PREPARED BY: CASEY ERLENHEIM DATE OF MEETING: 06/15/2026
SUBJECT:
TITLE
PRESENTATION AND GENERAL OVERVIEW ON SB 707 COMPLIANCE AND CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO APPROVING AN ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY PERTAINING TO DISRUPTIONS OF THE CITY’S TELEPHONE OR INTERNET SERVICES DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
CEQA: This is not a project as defined by CEQA.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
FY 2025-27 Council Priority Workplan Compliance Statements:
This item is not specifically identified in the Council’s Priority Workplan but is necessary to ensure compliance with Government Code § 54953.4 to ensure transparency, accessibility and unencumbered public participation in City Council proceedings leveraging available technology.
BACKGROUND
The Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.) establishes requirements for open meetings of local legislative bodies. SB 707 updates provisions related to teleconferencing, including requirements for remote participation, accessibility, translation and procedures for addressing disruptions to meeting access for City Council meetings.
Among other requirements, SB 707 requires the City Council to adopt a technology disruption policy and requires reasonable efforts for outreach to encourage public participation in City Council meetings, particularly among underrepresented and non-English-speaking communities. This policy must be adopted by July 1, 2026.
Technology Disruption Policy
Government Code § 54953.4 requires the City Council to adopt, by July 1, 2026, a technology disruption policy. The policy must address procedures for responding to disruptions of telephone or internet service during a meeting and the efforts the legislative body will make to restore service. The statute further requires that if a disruption occurs that prevents members of the public from observing or participating in a City Council meeting through the two-way telephone or audiovisual platform, the City Council must recess the open session for at least one hour and make a good faith effort to restore service. During this time, the City Council may meet in closed session, as permitted by law. The City Council may not reconvene open session until at least one hour has passed or service has been restored, whichever occurs first. If service has not been restored upon reconvening, the City Council must make findings by roll call vote that good faith efforts were made to restore access and that the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in providing remote access. Alternatively, the meeting may be adjourned and remaining agenda items be rescheduled to a future agenda date that would be announced at that time. The proposed policy incorporates these requirements and establishes procedures to ensure transparency and continuity of meetings in the event of a technology disruption during a City Council meeting, while maintaining flexibility to respond based on the specific circumstances.
FISCAL IMPACT
The costs associated with SB 707 have been absorbed in the FY 2025-26 budget and increased costs associated with software, hardware and staff time are included in the proposed FY 2026-27 budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
Att A. Resolution
Exh 1. POL Disruptions of Telephone or Internet Services During Public Meetings