Item No. 6
STAFF REPORT
DATE: June 8, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dr. Sean M. Moore, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Steven Graham Pacifico, City Attorney
SUBJECT: Consideration of a Remote Participation and Technology Disruption Policy Pursuant to Senate Bill 707
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
1. Consider adoption of the Remote Participation and Technology Disruption Policy; or
2. Provide further direction to staff.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSIGN:
The Legislature of the State of California adopted Senate Bill 707 in 2025, which added Government Code Section 54953.4 to the Brown Act. Among other things, SB 707 requires the City Council to provide real-time remote public participation at City Council meetings either through a two-way telephonic service or a two-way audiovisual platform no later than July 1, 2026. Additionally, Section 54953.4 requires the City Council to adopt a policy addressing disruptions to the technology that could prevent members of the public from participating remotely. That policy is attached for the City Council's consideration.
In summary, the policy requires the City to make in good faith efforts to restore the telephonic or internet-based service: in the event a disruption occurs that prevents members of the public from participating remotely. The City must engage in those efforts for at least an hour, or until the connection is restored, whichever occurs first. If the City cannot restore the connection after one hour of good faith efforts, the City Council may proceed with the meeting after making specific findings that the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote participation. 06/08/2026 City Council Agenda 256
FISCAL IMPACT;
The recommendations do not result in a fiscal impact.
Attachment(s)
1. Remote Participation and Technology Disruption Policy 06/08/2026 City Council Agenda 257
ATTACHMENT 1
06/08/2026 City Council Agenda 258
CITY OF YUCAIPA
Remote Participation and Technology Disruption Policy
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This Policy is adopted to implement Government Code section 54953.4, as added by Senate Bill 707, which requires eligible legislative bodies to provide real-time remote public access to meetings through two-way telephonic or audiovisual services and to adopt procedures addressing disruptions to such services.
2. APPLICABILITY
This Policy applies to all meetings of the City Council and any other legislative body of the City that qualifies as an "eligible legislative body" under Government Code section 54953.4(e)(2).
3. REMOTE PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT
All open and public meetings shall include an opportunity for members of the public to attend via a two-way telephonic service or a two-way audiovisual platform, except where adequate telephonic or internet service is not operational at the meeting location. If such service is operational for only a portion of the meeting, remote participation shall be provided for that portion of the meeting.
4. PLATFORM REQUIREMENTS
If the City provides a two-way audiovisual platform, the City shall:
Provide a call -in option, and
Activate any automatic captioning function available on the platform during the meeting.
If a two-way audiovisual platform is not provided, the City shall provide a two-way telephonic service.
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Members of the public participating remotely shall be provided an opportunity to provide public comment in real time, consistent with Government Code section 54954.3, and shall be afforded the same time allotment as members of the public attending in person.
6. REQUIRED DISRUPTION POLICY
Pursuant to Government Code section 54953.4(b)(1)(A)(i)(1)(ib)(Ia), the City shall maintain a policy addressing disruptions to telephonic or internet-based services occurring during meetings, including procedures for recessing and reconvening meetings and efforts to restore such services.
For purposes of this Policy, a "disruption" means a disruption of telephonic or internet service within the City's control that prevents members of the public from attending or observing the meeting via the two-way telephonic service or two-way audiovisual platform. A "disruption" does 06/08/2026 City Council Agenda 259
not include technical difficulties experienced by individual members of the public that are unrelated to the City's systems or service providers, including issues with personal devices, software, internet connectivity, or cellular service.
7. PROCEDURE UPON DISRUPTION
If a disruption of telephonic or internet service occurs during a meeting that prevents members of the public from attending or observing the meeting via the two-way telephonic service or two-way audiovisual platform, the following procedures shall apply:
A. Recess and Restoration Efforts
i. The legislative body shall recess the open session of the meeting; and ii. The City shall make a good faith effort to restore telephonic or internet service.
B. Minimum Recess Period
The legislative body shall not reconvene the open session of the meeting until at least one (1) hour has elapsed following the disruption, or telephonic or internet service has been restored, whichever occurs earlier.
The legislative body may meet in closed session during the period of disruption, as permitted by law.
C. Reconvening Without restoration
If telephonic or internet service has not been restored upon reconvening the open session, the legislative body shall adopt, by rollcall vote, a finding that:
i. Good faith efforts to restore telephonic or internet service have been made in accordance with this Policy; and
ii. The public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access.
S. EXCEPTIONS TO REMOTE PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
The remote participation requirements set forth in this Policy shall not apply to meetings held for any of the following purposes:
• Attending a judicial or administrative proceeding to which the City is a party; • Inspecting real or personal property where discussion is limited to that property; • Meeting with federal or state officials regarding legislative or regulatory issues; • Meeting at or near a City -owned facility regarding that facility; • Emergency meetings pursuant to Government Code section 54956.5. 21 06/08/2026 City Council Agenda 260
9. ADMINISTRATION
The City Manager or designee is authorized to implement administrative procedures necessary to carry out this Policy, including procedures for restoring telephonic or internet service during a disruption.
10. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Policy is held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions, which shall remain in full force and effect.
11. INTERPRETATION
This Policy shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Government Code section 54953.4, as it may be amended from time to time, including any legislative extension, modification, or repeal of the current sunset date. The intent of this Policy is to ensure compliance with applicable law while maintaining public access to meetings and establishing procedures for addressing disruptions to telephonic or internet-based services.
12, SAVINGS CLAUSE
This Policy is intended to supplement and implement Government Code section 54953.4 and skull not be interpreted to conflict with, limit, or supersede any other provision of the Ralph M. Brown Act, including any other teleconferencing provisions set forth in Government Code section 54953 or related statutes. In the event of any conflict between this Policy and the Brown Act, the Brown Act shall control.
13. ADOPTION
This Remote Participation and Technology Disruption Policy was adopted by the City Council of the City of Yucaipa at a noticed public meeting held in open session and was not adopted on the consent calendar.
MI
06/08/2026 City Council Agenda 261