A local judge ordered Marin County to pay over $72,000 in legal fees after the county violated the Brown Act, the state’s open government law. Although the violation was unintended and “inadvertent” in that the county was trying to provide information to the public about the county’s housing element in an impromptu report, the report had not appeared on any agenda and violated the law. The flub was compounded when the county failed to honor a cease and desist order and acknowledge the Brown Act violation. (Marin Independent Journal, May 29, 2016, by Richard Halstead)
Citizens and one council member are questioning if the Willits City Council violated the Brown Act by hiding information from the public that they learned in a closed session. The council is considering a Skunk Train property deal that involves an important site in the downtown. (Willits News, May 27, 2016, by Kate Maxwell)
A Riverside state assembly woman is promoting a law requiring that all legislation be posted and open to the public 72 hours before vote in the assembly or senate. The law never succeeded in the legislature but will now most likely appear as the California Legislative Transparency Act on the November 8 ballot. (The Modesto Bee, May 27, 2016, by the Editorial Board)
The Encinitas Union School District finds itself accused of considering a proposal for funding a yoga program costing $800,000 a year without placing the item on the agenda. (The Coast News Group, May 26, 2016, by Aaron Burgin)
A former Los Angeles County counsel is filing a lawsuit to get his job back claiming that when he was fired in 2015, the Board of Supervisors did so behind closed doors then failed to report the actions as required by the Brown Act. (Los Angeles Times, May 23, 2016, by Abby Sewell)