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Pacifica adopts SB707 remote-access disruption policy; installs backup power and internet protections
Summary
The council unanimously adopted a policy consistent with California SB707 requiring remote attendance and a defined response if remote access (Zoom) is disrupted: a public announcement, a good-faith one-hour restoration effort, and findings before continuing without remote access.
The Pacifica City Council adopted an administrative policy on June 22 to comply with California Senate Bill 707, which requires eligible legislative bodies to provide remote public access and to follow a defined process if that remote access is disrupted.
City Clerk Coffee summarized the policy’s key steps: if remote access fails, the council must immediately notify the public, recess (or adjourn) the open session, and make a good-faith effort for at least one hour to restore remote access by troubleshooting, contacting service providers, or switching to backup systems. If remote access cannot be restored after the one-hour period, the council may reconvene, adopt findings that the public interest in continuing outweighs the public interest in remote access, and continue in person.
Staff said the council chamber already has redundancy measures in place—an uninterrupted power supply and a secondary internet circuit—designed to reduce the likelihood of a disruption when power or the primary ISP fails. The policy also clarifies that certain meetings of the full council (for example, study sessions and commission applicant interviews involving a quorum) will require remote access under SB707 but that ordinary advisory-board meetings are not covered by the eligible-legislative-body provisions.
City Clerk Coffee told the council the policy would allow reasonable requests for language assistance or additional time for callers who require interpretation, and staff will add agenda language directing residents to contact the city clerk in advance to request accommodations.
Council members praised the steps and approved the policy unanimously.
