AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: MATTHEW E. RICHARDSON
CITY ATTORNEY
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON REQUIREMENTS OF SENATE BILL 707
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Summary:
Senate Bill 707 (“SB 707”) amends the Brown Act to update teleconferencing requirements for local agency meetings, with a focus on ensuring meaningful two-way communication between in-person and remote participants. The legislation affects how hybrid City Council meetings are conducted and requires the City to provide remote public participation, beginning July 1, 2026. The City Attorney will provide a presentation outlining the legal requirements, implementation considerations, and compliance options for the City Council
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 5: Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention systems, and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City services.
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Recommendation:
Receive presentation on SB 707 and direct staff as appropriate.
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Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
Background:
In 2025, the California Legislature adopted SB 707, which amends the Ralph M. Brown Act to modify teleconferencing requirements for legislative bodies of local agencies. SB 707 builds upon prior Brown Act amendments adopted during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and reflects a policy shift toward restoring in-person public participation while modernizing requirements for remote access and transparency.
SB 707 requires eligible legislative bodies to allow remote participation by members of the public to ensure two-way, real-time communication between the public and the legislative body within the physical meeting location. Agency size is the key factor in determining eligibility, and Signal Hill meets the population threshold for the legislation to be applicable. The intent of the legislation is to ensure that members of the public attending meetings in person have the same ability to hear and be heard as those participating remotely, and that hybrid meeting formats do not diminish public access or engagement. These requirements apply uniformly to all California local agencies subject to the Brown Act, including cities, counties, special districts, and joint powers authorities.
Analysis:
Under the amended Brown Act provisions, agencies must ensure that audio (and where applicable, video) from remote speakers is clearly transmitted into the Council Chamber, and that in-person speakers can be heard by the legislative body and any remote participants without delay or distortion. This effectively requires true two-way communication between the physical meeting space and any remote participation platform.
Implementation of SB 707 may require evaluation and potential upgrades to existing audio-visual systems, meeting room layouts, and operational procedures. Agencies may need to assess microphone placement, speaker systems, live streaming platforms, and staff workflows to ensure compliance. In addition, staff training and updated meeting protocols may be necessary to ensure consistent and legally compliant meeting management.
The City Attorney will present a detailed overview of the statutory requirements, implementation options, and operational considerations during the accompanying City Council presentation.