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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 34-26 Approving Technology Disruption Policy Reso. No. 34-26, Item 8.2, Adopted 05/05/2026 Page 1 of 1 RESOLUTION NO. 34 – 26 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN APPROVING A TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION POLICY TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO A DISRUPTION IN THE TELEPHONIC OR INTERNET SERVICES THAT PROVIDE TWO -WAY REMOTE PUBLIC ACCESS TO MEETINGS OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL WHEREAS, on October 3, 2025, Governor Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 707 (SB 707), which amended the Brown Act to diversify and increase public engagement in meetings of local legislative bodies. Among the various new requirements under SB 707, all qualified legislative bodies must now offer hybrid meetings (through a two-way phone or video platform); and WHEREAS, the City Council currently holds its meetings in a hybrid format via Zoom and will continue to do so; and WHEREAS, SB 707 requires the City to formally adopt a policy, on or before July 1, 2026, that establishes the procedure for recessing and reconvening a meeting in the event of a disruption of remote participation and the efforts that the City Council and Staff shall make to attempt to restore service . NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin approves the Technology Disruption Policy, attached hereto as Exhibit A. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY the City Council of the City of Dublin, on this 5th day of May, 2026 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Josey, McCorriston, Qaadri and Mayor Hu NOES: Councilmember Morada ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ______________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _________________________________ City Clerk Docusign Envelope ID: 50EBE52E-EE09-804A-802E-00538F070BC9 Exhibit A to the Resolution City of Dublin City Council Policy POLICY NAME: Technology Disruption Policy ADOPTED YEAR: 2026 DEPARTMENT: CC REVISION YEAR: DEPARTMENT NUMBER: 1200 RESOLUTION #: XX-26 POLICY NUMBER: 1200-110 Page 1 of 3 PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to create procedures for responding to a disruption in the telephonic or internet services that provide two -way remote public access to meetings of the City of Dublin City Council as required by the Brown Act (Gov. Code § 54953.4). The policy ensures transparency, public participation, and continuity of government during technology disruptions. POLICY MANDATE: Senate Bill 707 (2025) amended the Brown Act to require eligible legislative bodies to adopt, on or before July 1, 2026, a policy addressing how the agency will respond to disruptions in telephonic or internet service that prevent members of the public from attending or observing a meeting remotely. This policy is adopted to comply with that requirement and to ensure continuity of public participation during technical disruptions. POLICY PROCEDURES AND DESCRIPTION: I. Definitions For purposes of this policy: 1. “Disruption” means any failure, outage, or other interruption that prevents members of the public from attending or observing the meeting via these remote access services. 2. “Remote access services” means the two-way telephonic service and/or two-way audiovisual platform used to provide real-time remote public attendance and observation of meetings. II. Applicability This policy applies to all open and public meetings of the City of Dublin City Council at which remote public participation is offered or required under the Brown Act. Docusign Envelope ID: 50EBE52E-EE09-804A-802E-00538F070BC9 Policy Number 1200-110: Technology Disruption Policy Page 2 of 3 III. Procedures in the Event of a Service Disruption Response to Service Disruption If the City becomes aware of a disruption to the agency’s remote access services that prevents members of the public from attending or observing the meeting remotely: 1. The Mayor or City Clerk shall immediately announce the disruption to the public. 2. The Mayor may then call for a recess of the open session or convene the legislative body in closed session, consistent with the Brown Act. 3. Staff shall begin efforts to diagnose and restore the disrupted service. 4. The meeting shall remain in recess for at least one hour or until service is restored, whichever is sooner. The recess period may be extended if restoration efforts are ongoing. Efforts to Restore Service The agency shall 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. The City Clerk shall document the restoration efforts undertaken. Reconvening the Open Session Timing. The open session may be reconvened after at least one hour has elapsed from the time of disruption or as soon as service is restored, whichever occurs earlier. If service is restored. If the remote access service is restored before or at the time the meeting reconvenes, the meeting shall continue as normal. If service is not restored. If service has not been restored after one hour, the City Council may reconvene and: 1. Adjourn the meeting; or 2. Continue the meeting in open session by adopting, by roll call vote, the following, or a substantially similar, finding: “The City of Dublin has made good faith efforts to restore telephonic or internet service in accordance with its adopted policy, and the public Docusign Envelope ID: 50EBE52E-EE09-804A-802E-00538F070BC9 Policy Number 1200-110: Technology Disruption Policy Page 3 of 3 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 despite the fact that remote access services have not been restored. IV. Recordkeeping The City Clerk shall enter a brief statement into the meeting minutes, including the following: • The nature and time of the disruption • The restoration efforts undertaken • The time the meeting was reconvened (if applicable) • Any finding adopted pursuant to this policy V. Review and Updates This policy may be amended by the City Council at a noticed public meeting in open session, not on the consent calendar. APPROVED BY: The City Council, Resolution No. XX-26 SUMMARY OF REVISIONS: May 5, 2026: Adopted by the Dublin City Council Docusign Envelope ID: 50EBE52E-EE09-804A-802E-00538F070BC9