Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Consideration of an Ordinance to Authorize City Council Study Sessions to be Televised, and a Resolution Establishing a Policy Regarding the Disruption of Telephone or Internet Service During City Council Meetings to Ensure Compliance with SB 707.
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From: Scott Porter, City Attorney
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Scott Porter, City Attorney
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
A. Consider and introduce for first reading an Ordinance entitled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 2.04.75 (STUDY SESSIONS) OF THE WESTMINSTER MUNICIPAL CODE,” read by title only and waive further reading; and
B. Consider and adopt a Resolution entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING A POLICY REGARDING THE DISRUPTION OF TELEPHONE OR INTERNET SERVICE DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS” to comply with SB 707.
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BACKGROUND
On October 3, 2025, SB 707 was signed into law, substantially changing open meeting and teleconferencing requirements under the Ralph M. Brown Act. City staff is in the process of updating the city’s processes to ensure compliance with the law.
Among other things, starting July 1, 2026, Government Code section 54953.8 will require Westminster to provide the public with a way to attend City Council meetings and comment via a “two-way telephonic” or a “two-way audiovisual platform.” This requirement does not apply to the meetings of any other legislative body in Westminster, such as the Planning Commission.
Westminster Municipal Code section 2.04.075 currently states that City Council study sessions “shall not be televised or videotaped.” However, in the interest of transparency, City Council study sessions have been televised and videotaped for many years. To ensure compliance with the new law and to reflect longstanding practice, the proposed ordinance would officially remove this prohibition.
On or before July 1, 2026, Westminster is required to have approved “a policy regarding disruption of telephonic or internet service occurring during meetings.” The proposed resolution would meet the applicable legal requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
None, other than standard publication costs for the ordinance.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The proposed ordinance and resolution will allow the city to comply with the July 1, 2026 legal deadline.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Ordinance
2. Draft Resolution
3. Summary of SB 707 from League of California Cities
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager