The Marin County District attorney found that in response to complaints by advocates of a charter school, the Ross Valley School District did not violate the Brown Act, the state’s open government law in four out of five instances, but one committee should have held open rather than closed meetings. The DA said the public should have had access to meetings of the Facilities Executive Committee that dealt with 2010 Measure A bond projects. (Marin Independent Journal, May 18, 2015, by Richard Halstead)
A watchdog group in San Diego lost a lawsuit against the city contesting its policy of allowing public comments at only one of the two weekly council meetings. The judge dismissed the suit because the plaintiff, the Center for Local Government Accountability, had neglected to post a cease-and-desist letter before filing its complaint. The Council revised its policy in January to allow comments on both days. (The Daily Transcript, May 265, 2015, by Lyle Moran)
A Mendocino County grand jury found that a service district that manages waste water and ground water violated the Brown Act by not posting meeting notices and agendas in a timely manner. (Ukiah Daily Journal, May 9, 2015, by Adam Randall)
Oakland has been accused of allowing some agencies to ignore the Brown Act requirement to post notice of meetings 72 hours in advance. The city’s Sunshine Ordinance required ten days notice for city council, planning commission and port commission meetings. Among the errant agencies are the Joint Powers Authority, that spends public money, the Housing Residential Rent-Relocation Board and the Workforce Investment Board. (East Bay Express, May 6, 2015, by Darwin BondGraham)
The Arts Council of Long Beach believes the Brown Act no longer applies to them and are taking steps to limit public comment and participation. They claim they’re a nonprofit with separate articles of incorporation and bylaws. But critics point out that the Arts Council continues to receive money from the city for arts and cultural activities. (Long Beach Post, May 4, 2015, by Sander Roscoe Wolff)