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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2026-061RESOLUTION NO. 2026-061 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA DETERMINING REASONABLE EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE § 54953.4 WHEREAS, the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.) establishes requirements for open and public meetings of local legislative bodies; and WHEREAS, Senate Bill 707 (SB 707, 2025) amended the Brown Act to include additional requirements to encourage participation in public meetings, particularly among underrepresented communities and non-English-speaking communities; and WHEREAS, Government Code § 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; and WHEREAS, 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; and WHEREAS, Government Code § 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; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista is committed to promoting transparency, accessibility, and broad public participation in its public meetings; and WHEREAS, the City currently utilizes a variety of communication methods to inform the public of City Council meetings and opportunities to participate; and WHEREAS, the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3), no environmental review is required. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista, that it determines the following to constitute reasonable efforts to encourage participation in City Council meetings pursuant to Government Code § 54953.4(b)(3)(C): 1. Media Outreach: Proactively include media organizations serving the City, including non- English-language newspapers and publications, in the distribution of City Council meeting agendas. Docusign Envelope ID: 3ADD51CB-B82D-8DF4-81CF-531F0E252CD0 Resolution No. 2026-061 Page No. 2 2. Electronic Access and Agenda Subscriptions: Maintain opportunities for members of the public to subscribe to receive City Council agendas and related materials through the City’s website, and include instructions for accessing and subscribing to such materials in translated agendas, including Spanish. 3. Multilingual Communication: Use multilingual communication methods, including translated agendas and multilingual social media posts (currently provided in Spanish), to increase awareness of meetings and participation opportunities, with additional languages incorporated as appropriate. 4. Community and Organizational Outreach: Provide meeting information through existing City communication channels and partnerships with community-based organizations, neighborhood groups, and civic or community organizations, including those serving non- English-speaking communities, as opportunities arise and consistent with available resources. 5. Flexible and Evolving Methods: Use additional reasonable methods of outreach as appropriate, including, but not limited to, the City’s website, email notifications, partnerships with community organizations, and other communication platforms that may develop over time. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these efforts are intended to provide a flexible framework for outreach and shall be implemented consistent with available resources and evolving communication practices. [SIGNATURES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE] Docusign Envelope ID: 3ADD51CB-B82D-8DF4-81CF-531F0E252CD0 Resolution No. 2026-061 Page No. 3 Presented by Approved as to form by Kerry K. Bigelow, MMC Marco A. Verdugo City Clerk City Attorney PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista, California, this 14th day of April 2026, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers: Chavez, Fernandez, Inzunza, Preciado, and McCann NAYS: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None John McCann, Mayor ATTEST: Kerry K. Bigelow, MMC, City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ) CITY OF CHULA VISTA ) I, Kerry K. Bigelow, City Clerk of Chula Vista, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2026-061 was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting of the Chula Vista City Council held on the 14th day of April 2026. Executed this 14th day of April 2026. Kerry K. Bigelow, MMC, City Clerk Docusign Envelope ID: 3ADD51CB-B82D-8DF4-81CF-531F0E252CD0