TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Laura B. Maguire, City Clerk
DATE:June 9, 2026
SUBJECT: Policy on Disruption of City Telephonic or Internet Service During City Council Meetings
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt resolution approving policy related to disruption of City telephonic or internet service during City Council meetings as required by the Ralph M. Brown Act pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 707 (amended Government Code Section 54953.4).
2. Find that this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Staff time involved with the preparation of this report and resolution is included in the Adopted FY 2025-26 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
The California Legislature enacted SB 707 in 2025, amending the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code Section 54950 et seq.) to require local legislative bodies, including City Council, to provide two-way remote public access to meetings and to adopt formal policies addressing disruptions of telephonic or internet services during meetings. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026, and require adoption of a policy at a public meeting, and not on the consent calendar portion of the meeting, prior to that date.
Policy on Disruption of City Telephonic or Internet Service During Meetings June 9, 2026
The City currently conducts hybrid City Council meetings, allowing both in-person and two-way remote public participation, consistent with SB 707 requirements. To comply with state law, the City must formalize procedures for responding to City telephonic/internet disruptions in two-way remote public access.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The proposed Disruption of City Telephonic or Internet Service During City Council Meetings Policy (Policy) (Attachment #1) establishes a framework for responding to a disruption in the City’s telephonic or internet services that provide two-way remote public access to City Council meetings. This Policy ensures that the City maintains compliance with relevant regulations and continues to facilitate public participation through remote access. SB 707 outlines specific requirements for compliance.
The Policy describes the procedures to follow when an interruption in those systems occurs, and the responsibilities to document such occurrences.
The Policy defines acceptable “two-way” services as either audiovisual platforms or telephonic systems. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has made the audiovisual platform Zoom available for remote participation in City Council meetings which complies with SB 707. Additionally, one-way transmissions broadcasting the meeting are available through the City’s website, YouTube, and local government television channel TOTV (Thousand Oaks Television).
If a disruption occurs in the City’s telephonic or internet service, the Mayor or the City Clerk will promptly announce the issue to the public as soon as they become aware of it. A recess will be called to allow staff time to identify and resolve the problem. If the issue is resolved and service is re-established, the meeting may be reconvened. If, after one hour, the issue remains unresolved, the City Council has the option to adjourn the meeting or reconvene the session, provided the City Council makes and adopts specific findings then votes to reconvene the meeting.
The City Clerk is responsible for documenting staff’s good-faith efforts to diagnose and restore the City’s two-way remote public access. These notes must be included in the official minutes of the meeting, ensuring transparency and accountability in the response to service disruptions.
The provisions of SB 707 apply only to City Council meetings and do not extend to Council-appointed boards, committees, or commissions. Additionally, the Policy does not apply to disruptions of observers’/speakers’ technology, one-way television, or internet broadcasts of City Council meetings.
Policy on Disruption of City Telephonic or Internet Service During Meetings June 9, 2026
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goal:
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City Attachment:
Attachment #1 – Resolution with Policy
CCD:610-10\lm\H:\COMMON\Agenda\SB 707\Disruption Policy Staff Report.docx