HomeMy WebLinkAboutConsider Position on Legislation Pending Before State Legisl 1`1 rucjo 2000 Main Street,
Huntington Beach,CA
92648
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File#: 25-665 MEETING DATE: 8/19/2025
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Shannon Levin, Council Policy Analyst
Subject:
Consider position on legislation pending before the State Legislature
Statement of Issue:
Senate Bill 707 (Arreguin) would expand transparency and encourage public participation in local
government, however, there will be unintended operational challenges and unfunded mandates.
Financial Impact:
Not applicable
Recommended Action:
Oppose Senate Bill 707: open meetings: meeting and teleconference requirements and issue a letter
of opposition.
Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve recommended action and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
SB 707 makes several updates to the Ralph M. Brown Act, which sets rules for open meetings of
local government bodies. These updates include new ways for the public to access and participate in
meetings and other related changes.
SB 707 creates a new category of legislative body, "eligible legislative body", which includes a city
council of a city with a population of 30,000 or more. This would qualify the City as an eligible
legislative body and would require all open and public meetings to allow public participation
attendance via a two-way telephonic service or a two-way audiovisual platform.
On December 20, 2022, the City Council did not reaffirm Assembly Bill 361 via Resolution No. 2021-
62, which outlined provisions for remote meetings due to the Covid-19 state of emergency. Instead,
the City Council voted to conduct meetings of the City Council and all City boards, commissions, and
committees in person.
City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 2 Printed on 8/14/2025
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File#: 25-665 MEETING DATE: 8/19/2025
SB 707 requires meeting agendas to be translated into all "applicable languages," meaning any
language spoken by 20% or more of the local population with limited English proficiency. This could
force the translation of materials that may never be requested or used, creating administrative
burdens, and pulling resources away from other essential services.
SB 707 would represent the most extensive changes to the Brown Act in several years creating
concerns new mandated costs, technical implementation challenges, and ambiguity regarding
several new provisions. SB 707 is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, providing the City
with only a few months to implement significant operational changes.
Environmental Status:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections
15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change
in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the
CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for
resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable -Administrative Item
For details, visit www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan.
Attachment(s):
1. Draft Letter of Opposition to SB 707
City of Huntington Beach Page 2 of 2 Printed on 8/14/2025
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`�'FCUU NN `;�of Pat Burns 1 Mayor
August 20, 2025
The Honorable Buffy Wicks
Chair,Assembly Appropriations Committee
1021 0 Street, Suite 8220
Sacramento, CA 95814
Subject- Opposition to SB 707: open meetings: meeting and teleconference requirements
Dear Chair Wicks,
On behalf of the City of Huntington Beach, I write in respectful opposition to Senate Bill 707.While we share
and appreciate the intent to expand transparency and encourage public participation in local government,
we have concerns that several provisions in the bill may result in unintended operational and fiscal
challenges.
SB 707 mandates real-time remote public comment via two-way telephonic or audiovisual platforms for all
meetings of "eligible legislative bodies." While we recognize the importance of public participation, this
requirement was implemented as a part of the Covid-19 state of emergency via AB 361. In December 2022,
the Huntington Beach City Council voted to resume in person meetings. Since the reversion to in-person
only meetings, the City of Huntington Beach has not had any issues with public participation.
The bill's language translation requirements also present implementation questions. SB 707 requires
agendas to be translated into all "applicable languages," defined as those spoken by 20% or more of the
local population with limited English proficiency. This could require the translation of materials that may
never be requested or used, resulting in significant costs, an administrative burden, and the diversion of
resources from other critical needs within the agency.
SB 707 is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, providing the City with only a few months to
implement significant operational changes. If the bill proceeds, we respectfully request that the
implementation date be delayed to January 1, 2027, to allow adequate time for thoughtful planning,
budgeting, and compliance.
We remain committed to the goals of transparency and public engagement and hope to continue working
collaboratively toward practical, effective improvements to public meeting processes. However, for the
reasons outlined above, the City of Huntington Beach respectfully opposes SB 707.
Sincerely,
6,..-7(4-/64---2-r."-aco
Pat Burns
Mayor
CC: Senator Jesse Arreguin
Senator Tony Strickland
Assemblymember Diane Dixon
Assemblymember Tri Ta
Office: (714)536—5553 I 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 I www.huntingtonbeachca.gov