HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 26-13406 - Adoption of Technology Disruption Policy in Compliance with Senate Bill 707RESOLUTION NO. 26-13406
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CAMPBELL ADOPTING A TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION
POLICY TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR
RESPONDING TO DISRUPTIONS OF TELEPHONIC OR
INTERNET SERVICES DURING CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS, AND DIRECTING STAFF TO ENGAGE IN AND
IDENTIFY "REASONABLE EFFORTS" FOR OUTREACH
TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS, TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH SENATE
BILL 707 AND THE RALPH M. BROWN ACT.
WHEREAS, the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.) establishes
requirements for open and public meetings of local legislative bodies; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 707 (2025) amended the Brown Act to update teleconferencing
and accessibility requirements, including provisions related to remote participation in
public meetings; and
WHEREAS, Government Code § 54953.4(b)(1)(A) requires eligible legislative bodies, on
or before July 1, 2026, to adopt at a noticed public meeting in open session a policy
addressing disruption of telephonic or internet service during meetings conducted with
remote participation; and
WHEREAS, the required policy must address procedures for recessing and reconvening
a meeting in the event of a disruption and the efforts the legislative body will make to
attempt to restore service; and
WHEREAS, Government Code § 54953.4 further requires that, in the event of a disruption
preventing members of the public from observing or participating in the meeting through
a two-way telephonic or audiovisual platform, the legislative body shall recess the open
session for at least one hour and make a good faith effort to restore service, and may not
reconvene open session until at least one hour has passed or service has been restored,
whichever occurs first; and
WHEREAS, if telephonic or internet service has not been restored upon reconvening, the
legislative body must make findings by roll call vote that good faith efforts to restore
service have been made and that the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs
the public interest in remote public access; and
WHEREAS, adoption of a technology disruption policy is required to ensure compliance
with state law and to promote transparency and continuity of public meetings; and
WHEREAS, the proposed policy addressing disruption of telephonic or internet service
during meetings of the City Council has been prepared in accordance with Government
Code § 54953.4; and
WHEREAS, the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State
Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3), no environmental review is required; and
WHEREAS, SB 707 also requires city councils to encourage residents' participation in
public meetings by (1) providing an electronic system that accepts and fulfills requests for
meeting agendas and documents through email or a web platform via a direct link on the
City Council's website home page; (2) maintaining an accessible webpage for the City
Council providing explanations of the general meeting process, how to provide in -person,
remote, or written public comments, a calendar of all meeting dates, and the meeting
agendas; and (3) undertaking "reasonable efforts" to invite groups that do not traditionally
participate in public meetings to attend meetings,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Campbell as
follows:
Section 1. Adoption of Policy. The City Council hereby adopts the policy entitled
"Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service During Public Meetings," substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.
Section 2. Implementation. The City Clerk is authorized and directed to implement the
policy in coordination with agency staff, legal counsel, and technology support staff, as
appropriate.
Section 3. Minor Modifications. The City Attorney may approve minor, non -substantive
modifications to the policy as necessary to conform to applicable law, agency practices,
or formatting requirements, provided such modifications do not materially alter the intent
of the policy.
Section 4. Encouraging Participation in Meetings. The City Council hereby directs
City staff as follows:
• By July 1, 2026, the City Clerk's Office is directed to provide, on the City Council
website home page, the(.1.e�r1�..soff c,e:4t;.c,an,ji)_1)e.Ilcao email address where the
community can request and the City can fulfill meeting agendas and documents.
• By July 1, 2026, the City Clerk's Office is directed to provide information on how a
community member can provide in -person, remote, or written public comments to
a City Council agenda item. This information is currently listed on the City Council
agenda first page. The City Clerk's Office is directed to add similar language to the
City website Agenda Center — where agendas are posted — and the City Council
home page.
• City Staff is directed to report back to City Council on ways the City Council can
increase community involvement at meetings.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of June 2026 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers: Lopez, Hines, Scozzola, Bybee, Furtado
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
PPROVED:
Daniel E. Furtado, ayor
ATTEST:
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Andrea Saro rs, City Clerk
DRAFT - Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service During Public
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Meetings Policy
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1. Background
Senate Bill 707 (2025) amended the Ralp M. Brown Act (Brown Act) to require eligible legislative
bodies to adopt, on or before July 1, 2026, a policy addressing how the agency will respond to
disruptions in telephonic or internet service that prevent members of the public from attending
or observing a meeting remotely. This policy is adopted to comply with that requirement and to
ensure continuity of public participation during technical disruptions.
2. Purpose
This policy establishes procedures for responding to a disruption in the telephonic or internet
services that provide two-way remote public access to meetings of the City Council, as required
by the Brown Act (Gov. Code § 54953.4). The policy ensures transparency, public participation,
and continuity of government during technology disruptions.
3. Definitions
For purposes of this policy:
• "Disruption" means any failure, outage, or other interruption that prevents members of the
public from attending or observing the meeting via these remote access services.
• "Remote access services" means the two-way telephonic service and/or two-way
audiovisual platform used to provide real-time remote public attendance and observation
of meetings.
4. Applicability
This policy applies to all open and public meetings of the City Council at which remote public
participation is offered or required under the Brown Act.
5. Procedures in the Event of a Service Disruption
5.1. Response to Service Disruption
If the Mayor or Clerk becomes aware of a disruption to the agency's remote access services
that prevents members of the public from attending or observing the meeting remotely:
1. The Mayor or Clerk shall immediately announce the disruption to the public.
2. The Mayor may then call for a recess of the open session or convene the City Council
in closed session, consistent with the Brown Act.
3. Staff shall begin efforts to diagnose and restore the disrupted service.
4. The meeting shall remain in recess for at least one hour or until service is restored,
whichever is sooner. The recess period may be extended if restoration efforts are
ongoing.
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Draft - Technology Disruption Policy Required by SB 707
5.2. Efforts to Restore Service
The City shall make good faith efforts to restore remote access services, which may include:
• Troubleshooting platform or teleconferencing software
• Resetting or replacing audiovisual equipment
• Attempting alternative connection methods
• Contacting necessary support staff or service providers
• Switching to back-up equipment or platforms, if available
The Clerk shall document the restoration efforts undertaken.
6. Reconvening the Open Session
6.1. Timing
The open session may be reconvened after at least one hour has elapsed from the time of
disruption or as soon as service is restored, whichever occurs earlier.
6.2. If Service Is Restored
If the remote access service is restored before or at the time the meeting reconvenes, the
meeting shall continue as normal.
6.3. If Service Is Not Restored
If service has not been restored after one hour, the City Council may reconvene and:
1. Adjourn the meeting, or
2. Continue the meeting in open session by adopting, by roll call vote, the following, or a
substantially similar, finding:
"The City has made good faith efforts to restore telephonic or internet service in
accordance with its adopted policy, and the public interest in continuing the meeting
outweighs the public interest in remote public access."
Upon adoption of the finding, the City Council may continue the open session despite the
fact that remote access services have not been restored.
7. Recordkeeping
The Clerk shall enter a brief statement into the meeting minutes, including the following.
• The nature and time of the disruption
• The restoration efforts undertaken
• The time the meeting was reconvened (if applicable)
• Any finding adopted pursuant to Section 6.3
8. Review and Updates
This policy may be amended by the City Council at a noticed public meeting in open session,
not on the consent calendar.
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