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Council adopts remote‑access interruption policy to comply with state open‑meetings changes
Summary
The council adopted a remote‑access interruption policy implementing SB 707 that requires the council to pause and attempt restoration for at least one hour before resuming or taking a formal finding when Zoom/phone access is interrupted.
Menlo Park — The City Council adopted a policy this evening to govern interruptions to remote public access during meetings, implementing requirements in recent state legislation described in the staff report.
City Clerk Judy Haren reviewed the proposed policy, which applies to interruptions of internet or telephone participation in open public meetings. Haren referenced recent state amendments and explained the policy’s operational steps: pause the open session, make good‑faith efforts to restore remote access and, if necessary, adopt a formal finding before continuing or recessing. Council asked whether the one‑hour pause is mandatory; staff confirmed the statute requires an hour‑long pause and efforts to restore service.
Councilmember Taylor moved to adopt the policy and Vice Mayor Wise seconded; the motion passed unanimously. The council and staff said they will publish the adopted policy and apply it to all open council meetings going forward.
What’s next: the adopted policy will be published and applied to upcoming council meetings; staff will follow statutory procedures when interruptions occur.
