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Kern County to require pre-registration and online portal for public comment under SB 707
Summary
With SB 707 effective July 1, Kern County will require public-comment registration via an online portal or in-person kiosks; the clerk outlined QR-code signups, time splits between in-person and remote speakers, and a 30-minute pre-meeting registration window. Board and public members raised questions about spontaneous comments and accessibility.
Kern County'9s clerk of the board on June 16 outlined how the county will implement SB 707, the newly revised Brown Act rules that require equitable remote participation in public meetings.
Julie Gragg, the county'9s clerk of the board, explained that a web-based public-input portal will be available for speakers to register 30 minutes before meetings, and that kiosks and QR codes will be set up in chambers to help in-person participants sign up. Registered speakers will be placed in a queue and called in order of registration; the clerk said the system will split available public-comment time equally between in-person and remote participants and that chair or the board can waive limits when appropriate.
Members of the public asked how spontaneous comments made by people in chambers would be handled and raised accessibility concerns for people without smartphones or who are unfamiliar with QR codes. "If someone present decides to just spontaneously come up and remark on something, does that mean that will be restricted?" asked Don Miller. Gragg said staff will be available to assist in-chamber participants to register and that the board would work through adjustments as the new process is implemented.
Supervisor Parlier asked whether the registration portal would include a topic field and whether names would display on the dais; the clerk said staff would monitor the queue and call speakers by the agenda item. Board members thanked the clerk for preparing the implementation plan and asked staff to refine the approach and support those who lack technology access.
What happens next: The county will implement the portal and kiosks before the July 14 board meeting and staff will monitor operations and refine procedures in response to public feedback.
