To: Board of Supervisors, Sonoma County Water Agency Board of Directors, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space Board of Directors, and Community Development Commission Board of Commissioners
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: David Guhin, 707-565-2341
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Board Rule and Policy to Address Disruptions of Telephonic or Internet Service During Board Meetings
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve the following to address disruptions in telephonic or internet services during Board meetings:
A) Adopt Rule 51 of the Board of Supervisors Rules of Procedure
B) Approve the Board of Supervisors Policy for Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service During Meetings
end
Executive Summary:
Senate Bill 707 (SB 707) made recent amendments to the Ralph M. Brown Act, California’s open meeting law, which governs local legislative bodies. SB 707 requires the County implement a policy addressing how the agency will respond to disruptions in telephonic or internet service that prevent members of the public from participating remotely.
Discussion:
SB 707 enacted significant amendments to the Ralph M. Brown Act. Among these changes is a requirement to develop a policy that addresses how the agency will respond to disruptions in telephonic or internet service that prevent members of the public from participating remotely.
Effective July 1, 2026, a meeting held by an “eligible legislative body,” which includes this Board, must include an opportunity for members of the public to attend via a two-way telephonic service or a two-way audiovisual platform, with certain exceptions. The law provides that the open session of any such meeting must recess should any disruption of telephonic or internet service occur, that the meeting may continue in closed session during this recess, that the eligible legislative body must make a good faith effort to restore telephonic or internet service in accordance with an adopted policy for a minimum of one hour, and that the legislative body may thereafter reconvene into open session even if telephonic or internet service is not restored upon making certain findings.
Today’s proposed actions fulfill the requirement for this policy. The first action, an addition to the Board Rules of Procedure, will help formalize the method for addressing disruptions in accordance with the Board’s procedures for their meetings. The second action, a policy to address the technology disruptions, provides a formal policy and greater details of the steps to be taken should a disruption to telephonic or internet services occur.
If a service disruption prevents remote participation, the Chair will announce the issue and call a recess of up to one hour so staff can make a good faith effort to restore service. During the recess, the Board may meet in closed session. If the disruption occurs before public comment on the Closed Session Calendar, the Chair may take in-person comments before convening into closed session.
If service is restored within the hour, the Chair may resume the regular meeting or continue with the Closed Session Calendar. If service is not restored after one hour, the Board may choose to adjourn, extend the recess, or continue the meeting by adopting a roll-call finding that good faith efforts were made and that continuing the meeting serves the public interest despite the loss of remote access. The Clerk of the Board will document the disruption, the steps taken, and any findings in the official record.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
March 24, 2026: Resolution to authorize certain County Eligible Subsidiary Bodies to teleconference pursuant to Government Code section 54953.8.6 (Prior SB 707 Action)
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
None
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment A: Board Rules of Procedure (Tracked Changes)
Attachment B: Board Rules of Procedure (Clean)
Attachment C: Board of Supervisor Policy for Disruptions of Telephonic or Internet Service During Board Meetings
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None