The state of California is now requiring local governments to adhere to a new policy outlining for meetings are to be conducted on remote or phone platforms.

On April 13 the Ceres City Council voted 5-0 to approve the policy changes as mandated by Senate Bill 707 which was signed into law on Oct. 3, 2025.

City Clerk Fallon Martin said that SB 707 amends the Brown Act with the intention of diversifying and increasing public engagement in local government and city council meetings. One of the amendments is to require council meetings to be offered through a two-way phone and/or video platform, such as Zoom which the city already uses.

The bill also requires cities to formally adopt the policy on or before July 1, outlining the procedure of recessing and reconvening council meetings in the event of disruptions and the steps staff must take in an attempt to restore service.

Martin said in the event of an audio or video streaming disruption, the mayor of the city clerk shall immediately announce the disruption and suspend all agenda discussion and action. Staff will then have to evaluate the reasons for the disruption and estimated restoration time.

The open meeting must remain in recess for at least an hour or until service is restored, whichever is sooner.

The council has the option to spend the time during restoration efforts by going into a closed session “while staff tries to remedy the situation.”

The new law requires a city or agency to make good faith efforts to restore remote access services, which may include:

• Troubleshooting platform or teleconferencing software;
• Resetting or replacing audiovisual equipment;
• Attempting alternative connection methods;
• Contacting necessary support staff or service providers;
• Switching to back-up equipment or platforms, if available.

Information Technology staff shall report to the City Clerk the restoration efforts undertaken.

If service has not been restored after an hour, a City Council may end the meeting or continue the meeting in open session by adopting a finding as follows: “The City of Ceres has made good faith efforts to restore telephonic and/or internet service in accordance with its adopted policy, and the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access.”

Upon adoption of the finding, the legislative body may continue the open session even though remote access has not been restored.

The new policy was approved in a 5-0 council vote.