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Signal Hill council adopts teleconference, disruption and outreach policies to meet SB 707
Summary
The Signal Hill City Council unanimously adopted two policies implementing California's SB 707, adding telephonic participation and setting outreach requirements; staff must return within 12 months with a community outreach plan and the city will offer telephonic public comment beginning July 1.
The Signal Hill City Council on a unanimous vote adopted two policies to comply with California Senate Bill 707, creating a telephonic public-participation option and an outreach plan to broaden engagement.
A city staff member told the council SB 707 "requires the council, starting on July 1, to offer two-way public access for all council meetings via either telephonic or audiovisual platforms," adding that the city will continue broadcasts while implementing telephonic queues so callers can speak on items remotely.
The new two-way remote attendance and disruption policy requires the council to recess for at least one hour if a service disruption occurs while attempting to restore access, and—if service cannot be restored—adopt a roll-call finding that good-faith efforts were made before deciding whether to resume or reschedule the meeting. The policy also allows staff, after a first verbal warning from the mayor or clerk, to mute or remove a disruptive remote participant.
The second policy sets outreach requirements the city must flesh out within 12 months: staff will prepare and present a list of organizations, media outlets and other entities that may assist in expanding awareness of council meetings. Officials said outreach methods may include email distribution, website posting, social media and coordination with local media depending on resources.
Council members asked for details about how telephonic public comment would work in practice—such as whether there would be a registration step and how callers would be placed in a speaking queue. The staff member said those operational details are under review and that the city will work within its available technology to ensure by July 1 the basic telephonic access and queueing are in place. "The details of how this will be implemented are still to be addressed," the staff member said, "but we cannot require anything of them that isn't required of somebody who attends a meeting here."
Councilmember Jones moved to adopt the resolution; Councilmember Woods seconded. The council approved the resolution by unanimous roll call. Staff noted that the outreach policy will return within 12 months for the council's review as required by SB 707.
Next steps: staff will finalize the technical procedures for telephonic participation before the July 1 implementation date and will present the outreach list to the council within 12 months.
