AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MATTHEW E. RICHARDSON
CITY ATTORNEY
BY: STEPHANIE D. SMITH
INTERIM ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION ADOPTING POLICIES ON DISRUPTION OF TELEPHONIC OR INTERNET SERVICE DURING MEETINGS AND PUBLIC OUTREACH IN ACCORDANCE WITH SENATE BILL 707
Summary:
Senate Bill 707 (“SB 707”), effective July 1, 2026, updates and expands several provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act related to teleconferencing, remote public participation, accessibility, and public engagement. Because the City of Signal Hill qualifies as an “eligible legislative body” under SB 707, the City Council must adopt certain policies and procedures governing remote participation in public meetings and outreach to encourage broader community engagement.
The attached Resolution would adopt two policies necessary to implement these requirements. The first establishes procedures for responding to disruptions of telephonic or internet services during public meetings, including required recess procedures, restoration efforts, and findings necessary to continue meetings when service cannot be restored. The policy also includes guidance for addressing intentional remote disruptions, such as “Zoom-bombing,” while protecting First Amendment and Brown Act rights. The second policy establishes a framework for reasonable public outreach efforts intended to encourage participation from underrepresented and non-English-speaking communities through digital communications, media outreach, and coordination with community organizations. Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution to ensure the City’s compliance with SB 707 requirements prior to the statutory implementation deadline.
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 5 High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City services.
Recommendation:
1. Adopt a Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING POLICIES REGARDING THE DISRUPTION OF TELEPHONIC OR INTERNET SERVICE DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND OUTREACH POLICY
Fiscal Impact:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with adopting these policies; however, the City will incur costs related to maintaining a subscription to host teleconferencing and staff costs for information-technology related services to address potential service interruptions during City Council meetings. Staff has incorporated these anticipated costs into the upcoming fiscal year operating budget.
Background:
The Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code section 54950 et seq.) imposes open meeting requirements on local legislative bodies. In 2025, the Legislature adopted Senate Bill 707 (“SB 707”), which reorganizes, clarifies, and updates various Brown Act provisions, including those governing teleconferencing, remote public participation, and meeting procedures. SB 707 applies to all legislative bodies, but certain special provisions apply only to “eligible legislative bodies,” as defined. The Signal Hill City Council qualifies as an “eligible legislative body” because the City is located in Los Angeles County, which has a population of more than 600,000 people.
Among other things, starting July 1, 2026, SB 707 requires “eligible legislative bodies” to follow specific requirements for providing remote access to public participants in City Council meetings via two-way audiovisual platforms or two-way telephonic services; captioning when using audiovisual platforms; and expanded accessibility and translation for notices and websites.
In addition, SB 707 requires “eligible legislative bodies” to take certain actions to encourage residents, including those underrepresented communities and non-English speaking communities, to participate in public meetings. An Outreach Policy is also presented for Council’s consideration and if approved, staff will return with an Outreach Plan at a future meeting.
Analysis:
Requirement to Adopt a Policy for Service Disruptions for Remote Meeting Participants
A key aspect of SB 707 is that eligible legislative bodies are required, on or before July 1, 2026, to adopt a policy governing disruption of telephonic and internet service for remote participants. The City Council must adopt a policy by a separate majority vote (i.e. not on the consent calendar) of the eligible legislative body in an open session.
While SB 707 grants local agencies greater flexibility, particularly with respect to remote participation, it also introduces new and unfunded state mandates. Following is a list of significant new requirements under SB 707 that will impact the City of Signal Hill.
1. Definition of “Eligible Legislative Bodies”:
Applies to City Councils with populations greater than 30,000 or City Councils in counties with populations greater than 600,000. Los Angeles County a population greater than 600,000, and therefore, the City of Signal Hill City Council is subject to comply with the SB 707 enhanced transparency requirements. The new law only applies to the City Council and is not applicable to the City’s Planning, Parks and Recreation, or Civil Service Commissions or other Committees. These new requirements also do not apply to certain specified types of meeting, such as “field trip” type meetings or emergency meetings. The attached policy lists those exemptions and incorporates all of the required provisions noted here.
2. Two-Way Remote Attendance and Disruption Procedures for Eligible Legislative Bodies
SB 707 requires “eligible legislative bodies” (starting July 1, 2026, through January 1, 2030) to offer two-way public access for meetings via telephonic or audiovisual platforms (e.g. Zoom, Teams); it is the City’s intent to offer telephonic access only,
Prior to July 1, 2026, local agencies must also adopt a policy for disruptions to telephonic or internet services. This policy must include the following:
• If there is a service disruption during a meeting, the body must recess and make a good-faith effort to restore service.
• The recess must last at least one hour (or until service is restored, whichever occurs first).
• If the disruption cannot be resolved, the City Council must adopt a finding by roll call vote confirming that good-faith efforts were made to fix the issue and that resuming the meeting serves the public interest more than delaying it further.
• The bill allows a legislative body or its presiding officer (Mayor) to also remove or limit participation from individuals engaging in disruptive behavior, regardless of whether the individual is attending in-person or via two-way audiovisual or telephonic services.
Disruptions Caused by Participants
While not required under SB 707, the attached Policy on Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Services also includes a section with guidance to the City Council and staff in the event of an intentional disruption to a meeting caused by a remote public participant or group of participants.
Such intentional disruptions may include, but are not limited to, so-called “Zoom-bombing.” Zoom-bombing involves the use of a remote participation platform to visually or audibly disrupt a meeting by sharing obscene or offensive material; use of obscene, threatening or offensive language; making disruptive noise; or otherwise preventing the meeting from functioning.
While the City can respond when remote participants actually disrupt a public meeting, the First Amendment and Brown Act rights of public participants must also be respected, even if that speech is offensive. Therefore, it is beneficial for local legislative bodies to have written guidance about how and when to respond. Written guidance can empower the Presiding Officer, Councilmembers, and Staff to address such disruptions in an effective and lawful manner.
The attached policy provides that in the event of an actual disruption, after a first verbal warning from the Presiding Officer or the City Clerk, a disruptive remote public participant may have their microphone muted or be removed entirely from the meeting either as a last resort or because muting the participant is not available on the service being used. The policy also defines an actual disruption in accordance with relevant laws, so that the Presiding Officer and Staff can distinguish between protected First Amendment speech and a disruption.
Public Participation and Outreach Policy
The attached policy establishes the reasonable efforts the City Council will take to invite groups that do not traditionally participate in public meetings to attend its meetings under the Brown Act (Government Code § 54953.4(b)(3)(C)). This Policy is intended to support inclusive public engagement while preserving the City Council’s discretion to determine and adjust appropriate outreach methods based on local needs, priorities, and available resources.
Within twelve months of adoption of this Policy, City staff will prepare and present to the City Council a list of organizations, media outlets, and other entities that may assist in expanding awareness of the City Council’s meetings. In addition, the City Council may provide direction to staff to utilize a variety of outreach methods, depending on available resources and community needs. These may include direct distribution of meeting information through e-mail or other notification systems; posting of meeting information on the City’s website or other digital platforms; use of social media or electronic communications; and coordination with media outlets or community organizations to share information about upcoming meetings.
Other SB 707 Changes
In addition to the above mandates related to two-way participation, SB 707 also reorganizes and expands teleconferencing rules and extends certain provisions from Assembly Bill (AB) 2449 (2022) until January 1, 2030. SB 707 changes are as follows:
• New sections added (Government Code Sections 54953.8 through 54953.8.7) to provide alternative teleconferencing options, beyond the “traditional” Brown Act rules for certain bodies.
• “Just Cause” remote participation is expanded to now include reasons such as caregiving, illness, family emergencies, military service, etc.
• Removes the AB 2449 requirement for the City Council to approve remote participation when a Councilmember is absent for “Just Cause”.
• Reiterates AB 2449's annual limit to five meetings annually for "Just Cause" participation per Councilmember, because Signal Hill’s meetings are regularly scheduled for twice a month or less.
Other limits apply if the body meets more frequently per month on a regular basis.
• Video of the Councilmember and Council Chambers must be visible by the public but does not require audiovisual participation; telephonic participation is sufficient public participation.
• The emergency meeting exception (when there is a proclaimed state or local emergency) is preserved and expanded to allow for, under certain conditions, the body to meet entirely remotely without a physical in-person location.
For City Councilmembers with disabilities, remote participation is codified as a reasonable accommodation:
• The Council Member must use both audio and video (unless exception is required).
• Must disclose whether others (18+ years of age) are present in their remote location and the nature of their relationship to them.
• Their attendance counts toward a quorum, as if they were physically present.
• Video of the Councilmember (unless disability prevents such) and Council Chambers must be visible by the public but does not require audiovisual participation; telephonic participation is sufficient public participation.
3. Language Access and Public Outreach
From July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2030, certain legislative bodies must translate their meeting agendas into any language spoken by 20% or more of the local population that speaks English less than “very well” based on the American Community Survey (“ACS”) data. According to the ACS data, the City has not reached the threshold that requires agenda translation. All eligible legislative bodies are required to make reasonable efforts, as determined by the legislative body, to invite groups that do not traditionally participate in public meetings to attend those meetings. The attached Outreach Policy facilitates compliance with these requirements.
4. Social Media/Communications
SB 707 removes the sunset on existing Brown Act provisions (Government Code Section 54952.2) allowing legislative body members to communicate with the public via internet-based social media, so long as they do not deliberate or coordinate decisions among themselves on those platforms. Members must also refrain from interacting with (liking, commenting, sharing, etc.) posts made by fellow legislative body members regarding items within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body.
Conclusion:
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a Resolution approving both policies in compliance with SB 707.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
_________________________
Siamlu Cox
Administrative Services Officer/Finance Director
Attachments:
A. Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING POLICIES REGARDING THE DISRUPTION OF TELEPHONIC OR INTERNET SERVICE DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND OUTREACH POLICY.
B. Policy for Service Disruptions for Remote Meeting Participants
C. Public Participation and Outreach Policy