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Temple City adopts policy to pause meetings on remote participation disruptions under SB 707
Summary
The council unanimously adopted a policy to address disruptions to remote or hybrid public meetings required by SB 707. The policy directs staff to make a good-faith effort to restore remote access, authorizes a one-hour recess to restore service, and allows the council to continue if it finds continuing with limited remote access is in the public interest.
The Temple City Council adopted a policy designed to comply with Senate Bill 707 that outlines procedures when telephonic or internet access to a noticed public meeting is disrupted.
City Clerk Peggy Quo summarized the proposed policy: "If a disruption occurs, the meeting will be paused while staff make a good faith effort to restore access and only resume once it is appropriate to do so." The policy recommends an initial recess of up to one hour while staff attempt restoration and allows the council, by roll call vote, to make a formal finding that continuing the meeting despite limited remote access is in the public interest.
City Attorney staff noted the policy follows approaches adopted by other cities and recommended consistency with surrounding jurisdictions to reduce legal risk. The policy permits the council to reorder the agenda or move into closed session during a recess when appropriate, and provides specific guidance on when hybrid accommodations must be offered (per the statute). The council adopted the resolution by unanimous roll call.
City staff said technology- or third-party-service disruptions would be treated as the statutory "disruption" requiring the procedures and that staff will exercise discretion to resume the meeting when remote access is reasonably restored.
