Definitions
12.3.1 “Service Disruption” means any failure, outage, or other interruption to the agency’s remote access services that prevents members of the public from participating in a City Council meeting through the remote access service.
12.3.2 “Disrupting” means engaging in behavior during a meeting of the City Council that actually disrupts, disturbs, impedes, or renders infeasible the orderly conduct of the meeting and includes, but is not limited to one of the following:
a. A failure to comply with reasonable and lawful regulations adopted by the City Council of the City of Santee
b. Engaging in behavior that constitutes use of force or a true threat of force.
12.3.3 “Remote access services” means the two-way telephonic service and/or two-way audiovisual platform used to provide real-time remote public attendance and observation of meetings.
12.3.4 “Two-way audiovisual platform” means an online platform that provides participants with the ability to participate in a meeting via both an interactive video conference and a two-way telephonic service.
12.3.5 “Two-way telephonic service” means a telephone service that does not require internet access and allows participants to dial a telephone number to listen and verbally participate.
12.3.6 “True threat of force” means a threat that has sufficient indicia of intent and seriousness, that a reasonable observer would perceive it to be an actual threat to use force by the person making the threat.
12.4 This policy applies to all open and public meetings of the City Council at which remote public participation is required under the Brown Act.
Consistent with the Brown Act, this policy shall not apply to the following meetings:
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12.4.1 Meetings held to attend a judicial or administrative proceeding to which the City of Santee is a party.
12.4.2 Meetings held to inspect real or personal property provided that the topic of the meeting is limited to items directly related to the real or personal property.
12.4.3 Meetings held to meet with elected or appointed officials of the United States or the State of California, solely to discuss a legislative or regulatory issue affecting the City of Santee and over which the federal or state officials have jurisdiction.
12.4.4 Meetings held to meet in or nearby a facility owned by the City of Santee provided that the topic of the meeting is limited to items directly related to the facility.
12.4.5 Meetings held in an emergency situation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.5.
12.5 Remote Public Access Generally
When remote public access is required under the Brown Act, the City Council shall provide members of the public with an opportunity to attend and participate in the meeting using a two-way audiovisual platform or a two-way telephonic service, provided that adequate telephonic or internet service is operational at the meeting location.
If adequate telephonic or internet service is not operational at the meeting location, the City Council shall not be required to provide remote access. If adequate telephonic or internet service is operational for only a portion of the meeting, the City Council shall provide remote access during that portion of the meeting.
If a two-way audiovisual platform is used, the City Council shall:
a. Publicly post and provide a call-in option as well; and b. Activate any automatic captioning function that is available in the audiovisual platform.
If a two-way audiovisual platform is not provided, the City Council shall provide a two-way telephonic service.
Members of the public participating remotely shall be provided the same opportunity to provide public comment as members of the public attending in person, including the same time allotment.
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12.6 Response to Service Disruption
If the Mayor or City Clerk becomes aware of a service disruption:
a. The Mayor or City Clerk shall immediately announce the service disruption to the public.
b. The Mayor shall call for a recess of the open session and may convene the City Council in an authorized closed session, consistent with the Brown Act. The recess shall last for one hour or until service is restored, whichever is earlier.
c. During the recess, City staff shall make a good faith effort to diagnose and restore the disrupted service.
12.7 Reconvening the Open Session
After the expiration of the hour, if service has not been restored, the Mayor or City Clerk shall report on the status of staff’s efforts to restore remote access services, and the City Council may reconvene to:
a. Adjourn the meeting;
b. Extend the recess to allow staff more time to make a good faith effort to restore remote access services; or
c. Continue the open session portion of the meeting by adopting, by roll call vote, the following or a substantially similar finding:
“The City of Santee has made good faith efforts to restore telephonic or internet service in accordance with its adopted policy, and the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access.”
Upon adoption of the finding, the City Council may continue the open session portion of the meeting despite the fact that remote access services have not been restored.
12.8 Recordkeeping
The City Clerk shall enter a brief statement into the meeting minutes, including:
a. The nature and time of the service disruption;
b. The time the meeting was reconvened (if applicable); and c. Any finding adopted pursuant to Section 7.
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12.9 Response to Members of the Public Disrupting a Meeting If the Mayor or City Clerk becomes aware of a member of the public who is attending the meeting through remote access services and is disrupting the meeting or otherwise preventing other members of the public from attending or observing the meeting remotely or in-person:
a. The Mayor or City Clerk shall warn the person who is participating through remote access services that he or she is disrupting the meeting and his or her failure to cease that behavior may result in his or her removal.
b. If the person to whom the Mayor or City Clerk gave the above warning persists in disrupting the meeting, the Mayor or City Clerk shall order staff to:
i. mute or otherwise limit the individual’s ability to disrupt the meeting, while allowing the individual to continue to observe and attend the meeting; or
ii. remove the individual from the meeting if paragraph (a) does not address the disrupting behavior or is not available using the remote access service.
12.10 Review and Updates
This policy may be amended by the City Council at a noticed public meeting in open session and may not be placed on the consent calendar.
13. SB 707 Reasonable Efforts for Outreach
13.1 The City Council of the City of Santee, determines the following to constitute reasonable efforts to encourage participation in City Council meetings pursuant to Government Code § 54953.4(b)(3)(C):
13.1.1 Media Outreach. The City may include media organizations serving the jurisdiction, including media organizations serving non-Englishspeaking communities, in the distribution of meeting Agendas, notices, or other meeting-related information, as appropriate.
13.1.2 Electronic Access and Agenda Subscriptions. The City shall maintain methods for members of the public to access meeting Agendas and related materials electronically, including through the City’s website or other regular Agenda-posting platform. Where available, the City may also provide options for members of the public to subscribe to receive meeting agendas, notices, or other updates.
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13.1.3 Multilingual Communication. The City may use multilingual communication methods to increase awareness of meetings and participation opportunities, including translated Agendas, translated meeting instructions, multilingual social media posts, website notices, or other communication tools, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law and available resources.
13.1.4 Community and Organizational Outreach. The City may provide meeting information through existing communication channels and partnerships with community-based organizations, neighborhood groups, civic organizations, civil rights organizations, good government organizations, and organizations serving non-Englishspeaking communities, as opportunities arise and consistent with available resources.
13.1.5 Use of Existing Communication Channels. The City may use existing outreach methods to share meeting information and participation opportunities, including, but not limited to, the agency website, email notifications, Agenda subscription services, newsletters, social media platforms, public counters, bulletin boards, community meetings, and other established communication tools
13.1.6 Flexible and Evolving Methods: The efforts identified in this Policy are intended to provide a flexible framework for outreach and public participation. The City may modify, expand, or adjust its outreach methods over time based on available resources, evolving communication practices, changes in technology, and the needs of the community.
13.2 Flexible Framework. The efforts identified in this Policy are intended to provide a flexible framework for outreach and public participation. The City may modify, expand, or adjust its outreach methods over time based on available resources, evolving communication practices, changes in technology, and the needs of the community.
13.3 No Requirement to Provide Notice to Any Specific Group. Consistent with Government Code Section 54953.4(b)(3)(C)(ii), this Policy does not require notice to any specific group or organization, and no action shall arise from the failure to provide notice to any specific group or organization.
14. Public Participation at City Council Meetings
14.1 Each person desiring to address the Council at a City Council meeting must submit to the City Clerk a request to speak prior to the Agenda Item being called. After being called upon by the City Clerk, in person speakers may proceed to the lectern; telephonic/virtual speakers will be unmuted. The speaker may state for the record their name and city of residence but shall LPM 2026.01 - General Council Procedures
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not be required to do so. In order to provide an organized, timely and efficient process, in person speakers will be heard first, immediately followed by telephonic/virtual speakers.
14.1.1 In person attendees shall be required to submit their request via a request to speak form (speaker slip). Instructions on submitting telephonic/virtual requests to speak will be listed on the City Council Agenda and City website.
14.2 Members of the public may speak for three (3) minutes. Members of the public may not assign their speaker time to another person. The time that a speaker devotes to responding to Council inquiries shall not be deducted from their allotted speaker time. To provide for an orderly meeting, the Mayor may, before the item is heard, reduce the three (3) minute time period. To provide for workshops and study sessions, the Mayor may, before the item is heard, waive or extend the three (3) minute time period.
14.3 If, in the judgment of the Mayor, an individual speaker is in the process of making a salient point and his or her time runs out, the Mayor may extend the time no more than two (2) minutes for the person to complete his or her testimony.
14.4 Project applicants and appellants (including members of an applicant's or appellant's project presentation team, when applicable) may speak for a combined total of up to fifteen (15) minutes on the Agenda item(s) for which they are the applicants or appellants. Any PowerPoint or other media presentations to be presented at the Council meeting must be submitted to the City Clerk’s office no later than two (2) days before the meeting to ensure compatibility with the City’s multimedia system.
14.5 The purpose of addressing the City Council is to communicate formally with the City Council regarding matters that relate to City Council business or citizen concerns within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council.
Persons addressing the City Council on an Agenda item shall confine their remarks to the matter under consideration by the City Council. Speakers may be asked to clarify how their comments relate to the matter at hand.
Speakers may address the entire Council or individual Council Members, and, if allowed by the Mayor or chair, City staff.
14.6 Once recognized, members of the public shall not be interrupted when speaking unless to be called to order by the Mayor to: (i) curtail extraordinary repetition, (ii) curtail speech that is irrelevant to the City Council’s subject matter jurisdiction, (iii) explain how their speech relates to the City’s subject matter jurisdiction, or (iv) address some other point of order. If a speaker is interrupted to be called to order, the speaker shall cease speaking until the question of order is determined, and if in order, LPM 2026.01 - General Council Procedures
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they shall be permitted to proceed, with additional time allotted for the time taken to determine the question of order.
14.7 Members of the public may address the Council concerning matters within the jurisdiction of the City of Santee, but not separately listed on the Agenda, during the Non-Agenda Public Comment portion of the Agenda.
Each speaker shall be allotted three (3) minutes to complete his or her testimony. The first Non-Agenda Public Comment period is limited to 3 InPerson and 3 Telephonic/Virtual or 15 total minutes if either does not contain 3 individuals requesting to comment. Speakers will be called in the order in which their speaker slips are submitted. The remaining speakers who wish to speak on non-agenda matters may speak during the second Non-Agenda Public Comment period.
14.8 Members of the public shall not engage in willful conduct that disrupts the orderly conduct of a City Council meeting. A person’s conduct is considered disruptive if the person substantially impairs the conduct of the meeting by intentionally committing acts in violation of implicit customs or usages or of explicit rules for governance of the meeting, of which he or she knew, or as a reasonable person should have known. (See In re Kay, 1 Cal. 3d 930, 943 (1970).) Any person who so disrupts the meeting is subject to removal from the meeting.
14.8.1 Prior to removing anyone from a City meeting, the Mayor (or other designated chair) shall: (i) notify the person that he or she is in violation of Section 10.10 of this Policy, (ii) specify the specific behavior giving rise to that conclusion; (iii) explain all grounds for the belief that the person’s conduct is in violation of law/policy and why such conduct subjects the person to expulsion; and (iv) notify the person that if the conduct continues he or she will be removed. The person receiving such notification shall be asked if he or she understands the conclusion but shall not be required to accept it.