SB 707 Meeting Disruption Policy and Updates
Regarding SB 707 and Title II Accessibility
Compliance Efforts
May 12, 2026 | Agenda Item 5.2
2 Background
• Senate Bill 707 (SB 707) was signed into law in 2025
• SB 707 requires eligible legislative bodies to provide remote opportunities to participate at public meetings through the following means:
• A two-way telephonic service
• A two-way audiovisual platform
• Another method allowed by law
3 Background
• SB 707 would also require City Council to adopt a meeting disruption policy
• Changes must be implemented beginning July 1, 2026
• The Legislation and Policy Committee approved forwarding the proposed SB 707 Meeting Disruption Policy to the City Council on April 20, 2026
4 Meeting Disruption Policy Overview
• This policy explains what the City will do if remote access fails during a City Council meeting:
• A Disruption is the failure of telephonic or internet service which prevents members of the public from attending,
observing, or providing public comment remotely
• City Council to recess the open session and make good-faith efforts to restore the service for at least one hour unless service is restored sooner
5 Meeting Disruption Policy Overview (cont.)
• If service cannot be restored within the above-described parameters, the City Council may continue the meeting after finding through roll-call vote that:
• Good-faith efforts were made to restore the service; and • The public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access.
• Disruption and related actions must be documented in the meeting minutes
6 SB707 Bulletin Board - Translated Agendas
• SB707 requires a physical location where members of the public may post personally translated versions of agendas • A new bulletin board has been installed near the original agenda posting board at the front of City Hall
• This separate bulletin board will be noticed with the following language to identify the space for the specific use of publicly translated agendas
7 Wordly Live Translation and Captioning
• Staff is implementing Wordly an AI-based live translation and captioning platform, for City Council and Planning
Commission meetings
• Staff believes Wordly will improve access for residents and support broader communication goals
• Wordly supports languages commonly used in Union City, including Tagalog, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and
Punjabi
8 Wordly Live Translation and Captioning (cont.)
• Wordly will allow meeting
attendees to scan a QR code
and select a preferred language
on their personal device
• The system provides real-time
translation and captioning
during the meeting
9 Title II Accessibility Compliance Update
• The United States Department of Justice has adopted
accessibility rules for web content and mobile applications used by state and local governments
• Use of live captioning, improved meeting access information, and accessible public meeting procedures supports the City’s broader Title II compliance efforts
10 1. Adopt a Resolution Approving the City of Union
City SB 707 Meeting Disruption Policy; and
2. Receive the informational update regarding SB
707 and Title II accessibility compliance efforts.
Staff Recommendation