HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-23 - AGENDA REPORTS - TECHNOLOGY INTERRUPTION POLICY PUBLIC MEETINGSO
Agenda Item: 2
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
.` AGENDA REPORT
NEW BUSINESS
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: June 23, 2026
SUBJECT: TECHNOLOGY INTERRUPTION POLICY FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services
PRESENTER: Melody Bartlette
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council adopt a policy regarding technology interruptions during City Council Meetings, as
required by Senate Bill 707.
BACKGROUND
The Ralph M. Brown Act governs public access and participation in meetings of local legislative
bodies. In 2025, Senate Bill 707 amended the Brown Act to require local agencies to provide
remote public access to City Council meetings and to adopt a policy addressing disruptions in
telephonic or internet service that prevent members of the public from attending or observing
meetings remotely. The law requires agencies to adopt such a policy on or before July 1, 2026.
To comply with these new requirements (Gov. Code § 54953.4), the City of Santa Clarita (City)
is implementing remote public access capabilities for City Council meetings and is bringing
forward the proposed Technology Disruption Policy for adoption in advance of the statutory
deadline. The policy establishes procedures for responding to technical disruptions that may
impact remote public access and ensures the City can continue to conduct public meetings in a
manner consistent with the Brown Act.
The proposed policy establishes a framework for responding to interruptions affecting remote
public access services during public meetings. Key provisions include:
• Immediate public notification when a disruption to remote access services is identified.
• Authority for the Presiding Officer to recess the meeting while staff attempts to restore
service.
• Requirements for City staff to make good -faith efforts to restore telephonic or internet
access through troubleshooting, alternate connection methods, backup equipment, and
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coordination with service providers.
• Procedures for reconvening the meeting once service is restored or, if service cannot be
restored after reasonable efforts, allowing the legislative body to continue the meeting
upon adoption of findings required by the Brown Act.
• Documentation and recordkeeping requirements to ensure transparency regarding the
disruption and restoration efforts.
• Standards governing remote public participation and procedures for addressing disruptive
behavior during meetings.
Adoption of the policy will ensure compliance with Senate Bill 707, provide clear operational
guidance for responding to technical disruptions, and support continued public participation and
access to City meetings through remote attendance options.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
ATTACHMENTS
I-17 Technology Interruption Policy - Draft
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City of Santa Clarita
POLICY/PROCEDURE
Number I-17 SUBJECT: TECHNOLOGY INTERRUPTION POLICY FOR
PUBLIC MEETINGS
ORIGINAL ISSUE I EFFECTIVE: 07/01/2026
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
I.
II.
PURPOSE
CATEGORY: LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS
To establish procedures for responding to a technology disruption affecting remote
public access to City of Santa Clarita public meetings, as required by the Brown Act
(Gov. Code § 54953.4). The policy ensures transparency, public participation, and
continuity of government during technology disruptions.
GENERAL POLICY
Senate Bill 707 (2025) amended the 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.
DEFINITIONS
A. "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.
B. "Remote access services" means the two-way telephonic service and/or two-way
audiovisual platform used in real-time remote public attendance and observation of
meetings.
IV. PROCEDURES
A. Response to Service Disruption
1. If the Presiding Officer or City 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:
a. The Presiding Officer or City Clerk shall immediately announce the disruption to
the public.
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b. The Presiding Officer may then call for a recess of the open session or convene the
legislative body in closed session, consistent with the Brown Act.
c. Staff shall begin efforts to diagnose and restore the disrupted service.
d. 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.
B. Efforts to Restore Service
1. The agency shall make good faith efforts to restore remote access services, which may
include:
a. Troubleshooting platform or teleconferencing software.
b. Resetting or replacing audiovisual equipment.
C. Attempting alternative connection methods.
d. Contacting necessary support staff or service providers.
e. Switching to back-up equipment or platforms, if available.
2. The City Clerk shall document the restoration efforts undertaken.
C. Reconvening the Open Session
1. Timing
a. 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
2. If Service is Restored
a. If the remote access service is restored before or at the time the meeting
reconvenes, the meeting shall continue as normal.
3. If Service is Not Restored
a. If service has not been restored after one hour, the City Council may reconvene
and:
a. Adjourn the meeting; or
b. Continue the meeting in open session by adopting, by roll call vote, the
following, or a substantially similar, finding:
i. "The City of Santa Clarita 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."
ii. Upon adoption of the finding, the legislative body may continue the open
session despite the fact that remote access services have not been restored.
D. Recordkeeping
1. The City Clerk shall enter a brief statement into the meeting minutes, including the
following:
a. The nature and time of the disruption.
b. The restoration efforts undertaken.
c. The time the meeting was reconvened (if applicable).
d. Any finding adopted pursuant to Section IV-C (3).
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E. Review and Updates
1. This policy may be amended by the City Council at a noticed public meeting in open
session, not on the consent calendar.
F. Public Participation Conduct
1. Public participation conduct using the remote option will be held to the standards of
those participating in person. If a participant disrupts the meeting in a manner that
prohibits the orderly continuation of the meeting, one verbal warning will be given to the
participant. If the disruption continues after a single warning, the participant will be
prohibited from speaking for the remainder of the meeting.
V. EXCEPTIONS
There are no exceptions to this Policy without the express authorization of the City Manager
VI. AUTHORITY
By the authority of the City Council.
Laurene Weste
Mayor
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