Resolution No. 2026-025RESOLUTION NO. 2026-025
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON
DETERMINING REASONABLE EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 54953.4
SECTION 1. Recitals.
A. The Ralph M. Brown Act (Government code Section 54950 et seq.) establishes
requirements for open and public meetings of local legislative bodies.
B. Seante Bill 707 (SB 707, 2025) amended the Brown Act to include additional
requirements intended to encourage participation in public meetings, particularly among
communities that do not traditionally participate in public meetings and non-English-
speaking communities.
C. Government Code Section 54953.4(b)(3)(C) requires the City Council to determine
and make reasonable efforts to invite groups that do not traditionally participate in public
meetings to attend those meetings.
D. Such reasonable efforts may include outreach to media organizations serving the
jurisdiction, including those serving non-English-speaking communities, as well as civic,
neighborhood, community-based, civil rights, and good government organizations.
E. Government Code Section 54953.4(b)(3)(C)(ii) provides legislative bodies with
broad discretion in determining appropriate reasonable efforts and clarifies that no action
shall arise from failing to provide notice to any specific group.
F. The City Council of the City of Vernon encourages public participation and provides
multiple methods for the public to address the Council in accordance with the Brown Act,
and the City uses a variety of communication methods to inform the public of meetings
and opportunities to participate.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF VERNON AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby finds and determines
that the above recitals are true and correct.
SECTION 3. Determination of Reasonable Efforts. The City Council determines
the following to constitute reasonable efforts to encourage participation in meetings
pursuant to Government Code Section 54953.4(b)(3)(C):
1. Media Outreach. The City may include media organizations serving the
jurisdiction, including media organizations serving non-English-speaking
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communities, in the distribution of meeting agendas, notices, or other
meeting-related information, as appropriate.
2. Electronic Access and Agenda Subscriptions. The City shall maintain
methods for members of the public to access meeting agendas and related
materials electronically, including through the City’s website or other regular
agenda-posting platform. Where available, the City may also provide options
for members of the public to subscribe to receive meeting agendas, notices,
or other updates.
3. Multilingual Communications. The City may use multilingual
communication methods to increase awareness of meetings and participation
opportunities, including translated agendas, translated meeting instructions,
multilingual social media posts, website notices, or other communication tools,
as appropriate and consistent with applicable law and available resources.
4. Community and Organizational Outreach. The City may provide meeting
information through existing communication channels and partnerships with
community-based organizations, neighborhood groups, civic organizations,
civil rights organizations, good government organizations, and organizations
serving non-English-speaking communities, as opportunities arise and
consistent with available resources.
5. Use of Existing Communication Channels. The City may use existing
outreach methods to share meeting information and participation
opportunities, including, but not limited to, the agency website, email
notifications, agenda subscription services, newsletters, social media
platforms, public counters, bulletin boards, community meetings, and other
established communications tools.
6. Flexible and Evolving Methods. The efforts identified in this Resolution are
intended to provide a flexible framework for outreach and public participation.
The City may modify, expand, or adjust its outreach methods over time based
on available resources, evolving communication practices, changes in
technology, and the needs of the community.
SECTION 4. Flexible Framework. The efforts identified in this Resolution are
intended to provide a flexible framework for outreach and public participation. The City
may modify, expand, or adjust its outreach methods over time based on the available
resources, evolving communication practices, changes in technology, and the needs of
the community.
SECTION 5. No requirement to Provide Notice to Any Specific Group. Consistent
with Government Code Section 54953.4(b)(3)(C)(ii), this Resolution does not require
notice of any specific group of organizations, and no action shall arise from the failure to
provide notice to any specific group or organization.
SECTION 6. Severability. If any provision of this Resolution or the application
thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other
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provisions or applications, and to this end, the provisions of this Resolution are declared
to be severable.
SECTION 7. The City Clerk, or Deputy City Clerk, shall certify the passage and
adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED June 2, 2026.
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ZAYNAH MOUSSA-MILWARD,
City Attorney
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CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF VERNON )
I do hereby certify that the attached is a true copy of Resolution No. 2026-025 that was
passed and adopted at the Regular Meeting held on June 2, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: Larios, Merlo, Rodriguez, Rivera, Ybarra
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
__________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: June 2, 2026
From: Genoveva Rocha, City Clerk
Department: City Clerk
Submitted by: Sandra Dolson, Deputy City Clerk
Subject
Brown Act Updates Related to Senate Bill 707
Recommendation
A. Receive a presentation on Brown Act updates related to the teleconferencing and accessibility
provisions under Senate Bill 707 (SB 707);
B. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-024 Approving a Technology Disruption Policy; and
C. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-025 Determining "reasonable efforts" for outreach to encourage
participation in City Council meetings.
Background
On October 3, 2025, Governor Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 707 (SB 707), which amends
the Brown Act. The Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code Section 54950 et seq.) establishes
requirements for open meetings of local legislative bodies. SB 707 updates provisions related to
teleconferencing, including requirements for remote participation, accessibility, and procedures
for addressing disruptions to meeting access for City Council meetings. Among other
requirements, SB 707 requires the City Council to adopt a technology disruption policy and to
determine what constitutes reasonable efforts for outreach to encourage public participation in
City Council meetings, particularly among underrepresented and non-English-speaking
communities. These policies must be adopted by July 1, 2026.
Remote Public Participation
Among other new requirements under SB 707, all qualified legislative bodies, including City
Councils, must offer remote participation through a two-way phone or video platform for public
meetings. This includes offering teleconferencing and two-way communication options that allow
members of the public to both observe meetings and provide real-time public comment. The City
has already been allowing remote observation of public meetings via Zoom for several years and
will continue to do so. Pursuant to SB 707, effective July 1, 2026, the City will make available
two-way remote participation via Zoom, during applicable meetings.
Teleconferencing
The Brown Act now expressly allows teleconferencing by a member as an accommodation under
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as a limited number of instances of remote
participation due to "just cause," which may be used up to five to seven times per calendar year,
depending on the number of regular meetings held per month. ADA-related teleconferencing
must be provided when applicable legal requirements are met, whereas participation based on
"just cause" is subject to the statutory annual limit. "Just cause" includes circumstances such as
childcare or caregiving needs; a contagious illness; a physical or mental condition; travel on
official business; the need to care for an immunocompromised family member; a personal or
family medical emergency; or military service obligations that prevent in-person attendance.
Technology Disruption Policy — Resolution No. 2026-024
Government Code Section 54953.4 requires the City Council to adopt, by July 1, 2026, a
technology disruption policy. The policy must address procedures for responding to disruptions
of telephonic or internet service during a meeting and the efforts the legislative body will make to
restore service. The statute further requires that if a disruption occurs that prevents members of
the public from observing or participating in a City Council meeting through the two-way
telephonic or audiovisual platform, the City Council must recess the open session for at least one
hour and staff must make a good faith effort to restore service. During this time, the City Council
may meet in closed session, as permitted by law. The City Council may not reconvene open
session until at least one hour has passed or service has been restored, whichever occurs first.
If service has not been restored upon reconvening, the City Council must make findings by roll
call vote that good faith efforts were made to restore access and that the public interest in
continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in providing remote access. Alternatively,
the meeting may be adjourned.
The proposed policy incorporates these requirements and establishes procedures to ensure
transparency and continuity of meetings in the event of a technology disruption during a City
Council meeting, while maintaining flexibility to respond based on the specific circumstances.
Consistent with SB 707, the policy also provides for the removal of an individual from a meeting
or limitation of their remote participation pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.95 if they
engage in disruptive conduct following a specific warning by the Mayor or City Clerk.
Reasonable Efforts for Outreach — Resolution No. 2026-025
Government Code Section 54953.4 requires the City Council to determine and adopt what
constitutes "reasonable efforts" to encourage participation in City Council meetings, particularly
among underrepresented communities and non-English-speaking communities. The proposed
resolution establishes the City's approach to outreach, which may include inviting participation in
City Council meetings from media organizations serving the City, including those serving non-
English-speaking communities, as well as civic, neighborhood, community-based, civil rights,
and good government organizations. The statute provides the City Council with broad discretion
in defining these reasonable efforts and clarifies that failure to provide notice to any specific group
does not create a basis for legal action. The proposed policy is intended to provide flexibility while
supporting expanded public awareness and participation.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. Resolution No. 2026-024
2. Resolution No. 2026-025