BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: Title
Review and Adopt “Reasonable Efforts” to Comply with Senate Bill 707 to Invite Groups that Do Not Traditionally Participate in Public Meetings to Attend Those Meetings.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
Adopt staff’s recommended reasonable efforts to invite groups that do not traditionally participate in public meetings to attend Valley Water public meetings, to comply with California State Senate Bill 707.
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SUMMARY:
Beginning July 1, 2026, California State Senate Bill 707, Chapter 327, Statutes of 2025, requires “eligible legislative bodies”, including Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water), to make reasonable efforts, as determined by the legislative body, to invite groups that do not traditionally participate in public meetings to attend those meetings.
The law indicates that the “groups” referred to in the law include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(I) Media organizations that provide news coverage in the jurisdiction of the eligible legislative body, including media organizations that serve non-English-speaking communities.
(II) Good government, civil rights, civic engagement, neighborhood, and community group organizations, or similar organizations that are active in the jurisdiction of the eligible legislative body, including organizations active in non-English-speaking communities.
The statute also clarifies that legislative bodies shall have broad discretion in the choice of reasonable efforts they make and that no legal action shall be commenced or maintained against an eligible legislative body arising from failing to provide public meeting information to any specific group.
Currently, notices of Board meetings and Board Committee meetings are posted physically outside the building and on our website, available to the public and easily translatable into a user’s preferred language using auto-translators available on many digital platforms.
In addition to existing outreach efforts, staff recommends further amplifying public awareness of upcoming board and committee meetings with additional messaging, thereby making “reasonable efforts” to comply with Senate Bill 707. Specifically, Valley Water events subject to the Brown Act would be highlighted on the following:
1. On the agency’s website;
2. Across Valley Water’s social media platforms with 33,000+ followers; and
3. In Valley Water’s monthly newsletter, which has 65,000+ subscribers.
Again, many digital platforms offer technology that automatically translates content into a user’s preferred language, enhancing accessibility for diverse audiences. Valley Water materials pointing to Valley Water board and committee meetings will also include QR codes that direct interested participants to the Valley Water webpage listing these agendized public events.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
The additional outreach measures proposed by staff are intended to bring more voices to the table. Increased engagement and hearing additional perspectives foster equity.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this item.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have the potential to result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER: Manager
Rachael Gibson, 408-630-2884