Long Beach Residents Can Now Join City Council Meetings on Zoom
Long Beach residents can now watch, listen to, and speak during City Council meetings through Zoom under California’s new SB 707 law. Here’s what changed and what it means for the community.
Adrian Morales
LONG BEACH, Calif. Have you ever wanted to speak to the Long Beach City Council about an issue in your neighborhood but couldn’t make it to City Hall?
Beginning this month, residents have a new option.
Thanks to a new California law that took effect July 1, Long Beach residents can now watch, listen to, and speak during City Council meetings through Zoom. The change is designed to make local government more accessible by allowing more people to participate in the decisions that shape their community, even if they can’t attend meetings in person.
For many residents, it represents one of the biggest changes to public participation at City Hall in years.
How are City Council meetings different now?
Until now, anyone who wanted to address the Long Beach City Council generally needed to attend meetings in person.
Under the new system, residents can join meetings through Zoom, use the platform’s “Raise Hand” feature to request time to speak during public comment, and address the City Council remotely.
The City of Long Beach says Zoom links will be posted with each City Council agenda and on the City Clerk’s webpage before every meeting.
Virtual participants will also have access to live closed captioning. While closed captioning has been available inside the City Council Chambers since 2007, the feature will now be available for residents participating online as well.
Residents who prefer attending meetings in person can continue to do so.
Why is this happening now?
The changes are the result of Senate Bill 707, also known as the Brown Act Modernization Act.
California has required local government meetings to be open to the public for decades through a law known as the Brown Act. The law ensures that city councils and other public agencies conduct business in public, post meeting agendas in advance, and provide opportunities for residents to comment before decisions are made.
For years, that usually meant showing up in person if you wanted to speak.
That changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when local governments across California began holding meetings virtually. Remote participation made it easier for many people to engage with local government, especially those balancing work schedules, childcare, transportation challenges, disabilities, or other commitments.
SB 707 builds on those lessons by requiring expanded public access to local meetings, giving residents another way to participate without replacing traditional in-person meetings.
Why does this matter for Long Beach residents?
Most City Council decisions directly affect everyday life in Long Beach.
Whether it’s a proposed housing development, changes to parking regulations, public safety initiatives, street improvements, parks, or the City’s annual budget, residents now have another way to make their voices heard.
Instead of needing to travel downtown and wait for public comment, many residents can now participate from wherever they are through Zoom.
City officials say the goal is to remove barriers to participation and make local government more accessible to everyone.
What is the Brown Act?
If you’ve ever heard elected officials mention the Brown Act, they’re referring to California’s open meeting law.
The Brown Act was created to ensure local government operates transparently by requiring meetings to be open to the public instead of taking place behind closed doors. It also guarantees the public an opportunity to observe government business and provide input before elected officials take action.
SB 707 doesn’t replace the Brown Act. Instead, it updates the law to reflect how technology has changed the way people participate in public meetings.
When can residents start using Zoom?
The next regular Long Beach City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, following the City’s annual summer recess.
Before that meeting, the City says it will release additional information explaining how residents can access meetings through Zoom, request time to speak during public comment, and use the available accessibility features.
For residents who have wanted to participate in local government but couldn’t always make it to City Hall, the July 21 meeting will be the first opportunity to take advantage of Long Beach’s expanded virtual participation options under the new law.
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