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Atwater council keeps two monthly meetings, citing access and technology concerns ahead of SB 707
Summary
After debate about public access and in‑room technology readiness under California's SB 707, the council voted to keep its twice‑monthly meeting schedule and not adopt the proposed reduction to one meeting for most months.
The Atwater City Council voted on Dec. 8 to retain its current twice‑monthly meeting schedule rather than move to a one‑meeting‑per‑month model proposed for part of 2026. City Manager (speaker 16) presented two options tied to SB 707, a state measure that will require expanded remote‑meeting access: Option A would reduce most months to one meeting beginning in July (with SB 707 compliance), while Option B would keep the status quo and rely on special meetings as needed.
Councilmembers and members of the public raised access and operational concerns. Several members said one meeting per month could limit opportunities for public comment and make it harder to approve time‑sensitive items; others favored testing a reduced schedule for a limited trial. City staff warned that the council chamber's technology must be reliable prior to cutting regular in‑person meetings. "With the implementation and passage of SB 707 ... that's a senate bill that requires all cities in California to host city council meetings on Zoom," the city manager said, noting the city must be technically prepared before relying on remote access.
A motion to keep the schedule as-is was moved and seconded; the clerk announced the motion as "Motion by Raven, second by Rochester." The roll call produced a majority in favor and the motion passed (recorded as a majority yes with one dissent). Council directed staff to test technology and revisit the schedule if needed.
Why it matters: SB 707 will change remote‑meeting requirements for some jurisdictions; Atwater elected to retain in‑person opportunities while staff prepares equipment and procedures for eventual compliance.
Next steps: Staff will coordinate testing of meeting technology with the city clerk's office and report back on readiness ahead of SB 707's July implementation window.
