DATE: April 7, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Revision to Administrative Policy No. 29 - Board of Supervisors Meetings
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve revised Administrative Policy No. 29 for Board of Supervisors Meetings (AP 29), incorporating updates to public participation procedures, provisions for remote public participation, including a policy addressing disruptions to telephonic or internet service during Board meetings, and revisions to management responsibilities, in accordance with Government Code Section 54953.4.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will revise AP 29 to update language in current sections and add a policy addressing disruptions to telephonic or internet service that prevent remote public participation. The policy establishes procedures for recessing and reconvening open session while good faith efforts are made to restore service, in compliance with Government Code Section 54953.4 of the Ralph M. Brown Act (Brown Act). This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to revise the proposed amendments to AP 29; however, your Board must approve a policy before July 1, 2026, as mandated by Senate Bill (SB) 707.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the recommended action will adopt revisions to AP 29.
DISCUSSION:
The Brown Act was enacted in 1953, providing guidelines for how local agencies must hold public meetings. SB 707, authored by State Senator Maria Elena Durazo, amended the Brown Act to expand public access to meetings. The bill was passed by the Legislature on September 13, 2025, and approved by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 3, 2025.
Prior law did not require local agencies to provide an opportunity for remote public participation. With the passing of SB 707, Government Code Section 54953.4 requires all open and public meetings of an eligible legislative body to i...
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