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Sonoma County supervisors adopt Rule 51 to govern technological disruptions at meetings
Summary
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on June 11 adopted a new Rule 51 and an accompanying technological-disruption policy required by SB 707, allowing staff up to an hour to attempt restorations and giving the board options to move to closed session or resume business after findings. Public commenters raised phone outages, AI concerns and calls for stronger oversight.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adopted a new Rule 51 and a formal technological-disruption policy at its June 11 meeting, fulfilling a requirement of SB 707 to clarify how the board will handle interruptions caused by telephonic or internet failures.
Marcy, clerk of the board, told supervisors the rule and policy will give the public clearer guidance on procedures when technology fails. "Staff will take up to an hour to address the issues and make a good faith effort to restore the service," Marcy said, adding that while staff attempts restoration the board could move into closed session for items that permit it and, if necessary, later resume business after making findings that a good-faith effort was made.
The measure implements changes to the Brown Act the clerk said staff were addressing following SB 707. The policy before the board would formally authorize procedural steps the county will follow during technological interruptions, including an initial restoration period, temporary movement to closed session where appropriate, and a return to public business with documented findings if services cannot be restored.
Public commenters addressing the item urged adoption but also used the time to raise broader concerns. Janice Carmen said recent phone-service problems had prevented basic communication for her household and expressed alarm about automated or altered services she described as tied to artificial intelligence. "We have no phones," Carmen said, adding that she and a partner had bought multiple replacement devices and that interruptions were affecting everyday life and civic participation. She asked supervisors to support restrictions on telephonic disruptions and to consider threats to land and open-space protections.
Duane DeWitt of Roseland supported measures to limit interruptions and asked for better public access to the rule text. "One of the responsibilities is to be civil," DeWitt said, urging the county to provide printed Rule 51 copies at the back desk and to pursue independent oversight for complaint-handling. DeWitt also called for a review of retirement payout practices for former officials, arguing for fiscal balance.
A supervisor moved to adopt Rule 51 and the accompanying technological-disruption policy; the chair requested a roll call after an initial voice vote, and the clerk recorded members' responses. The board approved the proposal and the chair announced the motion passed. The clerk and staff will be responsible for implementing the process laid out in the policy going forward.
The chair also opened public comment on closed-session items 2–4; the board will report out on closed session at its July 7 regular meeting. Supervisors were reminded that the county's final day of budget hearings is scheduled for tomorrow at 9 a.m.
