A California assemblyman has introduced a bill to require public agencies to require written responses when denying requests under the California Public Records Act. The response must include a the identification of each record withheld under an exemption and a specification of the exemption that applies. (The San Diego Union-Tribune, February 1, 2016, by Steven Greenhut)
The California Attorney Kamala Harris issued an opinion last week that if third-party Internet problems deny public access to a public agency’s agenda during the required 72-hour notice period, it will not be considered a Brown Act violation. The Brown Act is the state’s open government law. (Metropolitan News-Enterprise, January 26, 2016, by Kenneth Ofgang)
Chula Vista failed to convince a California appeals court to to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the appointment of a councilman to the city council. Filed in February of 2015, the lawsuit alleged that the council violated the Brown Act by conducting serial meetings and voting in secret for finalists for the appointment to the city council. (The Star-News, January 30, 2016, by Robert Moreno)
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors passed an amendment to its media policy to help supervisors avoid accidentally triggering a serial meeting in violation of the Brown Act. (Idyllwild Town Crier, January 28, 2016, by J.P. Crumrine)
A critic of Marin County pension plans was denied a judicial review of pension payments but can take his pleading to the Marin Superior Court. The critic clams that Marin agencies have violated the law by approving benefits without public notice. The grand jury reported last year that agencies had made numerous violations of disclosure rules in approving pension enhancements. (Marin Independent Journal, January 23, 2016, by Nels Johnson)
A Vietnamese-American group is suing San Jose officials for a series of alleged violations of the Brown Act including votes on a power plant in 2000, a 2002 redevelopment plan for the Tropicana Shopping Center and a fire station renovation in 2007. The group claims the city conducts the public’s business behind closed doors. (San Jose Mercury News, January 19, 2016, by Ramona Giwargis)
A local city council member is criticizing the Marin County Board of Supervisors for its violation of the Brown Act in not providing adequate notice of a hearing on a Housing Element. He contends that the lack of notice hampers the consideration of significant impacts on the environment. (Marin Independent Journal, January 14, 2016, by Kevin Haroff)
Vallejo citizens are contesting the formation of an ad hoc economic development committee charged with exploring the construction of a deep-water terminal and a cement production operation. A proposal was made to suspend the committee and establish a policy requiring public notice for ad hoc committees. (Vallejo Times-Herald, January 6, 2016, by John Glidden)