By Sara Beth Williams–
A remote call-in guest who joined the Aug. 12 Citrus Heights City Council meeting via video platform Zoom briefly interrupted the meeting during discussion on one of the regular agenda items.
The caller on Zoom raised their hand virtually to speak publicly regarding Agenda Item 10, the discussion regarding potential approval of a cost share agreement between the city and Sacramento County for the AC Overlay Project, or resurfacing of Madison Avenue.
The caller was only identified as User 1 and was given two opportunities to speak. The city said in a statement Friday that the caller made disruptive comments and did not address the City Council on the topic of Agenda Item 10.
According to the City Council meeting livestream, available on the city’s website and YouTube channel, User 1 opened by asking, “Can you hear me?” before using a racial slur and other derogatory terms while stating that people of that race should not be working on roadway repaving projects.
“The caller was momentarily muted to provide an opportunity for the City to warn the individual that their behavior was disrupting the meeting, however the caller immediately left the meeting,” the city said in a statement.
City Clerk Amy Van noted to the council during the meeting that the caller was muted by city staff, and the meeting progressed business as usual following the rest of the night’s agenda.
Following the meeting, the city addressed their disruption policy via email saying, “The City has established protocols for addressing disruptions during City Council meetings, whether they occur in person or remotely. State law, including recent amendments under SB 707, governs how public meeting disruptions are handled, and the City Council Handbook, Chapter 8, outlines the procedures the City follows when a disruption occurs.”
When asked about precautions taken regarding remote callers and virtual guests, the city said, that state law does not allow the city to require members of the public to register their names, provide other identification information, or otherwise “fulfill any condition precedent to attending a meeting.”
“Once a participant joins remotely, the City Clerk and Mayor monitor the meeting and are prepared to follow established procedures if disruptive behavior occurs. These same protocols apply to disruptions that occur in person,” the city said.
“City is vigilant to both honor the rights of the public and ensure the Council can meet without unlawful disruption,” officials said.
The City Council also recently adopted a technology disruption policy pursuant to SB 707 at the April 8, 2026, City Council Meeting, officials added.
SB 707 required that, by July 1, 2026, eligible legislative bodies adopt policy addressing how the agency will respond to disruptions in telephonic or internet service.
