By Lookout Staff

August 3, 2026 – The City has implemented changes made under the State's updated open public meetings law that aim to "increase public participation, accessibility and transparency in local government," officials announced Monday.

Under Senate Bill 707, Council meetings now offer two-way remote participation that give members of the public the opportunity to attend "via a 2-way telephonic service or a 2-way audiovisual platform," as dictated by the law.

The council meeting agendas webpage offers "meeting participation instructions in Spanish," and during meetings, space will be provided for members of the public who wish to use personal interpreters/devices," City officials said.

The City will also be taking additional steps "to encourage participation in public meetings, including outreach to non-English-speaking communities through local partnerships."

"The city of Santa Monica will continue to implement these changes and remains committed to ensuring that residents have meaningful opportunities to participate in local government decision-making," officials said in a statement.

The Council first allowed the public to call in their comments on the telephone during the coronavirus emergency declared in March 2020, when meetings were held via teleconferencing.

More than two years later, in June 2022, the Council voted to hold hybrid meetings that offered both in-person and call-in options.

In May 2025, the Council made changes to the Rules of Procedure that allowed members of the public to address the Council during meetings by telephone.

The rule changes also included reducing the time a speaker can address the Council to 1 minute if more than 25 members of the public are registered to speak, except for public hearings or quasi-judicial items.

Under City Council rules public comments are limited to a total of 6 minutes per meeting, with a maximum of 2 minutes per public comment section. Those requesting to speak on only one agendized item for the meeting can speak for up to 4 minutes on that one item.

Those wishing to address the Council by telephone must register by completing the form at santamonica.gov/public comment no later than 5 p.m. the day before a meeting.

Members of the public can join the meeting via Zoom at the start of the session, officials said. Those registered to provide public comment must call-in closer to the time their scheduled item will be heard.