Seal Beach council adopts SB 707 policies to expand remote access and set tech-disruption rules

The Seal Beach City Council on June 22 unanimously approved Resolution 7791 to adopt three council policies required by Senate Bill 707, which clarifies Brown Act requirements for public participation and transparency.

Deputy City Clerk DeCriscio told the council SB 707 requires eligible legislative bodies to provide remote, two-way public participation, maintain an accessible web page describing how to comment remotely, and adopt a technology-disruption policy describing how the city will respond if teleconference or internet service fails. The staff report said Seal Beach will use Microsoft Teams for remote participation beginning July 27 and will accept remote public-comment signups via an agenda link.

The new rules also require reasonable-accommodation procedures for council members (policy 100-15) and for the public (policy 100-16), including advance-notice timelines, interpreter and assistive-technology options, and guidance on remote attendance. Policy 100-17 covers steps the city must take if remote access is disrupted: recess for up to one hour while staff attempts restoration, report efforts to the public if service is not restored, and adopt findings before reconvening if the council continues.

Staff noted the requirements create operational burdens — additional staff time for website updates, agenda changes and meeting support — but said most work can be accomplished without significant direct cost. City attorneys and staff emphasized that agencies must avoid a majority of members discussing public business on social media and must post procedural guidance for remote commenters.

The council voted 5–0 to adopt the set of policies. Mayor Landau said the changes will broaden public access to meetings and stressed the city will publish clear instructions for remote participation and reasonable-accommodation requests.