REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Resolution Adopting Council Policy 057 Establishing Procedures to be Followed in the Event of a Disruption of Telephonic Service or Internet-Based Audio-Visual Platform During a Council Meeting
Report
BACKGROUND
During the Covid pandemic, most cities in California adopted the use of an internet-based audio-visual platform (such as Zoom) to be used during City Council meetings to encourage members of the public to participate in meetings safely from their homes. Many cities, including Santa Clara, have found that this remote participation option is convenient for members of the public and have therefore continued to offer hybrid participation, even after the pandemic-based need for the service had concluded.
Recognizing that many cities were continuing remote participation and the benefits of such an option for the public, and determining that there was a need to provide consistent requirements for remote public access throughout the state, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 707 ("SB 707") in October 2025. SB 707 ushered in significant changes to the open meeting law, the Ralph M. Brown Act. Among the numerous changes, the Legislature mandated that that all open and public meetings shall include an opportunity for members of the public to attend via a two-way telephonic service or a two-way audiovisual platform, except if adequate telephonic or internet service is not operational at the specific meeting location. The Legislature also addressed the scenario in which there was a disruption to the telephonic service or audiovisual platform, as described below, and required that cities adopt a policy (by July 1st) setting forth the processes to be undertaken in the event of such a disruption. The proposed Council Policy 057 is intended to satisfy this new Brown Act requirement.
On Monday, April 13th, the process for bringing this policy forward for Council approval was discussed by the Governance and Ethics Committee in...
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