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San Carlos adopts SB 707 technology‑disruption policy requiring one‑hour recess and reporting
Summary
The council unanimously adopted Resolution 2026‑59 implementing a technology‑disruption policy under SB 707: immediate announcement, up to a one‑hour recess to restore remote access, closed‑session allowances during recess, and a requirement to document restoration efforts in the minutes; policy effective July 1, 2026.
City Clerk Crystal Moyer presented a technology‑disruption policy required by SB 707 that sets procedures for responding when phone or internet outages prevent remote public access to council meetings. The policy requires the mayor or clerk to announce the disruption, call a recess while staff attempts to restore service (up to one hour), and specifies how the meeting minutes must record the incident and staff restoration efforts.
If service is not restored within an hour, the council must either adjourn and continue the remaining items to a specified date or reconvene after adopting findings that (a) staff made good‑faith efforts to restore service and (b) the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the need for remote access. Crystal Moyer told council the policy must be adopted in open session and takes effect July 1, 2026.
Council member McDowell moved to adopt Resolution 2026‑59 and Council member Layton seconded. The council adopted the resolution in a unanimous roll‑call vote (McDowell, Vice mayor Rak, Dugan, Layton, Mayor Venkatesh all voting yes).
What the policy does: it formalizes the steps the city will take during technology outages to maximize transparency and preserve public participation, including clocking a one‑hour restoration period, documenting diagnosis and restoration activities in meeting minutes, and laying out options if restoration fails.
Because it is state‑mandated for eligible legislative bodies, the policy codifies state Brown Act updates and provides staff and the mayor with a clear sequence of actions during disruptions.
